Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 121696 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121696 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
She arched away and whispered, “I can’t do this.”
Cupping her face between his palms, he urged, “Look at me.” When she lifted her lashes, he continued, “Pretend it’s just the two of us. They’re not here, in this room. They don’t exist.”
She tried to shake her head, but he held her fast.
“Focus on me, kitten. Don’t look away from my face.”
Don’t look away from my face.
What they were about to do truly hit her. Her pulse spiked. Still, disbelief raged in her chest as he backed her up to the dining room table.
“That’s a good lass. You just keep looking at me.”
Her backside hit the table. This wasn’t happening. It was just a bad dream. She glanced over his shoulder to where Jeanne stood next to the coffee table, still pointing a gun at them.
Sean gripped her chin and tipped her face, forcing her to meet his gaze. “They’re invisible. Keep your focus here.”
He placed his body in front of her, blocking out their audience. Lowering his head, he planted a chaste kiss on her lips. The caress was out of place, but then she understood. He needed to turn her on if they were to get out of this alive. That was if Jeanne would even keep her word.
“Don’t fight it,” he whispered. “Just let it happen.”
What choice did she have? When she didn’t resist, he pressed their lips together again, this time kissing her longer and harder. Surprisingly, some of the tension melted from her muscles. If only she could forget herself and everything else. She slackened in his arms, but when he said, “Remember, kitten, it’s just the two of us,” she tensed all over again, because those words were spoken as a warning, preparing her for what was to come.
He gripped the elastic of her panties without breaking the kiss. Uttering a sound of protest, she cupped his hands to still them. She was trapped between his legs, pinned to the table, and even if she wanted to, she couldn’t stop him. Damn Jeanne for making him do this. He’d do whatever he had to do to save her life, but would he be able to live with himself in the aftermath? Would she? Was that Jeanne’s plan? To ruin them? To make them hate themselves for something they couldn’t control?
“Sean,” she whispered, breaking the kiss. “Don’t let them.”
He offered her a strained smile. “Don’t think about what’s happening.” Moving the elastic down on one side, he exposed her hip. “Just feel.”
Unlike the time with the massage, he didn’t have an erection. He was as turned off as she was. They’d never pull it off.
“We can’t do it,” she said, pushing on his chest.
Not easing up, he caged her in between his arm. “I’ll get hard. All you have to do is touch me.” He planted another soft kiss on her lips before saying in a pained tone, “I’m sorry, kitten.”
She knew why he was apologizing. He was going to remove the last scrap of fabric on her body and strip her of her modesty, doing whatever was necessary to bring her to a climax in front of Jeanne and her friends.
“I can’t,” she whispered, pushing harder.
“The clock is ticking,” Jeanne said in a mocking voice.
Asia wanted to knock Jeanne to the ground and punch her in the face. She’d never been vindictive, but this was what hate had to feel like.
“Do it, cowboy,” Jeanne hissed, “or I’ll get one of the other men to warm her up for you.”
Sean dropped his head between his shoulders. “I can’t do it to her.” Slowly, he faced Jeanne. “I’d sooner kill you.”
“Kill me?” Jeanne uttered a laugh. “Have you forgotten who holds the gun?”
He took a wide stance. “You’re bluffing.”
Jeanne stepped closer. She spoke softly, but not so much that the other people in the room couldn’t hear. “I’ve killed for less. I killed Juan’s wife to have him. I pulled the trigger myself. You know why, muffin? Because I’m not a coward.”
Sean’s nostrils flared. “You’re acting like one now. It’s only the gun in your hand that makes you brave.” Crossing his arms, he said, “I’m not doing this.”
Jeanne sneered. “We’ll see about that.” She opened the locket on her charm bracelet and scooped white powder into her pinky nail.
The man who’d avoided eye contact with Asia spoke. “Jeanne, baby, I think you should go easy. You’ve been at it since early.”
Jeanne sniffed the powder and wiped her nose. “Eric, you’ve always been a stick in the mud. Lighten up or leave.” She lifted an eyebrow and waited. When Eric didn’t move, she laughed. “That’s what I thought. Oops, I think our couple is running out of time. You have two minutes left, lover boy. Shouldn’t be hard for you, though. I bet you can make any woman come in seconds.”