Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 151097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
His identity was no mystery to me, though. In fact, it was the reason I stayed away.
Ocean Kilpatrick was a foolish, terrible dream.
The man had more blood on his hands than God.
Hunter would have me committed for even daring to fantasize about a man like that. What would she do if she knew I’ve been sneaking here at least one night a week for the last one hundred and four weeks with the hope of living them out one day?
The thirty feet or so separating me from Ocean was the closest I ever allowed myself to get in the five years since I first saw him. I was twenty the first time, but my brother had been adamant that I stay far away from the underboss. The second time was two years ago on the night when it felt like my world had been yanked from under my feet. That night had been the end of a chapter I never thought I’d close and the start of my obsession with the bloodthirsty prince of crime.
I couldn’t say why I’d come back to the club the next night looking for him, especially after fleeing in terror, but once I had a taste of Ocean’s attention, I became addicted. I couldn’t help wanting more of that thrilling feeling if I tried.
Most of the time, seeking him out proved fruitless.
But on the nights it didn’t…
We never spoke. Not once.
No matter how many times I offered myself up on a platter for him to feast on, he never made a move. He would just openly eye fuck me and then ignore me until I felt stupid and left, only for my dumb ass to spin the block once the sting of his rejection wore off. I’ve never been thirsty, so I didn’t know why I kept torturing myself. All I knew was that I was playing with fire, but it was the promise of the burn that kept me coming back.
It didn’t matter what I wore or what I did, though. The asshole never took a bite.
A year ago, I even tried making Ocean jealous, but I quickly regretted it when the man I’d chosen found himself grabbed out of nowhere and thrown out of the club. It was the first time I’d almost broken character to curse Ocean out, but the look on his face that night warned me not to fuck with him, and my scary ass took heed and never tried it again.
I stared despondently at my drink as I felt the familiar doubt creeping in.
Was it all in my head?
“Girls Need Love” by Summer Walker was a dull roar to the deafening drum of my heart. I wanted to look and see for myself if it was real and not imagined—that I was indeed the focus of Ocean Kilpatrick—but I was too much of a coward. I had used up all of my bravery coming here tonight. I’d lost count of how many nights I snuck to see him without Hunter or my brother learning about it. They didn’t see eye to eye on much, but they’d both lose their shit if they knew.
One way or another, this game of ours had to end.
So go over there, the horny devil on my shoulder whispered. Talk to him. He’s only a man.
But like every night that I’ve given in to temptation and sought him out, something always held me back from actually going for it.
Could I handle him? I wasn’t so sure.
Could he handle me? I wasn’t sure of that either. Not when the other half of me—the part I loved more than anything—was sure to run him off like all the others.
And how long are you going to keep allowing Hunter to dictate your love life, hmm?
Groaning, I raised my hand to request another drink, but it was gone quicker than the first, so I ordered another and then a third. I’d actually worn all white tonight as if it would make a difference. My dress had a deep plunging V in the center and was tight enough to accentuate what little curves I had. The heels I’d borrowed from Hunter, even though her feet were bigger than mine. The white thigh-high boots made me feel sexy and confident enough that I actually believed I could accomplish my mission tonight.
There was only one problem.
I hadn’t counted on the foreboding in the air. It curled inside my gut, filling me with tension and not the kind that made my thighs quiver.
Something was wrong.
Tonight, everyone had gathered on my end of the bar as if they could sense Ocean’s dark mood as well. He was surrounded by his usual armed bodyguards who didn’t so much as twitch as they stood with their backs to him, clocking every one who came and went or ventured too closely. Only one of the men from his security team ever spoke directly to him, but even he mostly left Ocean alone, standing a little further away than usual.