Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 149641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 748(@200wpm)___ 599(@250wpm)___ 499(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 748(@200wpm)___ 599(@250wpm)___ 499(@300wpm)
One brow arched over Lucy’s dark eyes. “What did he do?”
Yep. She wasn’t getting out of this easy. “Can we talk about it later?”
Lucy’s jaw went tight but she nodded. “Yeah. First we should talk about the fact that two of those girls are in Tim’s room, and I can’t monitor them in there. They showed up with a pizza and a six pack of beer and said Tim invited them down to play board games. Which they could do in the living spaces upstairs and be far more comfortable.”
“But those spaces are monitored by CCTV.” Her deepest instincts were firing off. Something was going on, and they needed to figure it out.
“That’s what I’m saying,” Lucy admitted. “I’ll bug the room when he’s working tomorrow, but Tim’s not dumb. I worry he’ll check and then we have to explain.”
Or they wouldn’t because they were working on opposite sides.
She didn’t need this tonight. “I’ve got to talk to my parents anyway. Do we know if they’re back?”
Lucy nodded. “I tracked them coming back an hour ago. Damon and Penny, too. I think Rob and Ari went back to their place, and so did Nick and Hayley. I don’t understand it. I like it here. Communal living makes sense.”
She was sure it did. To Lucy, who’d basically grown up in a commune known as Bliss. “I’ll handle it.”
Lucy reached out, putting a hand on her arm. “Hey, are you okay and how much wine should I steal from the bar?”
Kenzie sniffled. “Maybe one. For me.”
Lucy pulled her in for a hug. “Two then. It’s going to be okay, sweetie. My mom’s going through a witch phase. We can curse him so his dick falls off.”
Somehow she didn’t see Nell Flanders working dark magic. She would work to manifest world peace or something.
“Kenzie Taggart,” a familiar voice called out.
She turned and Ben was there wearing nothing but the leathers he’d dragged on during their fight. Or rather the first part of their fight, since it looked like he was up for round two.
Her gut twisted when she saw his face and realized Huisman’s work had been superlative tonight because Ben was angry. Volcanically angry.
She needed to get them someplace quiet or he was going to cause a scene, and he would hate himself when he could think again. “Let’s go back to the privacy room. You need your boots and vest.”
“Fuck the boots, Kenzie.” He towered over her, getting into her space and using his height for full intimidation.
“Uh, you’re not going anywhere with him,” Lucy said. “And I think you should back off, Parker.”
He ignored her, staring down at Kenzie. “I bet you would love to get me alone again. Isn’t that what you do? You get me alone and suddenly I’m doing whatever you want.”
She was confused. Their sexual encounters—she wouldn’t call it making love again—were dominated by him. He brought her enormous pleasure, but she served him in those sessions. “Ben, I’m sorry for what I said. I didn’t realize those words would be such a trigger for you. I won’t say them again. I told you I need some space.”
“I don’t give a damn about the I love you, Kenzie. I see it for what it is. That’s what you have a problem with. You figured out you can’t manipulate me with words. So you want to get me in private so you can manipulate me with your pussy. Well, sweetheart, I’ve had that and I can get better.”
Lucy moved closer now, and her whole body was primed for a fight. “Back off now, Parker. I think she’s trying to spare you. If you don’t then I’ll go get backup, and I don’t think that will go well for you.”
Those words from Ben had been like a kick in the gut. She felt hollowed out. Never once had she attempted to manipulate him. She handled him at times because he was stubborn and could be his own worst enemy, but never once had she thought he would view her as the enemy.
But then she was sure Huisman had done some serious damage. He’d tried it with her team, tried to split them up, but it hadn’t worked. It looked like he’d found an easier target. But then she loved Ben and he didn’t love her.
“Stay out of it,” Ben barked.
Lucy strode away. Kenzie blinked back tears because she was certain who Lucy would go straight to, and it was everything she was trying to avoid. She reached out and put a hand on Ben’s arm. “Please, let’s go somewhere and talk about this.”
He pulled his arm back, jerking it away like she was poison. “I didn’t give you permission to touch me, sub, and I told you I’m not going to be alone with you so you can work your magic on me. I understand that it’s worked well in the past, but I see you clearly now.”