Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 102834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
He smirked and swept a hand down his very fit torso. “Can’t you tell?”
“Well, I mean, you’ve always been in good shape.”
“Ah, so you have been checking me out.” He grinned wide. “I was beginning to wonder.”
“What? No! I wasn’t.” Liar, liar, pants on fire. Derek’s grin deepened into a smirk, but he seemed to be enjoying my fluster too much this time to save me. “I mean, obviously you are very handsome, and I have eyes just like every other girl in here.” I lowered my voice almost to a whisper. “Francesca would likely agree with me.”
“What was that?”
“Nothing.”
“Well, I’m glad you think I’m handsome, Camille,” he said, his tone deep and rumbly as it caressed my name, and he shifted closer. “Because I find you impossibly sexy.” Derek tilted his head, his gaze tipping over my lips before rising to make direct eye contact.
“Derek,” I breathed, my heart pounding so hard he could probably see the vein pulsing in my neck.
“Yes, Camille?”
“Is it okay if I don’t have a response to what you just said?”
His low, throaty chuckle seemed to vibrate in the pit of my stomach. His hand clasped my shoulder as he gave a small squeeze before sitting back and allowing me some blessed space from his overwhelming intensity. I’d never experienced this level of attraction with another human being, and all my normal reactions were inexplicably delayed.
“That’s perfectly fine,” he said at last, warm affection lacing his words.
“I might go use the bathroom,” I said then, needing a moment alone to recombobulate.
“Sure, it’s just outside to the right and down at the end of the hall.”
“Thank you. I’ll be back in a minute.”
I rose and was about to leave when Derek reached out to softly take my hand. “Hey,” he murmured, and my eyes met his. “If I’m being too forward, just say, and I’ll back off. I really like you, Milly, but I know I can be a bit domineering at times. It might be an eldest brother thing.”
“I don’t mind,” I replied, bashful. “I just get a little nervous when you say stuff to me, but in a good way.”
His expression morphed into something that was very male and very satisfied. “In a good way?”
I nodded, biting my lip, which only brought his attention back to that location. I squeezed his hand then said, “I’ll be right back.”
My heart raced as I left and hurried to find the bathroom. I actually did need to pee, in addition to wanting some breathing space. I couldn’t stop replaying all the ways he’d been looking at me tonight, not to mention calling me beautiful and sexy, telling me he liked me. It honestly didn’t feel real. I was so lost in these thoughts that I completely forgot Derek’s directions. The door to my right looked like it could potentially be a bathroom, so I opened it to check.
But then as I stepped through, I saw it was some kind of pantry or storage room for alcohol and non-perishables. Taking a step inside was my biggest mistake because a moment later what felt like an avalanche of freezing, icy cold water fell on top of my head.
4.
Milly
I stood in place, teeth chattering, body shaking, my entire outfit soaked to the skin as I peered up and saw someone had levelled a bucket above the door attached to some sort of string and pulley system. I had no idea what had happened until Derek’s brother Tristan and his friend Rhys appeared a second later, both breathless and panicked.
“Fuck!” Tristan swore, a petrified expression on his face while Rhys stared at me, pale and horrified. “Milly, this wasn’t meant for you. We were trying to play a birthday prank on Aidan.”
“What the hell is going on?” came a deep, gravelly voice just before Derek appeared. As soon as he saw me, his expression morphed into one of absolute fury, all levelled at his brother.
My throat bobbed on a swallow as tears rushed forth. I’d taken off my cardigan earlier in the night, so I wore only my thin cream camisole, the pale material was soaked through and exposed my white bra underneath. Humiliation needled at my pores as several tears leaked out and fell down my cheeks.
“It was meant for Aidan,” Tristan repeated. “It was just a prank to get him back for—”
“I don’t give a shit,” Derek fumed. “You shouldn’t have done it.” He moved closer, pulling off his jacket and wrapping it around my shoulders as he rubbed his hands up and down my arms. “Milly, I’m so sorry about this.”
“We’re sorry, too,” Tristan added, and Derek shot him a glare.
“I’ll deal with you later,” he practically growled, and Tristan shared a look with Rhys before they both scarpered.
“What’s all the shouting about?” Aidan asked as he rounded the corner, Francesca and several of the girls close behind him. Various degrees of shock and surprise clouded their faces when they clapped eyes on me, and I’d never felt so mortified. Francesca barked an amused laugh and commented to the girl next to her, “Appearance-wise, I think this might actually be an improvement.”