Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 173(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 173(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
When I get to the door and grip the handle, Ash’s voice comes from behind.
“I’m not going anywhere, Selma. I’ll be waiting when you are done with class. Just come and talk with me, that’s all I ask. Come and talk. I’ll take you to dinner. I have a suite where we could order room service, and I can tell you all my ideas and show you about my companies and me. This is life changing. Tell me you’ll hear me out.”
My pulse rate doubles at the word ‘hotel.’ Most people wouldn’t believe it, but I’ve never been to a hotel. That’s where the sinning happens. Whenever we traveled away from home, we always stayed with other families, never in a hotel.
There are so many things I’ve never done. So many things I want to do.
Ash can help make them happen.
Before I can second guess myself, still facing the door, I blurt out the answer that’s on the tip of my tongue. “Okay. I’ll come and talk. Be outside the main door. I’ll meet you when class is out.”
I’m letting Anastasia take control.
As I pull open the door and step outside, I hear his low voice.
“Thank God.”
Yes, Ash Thompson, thank God. That’s what Papa would say. As I walk to class, I see Cameron emerge from the lecture hall behind a group of our other classmates.
I furrow my brow as he approaches.
“No class today.” He tears a sheet of paper out of his notebook and hands it to me. “Miss Leonard is sick, but she left an assignment on the board.”
I take the paper and see the bible chapters and essay assignment he’s scribbled down for me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the black suit and turn.
Ash is coming toward us, talking on his phone. As he approaches, he clicks off his call and places his phone inside his jacket pocket.
“I’ll be outside.” He gives me a soft smile. “When class is over, I’ll meet you right out here.” He points toward the double doors.
Cameron reaches over and puts a hand on my shoulder, giving me a soft shove toward Ash, then adds, “No class today. She can come with you now.” I glare at Cameron, who smiles at us both before walking away whistling.
“My lucky day.” Ash’s smile grows. “Let’s go. The hotel has amazing food.” Ash holds the door open, his eyes on me, and two words keep echoing in my mind...
Hotel.
Sin.
S E V E N
Ash
SELMA’S STEPS HALT when my driver jumps out of the car and opens the back door as we approach.
Taking her hand, I meet her eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“I—” She glances across the parking lot. “I have my truck...”
“I’ll bring you back, or I can have someone drive it to the hotel.”
For some crazy reason, I want her and everything she owns with me from this moment on. Last night, laying in my bed, between jacking off to thoughts of her, and the rage that I didn’t know where she was, I even considered buying a house near here. It’s a world away from New York, but because she’s here, it’s beginning to feel like home.
“Yes, I’d like to have it with me.” There’s hesitation in her voice, and I imagine having her truck there will give her some comfort.
After all, to her, I’m some guy who showed up yesterday trying to give her money. She doesn’t seem to have the same knowledge of who Ash Thompson is as most people. I only hope she feels some of what I’m feeling, otherwise convincing her that she belongs with me is going to be more difficult.
But I’m up for the challenge. I’m up for any challenge that puts us together.
Because that’s what’s going to happen. We will be together.
“Your wish is my command.” I turn to the black Lincoln idling along the edge of the parking lot and twitch my head.
Out of the passenger door comes Victor, and I look to see Selma’s eyes widen, and she takes a step closer to me. When I squeeze her hand, that same jolt of energy shoots up my arm and lodges in my chest, making my heart beat faster.
“Yes, sir?” Victor keeps his eyes on me.
Yesterday, after Selma disappeared on us, I gave strict instructions to my bodyguards. Anyone that looks at her from now on is suspect, and they are to report it to me immediately, and I will decide if I hurt them or not.
Or order them hurt.
Didn’t take more than that for my guys to understand this applied to them as well.
“I want you to drive her truck to the hotel.” I turn to Selma. “Keys, baby?”
The term of affection slips out as naturally as my breath, and a slight smile curves her lips as she digs in her backpack and turns over a single Ford key on a piece of twine with a dangling wooden cross to my man’s outstretched palm.