Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 142783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Warmth spread fast, goosebumps a flash that sizzled along my arms and skated to my nape. Logan curled an arm around my waist, and I curled both of mine around his neck.
I was inundated with his aura.
Clove and cinnamon and corruption.
I knew that’s what he was set on.
He would see to it that even if I walked away, I would never be the same.
“Good girl,” he whispered in my ear.
Rage flooded the atmosphere.
My heart raced. Pounded and shook.
It was such a risky game.
Shaming Jarek.
Logan showing off his prize.
Needling a knife that just might end up in our backs.
A rustle moved through the restaurant, and eyes shifted our way, peeking, and others outright staring.
“They’re all looking at you,” Logan murmured in my ear. “The most gorgeous woman in the room. In the city. In my universe.”
Shivers tumbled down my spine.
“What they’re thinking is this is horribly inappropriate.” My response was barely a gasp.
The roughest chuckle scraped up his thick throat, coating me like a covetous caress, and his voice dropped even lower. “No, Aster, every man here wishes he were me right now. Including your husband.”
That was a growl, and he shifted me so that my legs were under the table, hidden by the cloth, though my body was still angled, my side pressed to his chest.
His chest that was big and warm and vibrated with bristling strength.
He reached into the basket and tore off a piece of bread, and he angled in so his lips were right next to mine when he balled it and slipped it into my mouth.
It was warm and soft, and I felt it like the soft lick of his tongue.
Then he slipped his hand under the table, his palm on my bare thigh where he slid his hand up under the slit, riding the bare flesh.
I gasped and curled deeper into his hold.
Logan ran his thumb along the top line of my inner thigh.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
Shivers raced and greed rushed and desire pounded through my bloodstream.
It twisted me into a needy bow. Every cell rode a razor-sharp edge. Anticipation a slow burn that singed my skin.
“Logan.” The plea was out before I could stop it. “This is a bad idea.”
He leaned in to whisper in my ear, “No, Aster, men are the most reckless when they’re angry. When they’re pushed up against a wall. I’m merely showing Jarek where he stands. Most of all, he needs to know you no longer belong to him.”
I was the reckless one considering I could almost forget Jarek was even there.
I was losing all semblance of control.
Conceding to every brush of this man’s wicked, wicked hands.
Falling deeper into his darkness where I’d never find my way out.
And still, I let him continue, let him knead his fingers into my thigh, let him press his mouth to my neck as I peered over his shoulder at Jarek who was incensed.
A short fuse that was at its end.
His bastard jaw clenched, and his hand wrapped so tightly around a tumbler I was sure it would bust.
Logan shifted to send a smirk Jarek’s way.
Gauntlets and games.
This was so messed up. So wrong. And still, I remained on his lap like I was chained.
So foolish because I could run, but I couldn’t get away.
Jarek tossed back the rest of his whiskey before he shoved to his feet and tossed some cash onto the bar. His stare remained locked on us for one brutal beat before he stormed out and into the lobby of the hotel.
“This is wrong,” I whimpered, still holding onto Logan. I was worried if I let go, I would float away.
“Is it? Or is this exactly what you wanted?”
“I don’t know what I’m doing, Logan.”
“Men are motivated by three things, Aster. Money, women, and power. He’ll have none of them left when I’m finished with him, and you, Little Star, will be mine.”
My arms curled tighter, though the words climbed free of where I wanted to keep them locked. “Thirty days, Logan.”
It was all we had.
We were nothing but a time stamp.
One that might cost him everything.
Anger vibrated along the hard flesh beneath his suit.
My mangled, tattered heart flapped in the wind.
He let his arms fall to his sides. “You can get off my lap now.”
Shame burned through my body when I finally pulled away. Cheeks hot, I fumbled back to my side with a slick of humiliation burning me through.
I just couldn’t pinpoint what brought on the shame.
The server showed up with our meals just then, and I edged back, embarrassment tinging my cheeks.
What had I let him do?
Degrade me?
Is that what this was really about?
A show of hand?
A vendetta he would do anything to avenge?
Did he hate me that much?
I stared at my food.
“Eat, Little Star,” Logan said, no emotion in his voice other than the inflexibility of stone.