Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 137326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 687(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 687(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
A knife digs into the top of my toast. “Slow down or you’ll suffer from indigestion at best or choke at worst.”
I swallow the contents of my mouth. “Sorry.”
“About what?”
“My table manners. I’m a bit hungry.”
I think a slight smile twitches his lips, but it disappears as he continues eating. “Chew properly and take your time.”
It takes effort not to devour everything in sight and make myself look like a cavewoman.
Kane watching me like some strict parent isn’t helping.
He takes a sip of his juice, his eyes rolling over me like a sensual caress.
Like last night.
Don’t think about it. Just don’t.
“Is it a habit?” he asks.
“What?”
“Eating fast.”
“I guess. I never really have time for food between school and my part-time job.”
“And snooping around. And putting your nose where it doesn’t belong. And being so fucking oblivious about your own safety.”
I let the jelly spoon hang midway to my mouth and glare at him.
“Did I miss something?” he says with an unnerving smile. “Oh, and chatting with ex-boyfriends at my fucking game.”
“I didn’t invite Marcus. He came on his own, and he’s not my ex.”
“Didn’t stop you from hanging on to his every word like all the puck bunnies vying for his attention. Miss him already?”
“That is not true. Marcus is an asshole, and I wouldn’t look twice in his direction in this lifetime. He was just being antagonistic as usual and probably taking notes about your team play before the upcoming game.” I release a breath. “I don’t even know why I’m telling you this. We’re nothing to each other.”
“You came on my cock and fingers three times; I think we’re something.”
My mouth hangs open and my stomach contracts because of something other than hunger.
He narrows his eyes. “Surely you didn’t think you could beg me to fuck you and then walk away as if nothing happened?”
“I was drugged. It doesn’t count.”
He takes a sip of his coffee. “It does for me.”
“So…what are we?”
“What do you want us to be?”
“A partnership?”
“We’re not a business.”
I frown and nibble on my pancake. “Then what? Fuck buddies?”
“If that’s what you want, all you had to do was ask.”
“I don’t want that. You’re the one who seemed to lead me toward that conclusion.”
“You have any objections?”
“Too many to count. Most importantly, I don’t even know you.”
“You will with time. For instance, I don’t appreciate you flirting with other men at my game.”
“I wasn’t flirting.”
“I have my doubts.”
“I still know next to nothing about you.”
“There’s no need for a résumé if we’re fucking.”
I release a long sigh and drop the pancake to the plate. “Why would you want that type of relationship with me?”
“I don’t want it per se, but it seems that staking a claim is the only way to ensure that no one will dare to touch my things.”
“I’m not a thing.”
“Not a thing. My thing.”
“Well, your staking a claim or not didn’t stop what happened last night.”
His jaw clenches. “It won’t happen again.”
“Let’s say I agree. And then what? You’d ditch me once you’re bored?”
“Possibly.”
“Wow. And they say romance is dead.”
“I don’t intend to romance you, Dahlia. I don’t do that. So if you’re looking for soft love confessions, a box of chocolates, and a bouquet of flowers, walk out right now. But if you prefer rough games and primal impact play, we might be able to work something out.”
My throat dries up and a loud voice inside me tells me to run.
As fast as possible.
But I remain rooted in place.
This is the only way to get close to Kane. Though I’d be a liar if I said some part of me doesn’t come alive at his words.
“Will you hurt me?” I whisper.
“Yes.” The word is like a whip to my sensitive core.
I clench my legs. “How much?”
“To your limits. And I don’t mean the limits you believe exist in your head, but beyond that.”
“Will you give me a heads-up?”
“No.” A slight smirk lifts the corner of his lips. “Where’s the fun in that?”
I gulp, both deep fear and morbid expectation coursing through me. “Can I still use ‘red’ to stop it?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, then.”
“Red is the only word that can stop me. No, stop it, and I don’t want this will only turn me on. Your fight turns me on.”
“Sick asshole,” I mutter under my breath.
“I heard that. And if I’m sick, what does that make you? Because you’ve been rubbing your legs together the entire time I’ve been painting a picture in your head.”
“I have not.”
He smiles like a predator who’s locked in on his prey. “Now, shouldn’t you thank me for saving you? I’ll retrieve your bike and drop it off at your dorm. I’ll also get Isabella off your back. Permanently.”
“After you let her and who knows how many other people watch you fuck me, I don’t see the point.”
“Watch me fuck you?”