Hit me, will you? We’ll just see about that. I had to breathe in and out a few times to calm the anger that was still riding hot in my chest. No one has ever laid a hand on me in my life; no one ever dared because of who I am.I was always the one doling out punishments as I saw fit. From a very young age, I knew my worth and who I was, but now I’d been humiliated by someone I wouldn’t even hire as my maid. This is something I will never forgive, no matter how long I live.She has no idea what she’s done or how she’s going to suffer for it. I felt a pang of unease at the thought when I remembered how Gabriel had defended her. I can’t believe both Emma and Gabriel had stood by her side after what she did. After all our years together, Emma had actually threatened and embarrassed me in front of that low-class mutt.I didn’t want anyone to know about my plight, especially Gabriel. I didn’t want him to think once I seduced him that, I was only in it for the money. I never wanted him to kn
I was dead on my feet and drained from all the excitement of the day. My chest hurt from holding too much in, and I was confused and afraid. But his words gave me solace. It was so strange having a voice of comfort that it was taking some getting used to, but I was learning to accept that feeling of relief I got with him.Somehow in the pit of my stomach, I knew that I could trust Gabriel. I didn’t realize it until now, but a part of me had been holding back, not yet quite sure or willing to believe that the life he was offering me, a life that sounded too much like a fairytale, could truly be mine.I didn’t realize that a part of me had been secretly doubtful or that I had been holding my breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Life had never been very kind to me, so why should I expect things to change so drastically out of the blue?No wonder my chest hurt. It’s because I’ve been holding my breath all this time in some sort of fear that I’d wake up one day and this would all be
We stood there for a long time, it seemed, until I was sure she’d calmed down. I did a lot of reassuring as she seemed to need it no matter what she said, and when it came time to go to bed, I had a bit of a dilemma. I wanted her, no surprise there, I always want her, but I was very aware that her mother was now in a room down the hall, not to mention the fact that Starks was still in the house, yet another hiccup I wasn’t expecting. I gritted my teeth and prepared to bear it, but she, on the other hand, was needy, as was to be expected after the day she had, and so ensued a night of the most intense passion I’ve ever experienced in my life and that’s saying a lot because I’m no blushing violet.“Your parents are down the hall.” I thought I should remind her.“I’ll be quiet.” Her response made me widen my eyes, a bit surprised, but what was more surprising was the feel of her fingers as they reached for my zipper.There was a feverish look in her eyes that hadn’t been there before and
After spending a restless night, I came to the realization sometime in the early morning hours that I had been coming at this thing all wrong. Sure, I hadn’t meant to get caught by that simpleton, but I shouldn’t have shown my hand to Gabriel so soon, either.I know it was my circumstances that had caused me to act so rashly, something I never would’ve done had I not been so stressed. I’m usually more well-equipped to handle such things and give more thought to my execution when time allows, but there was no use crying about it now that the deed was done. I have to do damage control before it was too late. Though how I was going to hide my hate and disdain for the country bumpkin, I wasn’t sure. At least her ignorant backwoods upbringing would work for me this time, as I’m sure she’s not sophisticated enough to see through my ploy, and it’s not like it’s the first time I’ve dealt with something similar.The one thing I have going for me is that I always get my way. I’ve never lost out
I heard or, more like, sensed Wolf’s presence outside the door just as I was getting ready to head back to bed.“Starks just threw Sam in the trunk of his car,” Wolf said as he stepped into the room. I raised my brow in contemplation, not sure that was the best idea.“Don’t worry.” Wolf piped in as if reading my mind.“He put his official tags on the car and his shield on the windshield. No one is going to stop him unless they’re a rube.”I had a pretty good idea where he was going and thought about following, but that would mean being gone for at least a couple days. Besides, I doubt he’d appreciate the company on this one.“Well, I guess we can close that chapter.” I stretched to get the kinks out and fleetingly wondered why everything in this place seemed to move at warp speed. Then I noticed how uncommonly fidgety he was. “What’s wrong with you?”“Everything’s kind of cleared away here; I was uh….” I smirked and was tempted to prolong his agony, but since this was a first for him d
“Don’t cry. If you cry, then I’ll cry, and that will only make things harder for both of us.”“I know; I don’t mean to be such a baby, but I’m going to miss you.”“Speaking of which… wait, before I say anything, has Gabriel said anything more to you about going to school in New York?”“Nothing more than what I already told you. He knows someone who can get me enrolled in a very prestigious school there.”“You didn’t refuse him, did you?”“No, if my grades were horrible, I would’ve felt guilty accepting. But I know the only reason I didn’t get into an Ivy League school was because of Sam.”I shrugged my shoulder nonchalantly because she was giving me the side eye. I knew why she was asking because of my innate ability to shoot myself in the foot, but I had no plans of sabotaging myself this time.“Good girl! I thought I was going to have to go upside your head again.”“Why do you ask anyway?”“Because Wolf is making noise about me going to school out there. Apparently, he’s already look
He's majestic; there's no other word to describe him. Even as he sits still, his power is evident. The look he passed around the room, like a predator with its prey, sent shivers down the spines of all who gathered there. His presence in the small room was overwhelming, and a waft of nervous energy scented the air.If this were a different time, another place, he would've been a king sitting at his council or a warrior directing his troops before heading into battle. Such is the way he carried himself, as if he were a head above all those around him, both literally and figuratively speaking.Men feared and revered him, while women flocked to him like moths to a flame. It's that aura of mystique that surrounds him, the strength that emanates from him with his every move. He has such a way about him, an essence that commands the admiration of both men and women.Each man now avoided his glare. They'd learned in the short while since he's been here what folly awaits any who think themselv
The man they dragged in minutes later was by no means small. A hardened man who'd ridden for the past twenty years or more, he'd made his bones by serving his old leader well. His mistake was in thinking the son was like the father. Sure he might have some of his ruthlessness, but it was never aimed at the weak. The son didn't seem to differentiate.Gabriel stood up from his seat at the head of the table in the council room where he'd been listening to the latest account of this scourge's actions. The man, Sam by name, at first thought, to look the younger man in the eye. After all, he'd been a lieutenant in the chapter for the past ten years and was due respect. Bad enough, he hadn't been promoted after the death of the old leader but instead was expected to follow this wet behind the ears educated asshole. Now the much younger man thought he could tell him what to do, with his own family no less."So, Sam, I see you refuse to follow my orders again." He walked back and forth in fron