Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 116471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
“I apologize for the touch,” he said.
Steps sounded, and Samuel appeared on the terrace, dressed in suit pants and a white shirt. His eyes narrowed on Leo. “I advise you to reevaluate your hand placement.”
Leo looked pained. “I have to steady her.”
Samuel was at our side and took my bodyguard’s place. He immediately lifted me into his arms, which meant his clothes were soaked completely, but he didn’t seem to mind. He regarded Leo intensely.
“She fell,” Leo said.
“You protected her. I just want to make sure you use moments like this not for accidental improper touches that would result in a very unpleasant reaction on my part.”
“I won’t.”
It took every ounce of control I had not to say something, but if I undermined Samuel’s power in front of his soldier, he would be angry. “I’ll take over now.”
Leo gave me a small nod, then strode away.
Samuel’s gaze finally settled on me. “Are you okay?”
“I stumbled but didn’t fall. Leo caught me before I could make impact. I’m fine. He did his job.”
“He didn’t act in a way that made you uncomfortable?”
“No. He touched me as little as possible, but he had to steady me. He avoided looking anywhere near me once he saw I was only in a bikini. He was very careful not to risk your wrath.”
Samuel’s mouth twitched, obviously pleased with the level of control he had over his men. Then his gaze dipped to my body still in his hold. “It must have been difficult for him not to look. You look very beautiful in this little nothing.”
“It covers all the important places,” I argued. It wasn’t even a thong bikini like Anna wore on occasion.
“It covers the places only I have a right to see.”
I rolled my eyes. Then I registered the see-through state of his shirt. “You ruined your clothes.”
“We should dry you.” He carried me over to the towel cabinet, set me down with one arm firmly around my back, and took a towel. He helped me wrap it around my body, then carried me back toward my wheelchair and set me down. He seemed in a better mood than last night, for which I was glad. My belly rumbled. I let out an embarrassed laugh. “Swimming always makes me hungry.”
“Seeing you in your swimwear makes me hungry too.”
I swallowed at the implication. I still wasn’t used to this very sexually open side of Samuel. He had been so very restrained and distant up until our first time.
“Let’s grab dinner first. I don’t want you to starve.”
He took me into the dining room, then disappeared upstairs to change clothes. He returned in a very relaxed style for him. A white linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and a beige chino, no belt. He sank down across from me. We always sat at the very end of the table so we were close while being able to look at each other’s face. It allowed for actual dinner conversation without having to scream over the long table.
Our cook served food the moment we had taken our seats. Tonight, it was racks of lamb with a salad of wild herbs and roasted carrots. The perfect food for a warm day. She left a bottle of red wine on the table for us. Samuel took the bottle and lifted it. “Would you like a glass?”
I quickly shook my head. I couldn’t drink every day. Samuel poured himself a generous glass. We ate in silence for a while, mainly because I was so hungry and needed to sate my first hunger, not to mention that the lamb melted on your tongue. Eventually, Samuel leaned back in his chair, took a gulp from his wine as he regarded me. “Leo mentioned you made an appointment at a dance studio.”
Anger burst through me. So he wasn’t only listening to my calls but he also reported to Samuel before I could tell him?
“His duty is to me, Emma. There’s no reason to be angry with him.”
I put down my cutlery. “So you suggest I should be angry with you for spying on me.”
Remembering how I’d checked his phone, warmth crept into my cheeks, but I held my head high, too stubborn to back down. Samuel’s cool blue eyes held mine without a flicker of remorse in them. His gaze was unrelenting and dominant. It was a struggle to hold it. Eventually, I dropped my gaze under the pretense of grabbing my glass to drink. I doubted I fooled Samuel.
When I looked up, his expression was pleased. “Why do you want to go to that dance studio?”
“To dance. I would like to dance again. It’s as simple as that.”
Samuel tilted his head, obviously curious.
“It’s a studio that specializes in integrative dance.”
“It is not Outfit-owned, nor do they pay us for protection.”