Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
When I hang up, I signal for Jasper to take me home so I can get some work done there.
I still need a shower, a drink, and I’ll have to save the jacking off for another time.
I can hear music blaring from the TV before I even knock on the door. Knowing there is no way she’d hear me anyway, I step inside the cottage without waiting for an invite.
Fiora is dancing around the living room to the Spice Girls, singing at the top of her lungs to “spice up her life!” Her dark hair is pulled up into a messy bun, and she holds a glass of nearly finished wine. One glance at the bottle on the coffee table shows it’s half gone.
She wears a university sweater and a pair of drawstring shorts. It’s baggy as hell, faded in a few places, but surprisingly looks great on her. Who knew a hot mess could be so enticing?
Fiora doesn’t notice me as she finishes her drink then throws her hands over her head to keep dancing. It’s only when I pick up the remote on the side of the couch and turn off the TV that she spins toward me.
“Oh, hello,” she greets with wide eyes. “Just let yourself in, why don’t you.”
“You said you needed to see me,” I say as I throw my trenchcoat and suit jacket over the couch. “How much have you had to drink?”
“I’m not drunk,” she argues, though her flushed cheeks offer a different story. “I’ve just had enough to have fun.”
“Have fun?” I unbutton my cufflinks and begin to roll up my sleeves. “In Seattle? Should I even ask with who?”
“Jealous?” she bites back with a laugh. “I don’t know why you care. This is all for show. And arrangement. Because that’s all I’m good for, isn’t it? A little whore getting married for the good of her family.”
What the hell happened? Between her text message and her current state, obviously something big came up, but she’s not making any damn sense.
“What the fuck are you talking about, Fiora?”
I begin to approach her, but she holds out the empty wine glass like it’s some kind of shield keeping her safe.
“What difference does it make who I marry? You or some family in New York, it’s all the same. I’m only as good as my Godwin name. And money! I wasted it all on school and work and bullshit when I could have just…” Fiora pauses long enough to stare at me, a few tears lining her eyes. “Died. I should have died.”
“What?”
“I blew Mason off, you know,” she says quietly before yelling, “I blew him off!” She accidentally throws the empty wine glass onto the couch when she flings her hands up. “We had those tickets for a long time. He bought them early so he could get it on our ‘busy schedules’. I was supposed to be at that game with Mason, but I ran off to go hide from everyone. Even him. I didn’t even bother to cancel. If I had, maybe he would have, too, but now my brother is fucking dead.”
“And you’re not.” I step closer. She doesn’t back up and merely stares at me with red-lined eyes. “Being here in Heathens Hollow saved your damn life.”
“And what a life it is. Only good enough for being a pawn and nothing else. And I won’t even be that once my father hears about what happened at Maxwells.” I don’t have time to ask her what the hell she means before she laughs bitterly and points at me. “Sorry you’re getting such a useless slut of a wife.”
God, she’s a fucking irrational drunk. Before she can react, I grab her wrist and jerk her closer. She crashes into my chest and clings to my dress shirt to keep herself upright. When Fiora lifts her head to yell at me, I bend down and press my lips to hers in a searing kiss. I tangle a hand in the back of her messy bun as I ravish her mouth. She responds instantly, moving her tongue against mine, clinging to my shirt.
When I pull back, she’s breathless and staring up at me like I’m either her savior or her demon.
“Don’t you ever say that shit about my woman again,” I growl and tighten my grip on her hair. Her gasp makes my blood sing. “Or I’ll punish you for it.”
“Go on then,” she breathes. “Do it.”
I smirk. That’s the only permission I need.
Chapter 31
Fiora
Braken’s body is so heavy on mine I fear he might break me in two.
He pins me against the top of a side table with his entire weight so I can’t move. Not like I would. His kiss has me in chains, the searing heat from his mouth and tongue against mine leaving me dizzy. I wrap my legs around his hips to keep him close, fingernails digging into the back of his neck. His hard cock presses against my pulsing core, and he only pulls back for a gulp of breath before claiming my mouth as his again.