Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21861 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 109(@200wpm)___ 87(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21861 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 109(@200wpm)___ 87(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
His gaze bored through hers. "You heard me."
"I have never tried to cause trouble—"
"Then that's even worse."
A choked laugh escaped her despite everything. "What is wrong with you, seriously?"
"Jealousy."
Hope rolled her eyes. "No, really—"
"And it's not the kind of jealousy I've ever felt before," Colin grated out. "Not even with Princess."
Hope could only stare now that she realized he wasn't joking. Jealous? Her husband was jealous? Over her? How? Why?
"I finally have your attention." Triumph glittered in his gaze. "Good." And he suited action to words by drawing her close.
Oh no.
Hope's breath caught upon finding every inch of her body plastered against her husband's. Around them, other couples danced, but Hope barely registered their presence. How could she, with the way Colin's hand had now curved possessively around her backside?
From across the room, Hope caught sight of Princess watching them, her perfect features arranged in a mask of polite indifference that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"She's watching us," Hope blurted out.
"Ignore her."
"But—"
Instead of answering, Colin covered her mouth in a kiss, and all she could do was hold on to the massive breadth of his shoulders. The kiss deepened. Her senses reeled.
And when he pulled away, her husband said quietly, "I want you."
She didn't even have to think, with her heart already his. "Then take me." Her words had him jerking. It was obvious she had taken him by surprise. It was to be expected, since she had also surprised herself.
But the more Hope thought about it, the more she realized it was what she wanted, and she then heard herself say, "I'm tired of being a virgin, Colin." This was neither a lie nor an absolute truth. Instead, they were words she was pinning her every hope to. Her every prayer. Because she was hoping, once they made love, he would realize the same thing.
This marriage was right. This marriage could last. If they chose each other.
Hope mustered a smile as Colin stared down at her in brooding silence. They had ceased to dance completely, their still figures drawing increasing attention from other guests, and most especially from Princess. But he didn't seem to notice this, and she took it as a good sign.
"I'm not pressuring you or anything." Hope decided to keep things light with a teasing tone. "It's just an, um, offer that I wanted you to be aware of. And in any case, I can always go to Wilson—-"
"Try it then, and you'll have his death on your hands."
Hope was about to laugh when she belatedly noticed the rage in his eyes, fueled by jealousy.
"I was just j-joking," she stammered.
"You think it's funny to consider giving yourself to someone else when I already own you?" Colin glared down at her. "I think it's time I give you a lesson of what it means to be mine."
And off they went, with Hope once again half-running to keep up with her husband's pace, and oh!
They had just walked past Princess, and it was as if the other woman didn't even exist for Colin. Hope glanced up, wondering if he was just faking it, but oh!
He had sensed her looking at him, and Colin immediately met her gaze with another glare. "I know what you're thinking."
He did?
"You saw Wilson waving at you," her husband snarled, "and you're already thinking you're better off with him."
What was he talking about?
"You think you'll have a happier and less complicated life with him."
Hope could only blink. She had no idea where all of these thoughts were coming from, but...wait. Was he saying the truth about Wilson waving at her? It would be awfully rude not to wave back, wouldn't it?
She tried to look around, but the moment she did, Colin jerked to a stop, and Hope gasped as he yanked her toward him. He cupped her chin, his grip fierce.
"Eyes on me, wife," Colin growled down at her, "and no one else. Got it?"
They were on the move again even when she had barely finished nodding, with Colin driven by some inexplicable urge to...oh?
They were inside the elevator in a flash, and her heart leapt to her throat when she realized he was taking her back to their suite. She wanted to say something to diffuse the tension between them, but no words came to mind. All she could do was stare. And feel.
And with the way her husband was staring at her, and the way his glittering gaze was making her burn...
Once inside, he only had one question. "How do you want me to take you?"
Only one word leapt to mind.
"Passionately."
His nostrils flared. "So be it."
Colin claimed her mouth in a kiss that made his intent perfectly clear. She was his. And he would make sure of it by driving her so crazy with need that she would soon remember nothing but her name.