Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 71832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
“Big men, they got mad.” Jamila mimes hitting someone. “Smash Fulco in face. I mean, they hit Fulco in the face. Sorry, I’m just a little flustered.”
“Jams, it’s okay, I’ll take it from here.” I steer the poor girl away from the imposing weight of Carson’s attention. Jamila looks relieved as she rejoins the girl huddle over at the bar.
Carson’s head tilts, studying me. “Your friends are… interesting.”
“They’re not used to a bunch of angry thugs breaking in here and hurting people.”
“No, I suppose they wouldn’t be.”
“Except you are, right? This is the sort of shit you do all the time.”
“Not me personally.” He hesitates a moment. “Not anymore at least.”
I grind my jaw.
I hate this. I hate this so much, but I see no other choice.
“Okay, Crowley, you win. As much as I absolutely loathe what I’m about to say, I don’t really have any other good options. I am so completely screwed that I’m accepting your offer.”
He goes still. It’s like he shuts down and even stops breathing. His eyes narrow sharply as he leans closer. “You accept… my offer… of marriage?”
“Yes, Carson, even though I’d rather run my fingers through a meat slicer, I will marry you.”
He instantly grabs my arm, turns to the door, and starts dragging me away.
“Hey!” I say, struggling against him. “Wait a second.”
“No waiting.”
“Carson!” I slap at his arm. “Stop it! I’m not done here.”
“Too bad.” He throws the door open, whipping around, glaring into the bar like a monster. Like pure fucking sex.
It’s insane, but I have never been more attracted to a man in my entire life.
What is wrong with me?
“Sit back down,” he snaps.
I follow his gaze. Everyone’s following with varying levels of distress in their expressions.
But at his command, they begin to slink back to the bar.
Freaking cowards.
“I’m fine,” I say, rolling my eyes. “It’s fine. Close up, head home. It’ll be fine.”
“Come.” He keeps on dragging me. On the way out, he barks commands to his men. “Keep the place safe. Make sure her employees get home. Post men on each of them. Nobody hurts her people.”
“Yes, sir.”
Carson practically throws me into the car. Fitz stares into the rearview, looking startled. “Where to?” he asks.
“Home,” Carson says, unable to take his eyes off me. His unmitigated attention makes me squirm. “Call Judge Henson. Tell him the wedding’s happening right now. And get my lawyer out there.”
“Wait,” I say, panicking. “Wedding? Lawyer? Right now?”
“Go,” Carson growls.
Fitz starts driving.
Chapter 17
Ash
Carson drags me from the car and around the side of the house. We take a flagstone lined path skirting through a beautiful garden of native plants and perfectly trimmed bushes. It’d be beautiful if this asshole weren’t pulling me along like I’m luggage.
“Will you slow down?” I snap, pulling against him. “Just hold on a second. I agreed to marry you, but I didn’t say it had to be today.”
“We’re not waiting.” He checks his watch. “Henson and Saverio should be in position already.”
“Saverio?”
“My lawyer.” He yanks and I stumble. “Keep up.”
“Would you stop it?” I yank back, slipping from his grip. He whirls on me, seething like a wild beast. It terrifies me and excites me in ways I’d rather not look at too deeply. When this is all over, I need about a dozen therapists to tease out all the flaws in my psyche, because only a truly broken person would ever find this attractive.
Unfortunately, I do. I really, really do.
It’s his eagerness. How badly he wants this. Like I’m a prize he’s been pining after forever, and now that I’m in his grasp, he’s not taking any chances.
“What do you need time for?” he asks, clearly seething. “Everything’s ready.”
“We haven’t even discussed what this is going to be like.” I gesture back and forth between us. “We’re getting married. Great! Does that mean a prenup?”
“No,” he says firmly. “We don’t need one.”
“Now that’s just bad planning. I could divorce you in a few months and take you for all you’re worth.”
“I have very good lawyers.”
“Fine, okay, what about sleeping arrangements? Do I really get an entire wing of your house?”
“You’ll move into my home in the city.”
“No mansion?” I frown slightly. “I was looking forward to a mansion.”
He throws his hands up. “You want a mansion? I will buy you a fucking castle, my sweet obsession, now will you please come with me?”
“What side of the bed do you sleep on?”
He snarls. “The middle. Will you start moving?”
“Can’t sleep in the middle with two people in your bed.”
“My bed is very big.” He steps toward me, menacing, oozing impatient rage and silken sexuality. I’m getting all flustered but messing with him is too much fun.
“Do you have enough closet space for me? What about shower schedules? I use a lot of hot water. Do you think—”
He tries to grab me again, but I step back out of his reach, grinning to myself. Carson’s losing his damn mind right now and I’m starting to like this temporary power I have over him.