AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The unknown is torturing me.
His nostrils flare wide, his breath noisy, as he glares at me. He shakes me off, looming over me. “You need to go the fuck to sleep and quit worrying about Max Devlin.” He stands, pacing frantically beside my bed, his angry breaths heaving from his lungs. “He still fucking stands between us,” he roars.
Suddenly, he rushes to the door, slamming his fist against it.
I cry out, cringing into my pillows, wanting to flee and hide in the bathroom, but too terrified to move. Instead, I remain silent, my knees drawn up to my chest, my wide eyes watching him.
He faces the door for a few beats, his heavy breathing echoing around the room. My heart pounds like a drum inside my chest while the fear races through me, like a horse galloping on a racetrack.
Slowly, he turns around to face me. He leans his body against the door, assessing me. I fidget, twisting my hands together, terrified of what he’s going to say or do.
William pushes off the door, stalking towards me slowly, deliberately. I swallow hard, my heartbeat thrashing in my ears, afraid I’m going to hyperventilate as he draws closer. Squeezing my eyes shut, I silently pray, unsure what else I can do.
His quiet footsteps stop, and the scent of spice and wood fills my nostrils. He pauses for a few beats until he finally says, “Open your eyes, Irelynn.”
I do as he instructs, my hand shaking as I brush away a stray tear that has fallen down my cheek. The silence stretches between us, my nerves taut and frayed.
He leans closer to me, his face inches from mine. “The fear that is coursing through you. You brought that on.” He stares at me, as though he’s waiting for his words to sink in. “If you’d learn to obey me, we wouldn’t have these problems.” He grabs the covers, pulling them over me, tucking them around my body. “Now go the fuck to sleep. We’ll talk later.”
He steps back, his furious gaze still locked on mine, then he spins on his heel, stalking to the door. Throwing it open, he steps through the doorway. Spinning around, his furious gaze locks on me for several beats.
Finally, he grabs the knob, slamming the door.
I wince at the sound, hearing the lock click behind him.
Staring at the door for a few beats, my breath heaves in and out of my lungs as I wait to see if he’s going to return. When he doesn’t, my muscles sag in relief, sadness ripping through me, tearing my heart in half.
I hate everything about this situation.
Throwing my hands over my head, I roll onto my side, facing the window, curling into the fetal position as my tears soak the pillow.
I had such a wonderful dream. And then I woke, and my reality is my worst nightmare.
I shake my head, looking at the huge pile of opened presents, love and laughter surrounding me. As I gaze around the room at those I love the most, my eyes lock with Max, who sits beside me. He’s observing me, an amused grin on his face.
But it’s his eyes that draw me in. The love shining from them makes my entire body tingle, euphoria erupting through my heart and suffusing my body.
“Are you ready for the next part of the evening?” His voice is low and seductive, and I squeeze my thighs together.
I’ve never come undone from the sound of a man’s voice—until Max.
Bouncing excitedly on the couch, I grip his forearm. “Are you going to give me any hints?”
His eyes peruse over me and then he says, “We aren’t staying here.”
“Okay.” I stop bouncing, biting my lip. Finally, I say, “So we are going somewhere else. That really narrows it down.” Rolling my eyes, I shake my head, annoyance flashing across my face.
“I’ll give you another hint.”
I stare at him, watching the way his lips tremble as he tries to hold in his laughter.
My brows draw together. “Let me guess. It’s going to be something very vague that doesn’t tell me a damn thing.”
He chuckles, the sound washing over me, lighting my face up in a smile.
“It’s so fucking hard to be annoyed with you.” I try to muster up some irritation, but I can’t, especially when he looks at me like I’m his personal sun and moon, lighting up his life.
Max’s grin widens. “It’s somewhere on planet earth.”
