The Fall of East
Page 23
What the fuck was wrong with me?
What's wrong is that the woman you thought you loved was sent by your fucking father.
It was like the old man would never cease to be a thorn in my side.
He wanted nothing to do with me publicly, but he still wanted to control me.
I grabbed the pillow and rolled over in the bed again. I was hot. Tight. Itchy. I just wanted out of my own fucking skin.
It was then that I heard something in the other room.
What the fuck was that?
I sat still, calmed my breathing, and waited. That was definitely a muttered curse coming from the living room of the suite.
Fucking Christ, that was the last thing I needed. There had been a time when I'd been a different person, rough around the edges, the one that was likely to end up in jail. Angry all of the time, and I was angry for reasons I couldn't control. I’d smoothed those rough edges and made something of my life, but now, it seemed like the old me needed to come to the forefront or something very bad was going to happen.
Under my bedside table, I reached for the one thing vested in my former life that I kept handy. The swift blade was just as I remembered it. Cold. Delicate. Deadly.
Just like Mina.
I shoved the thoughts of my ex out of my head. I didn't want to think about her and all her lies.
I sprung up out of bed. I slept commando, so I padded over to the closet and eased the bottom drawer open on the far left. I took a pair of boxers from it and swiftly put them on. If I was about to have a fight, there was no need to have the lads flying about uncovered.
Luckily, I slept with my door slightly ajar, so easing into the living room didn’t cause any unwanted sound. Then I saw it. The shadow in the study, going through my things.
What the fuck? How had anyone gotten in here?
My feet moved of their own volition. My rational brain was chirping up with things like, ’Call security. You are closer to the door than to the study, so just leave.’ Or the oh so helpful, ‘At least put a fucking shirt on.’
No, I wasn't going to do any of those things. I was going to find out who the fuck was in my suite.
The study door was open, and I saw someone in a uniform. Black vest, long-sleeved white shirt. One of my fucking employees? I could play this scenario one of two ways. I could approach, turn on the lights, and ask them what the fuck they thought they were doing, or I could jump them. Option two seemed excellent to me.
With a step-over-step motion, I slid against the window to the living room. And then, it was easy.
One arm in a choke hold, the other pressing the knife against the jugular, leaning close. But that smell. A woman?
And why did she smell so fucking familiar?
My fucking dick didn't seem to know any better. This wasn't some game with a girl who liked it rough. This was deadly serious. But God, why did she smell... and then I knew why. I whipped my intruder around so fast that she squeaked, and with my hand on her throat, I backed her up against the wall and placed the knife to her jugular again.
"What the fuck are you doing in here, Emma?"
To be continued in London Bridge …
Thank you for reading THE FALL OF EAST!
* * *
Bridge Edgerton has only ever wanted one woman. One little problem. They hate each other. But he’s sworn to protect her, so he can never have her.
* * *
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Can’t get enough billionaires? Meet a cocky, billionaire prince that goes undercover in Cheeky Royal! He’s a prince with a secret to protect. The last distraction he can afford is his gorgeous as sin new neighbor.
His secrets could get them killed, but still, he can’t stay away…
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UPCOMING BOOKS
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Royal Line
The Spy in 3B
To Catch a Thief (A London Lords Standalone)
London Bridge
Also from Nana Malone
Cheeky Royal
“You make a really good model. I’m sure dozens of artists have volunteered to paint you before.”
He shook his head. “Not that I can recall. Why? Are you offering?”
* * *
I grinned. “I usually do nudes.” Why did I say that? It wasn’t true. Because you’re hoping he’ll volunteer as tribute.
* * *
He shrugged then reached behind his back and pulled his shirt up, tugged it free, and tossed it aside. “How is this for nude?”
* * *
Fuck. Me. I stared for a moment, mouth open and looking like an idiot. Then, well, I snapped a picture. Okay fine, I snapped several. “Uh, that’s a start.”
* * *
He ran a hand through his hair and tussled it, so I snapped several of that. These were romance-cover gold. Getting into it, he started posing for me, making silly faces. I got closer to him, snapping more close-ups of his face. That incredible face.
* * *
Then suddenly he went deadly serious again, the intensity in his eyes going harder somehow, sharper. Like a razor. “You look nervous. I thought you said you were used to nudes.”
* * *
I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “Yeah, at school whenever we had a model, they were always nude. I got used to it.”
* * *
He narrowed his gaze. “Are you sure about that?”
Shit. He could tell. “Yeah, I am. It’s just a human form. Male. Female. No big deal.”
* * *
His lopsided grin flashed, and my stomach flipped. Stupid traitorous body…and damn him for being so damn good looking. I tried to keep the lens centered on his face, but I had to get several of his abs, for you know…research.
But when his hand rubbed over his stomach and then slid to the button on his jeans, I gasped, “What are you doing?”
“Well, you said you were used doing nudes. Will that make you more comfortable as a photographer?”
* * *
I swallowed again, unable to answer, wanting to know what he was doing, how far he would go. And how far would I go?
* * *
The button popped, and I swallowed the sawdust in my mouth. I snapped a picture of his hands.
* * *
Well yeah, and his abs. So sue me. He popped another button, giving me a hint of the forbidden thing I couldn’t have. I kept snapping away. We were locked in this odd, intimate game of chicken. I swung the lens up to capture his face. His gaze was slightly hooded. His lips parted…turned on. I stepped back a step to capture all of him. His jeans loose, his feet bare. Sitting on the stool, leaning back slightly and giving me the sex face, because that’s what it was—God’s honest truth—the sex face. And I was a total goner.
* * *
“You’re not taking pictures, Len.” His voice was barely above a whisper.
* * *
“Oh, sorry.” I snapped several in succession. Full body shots, face shots, torso shots. There were several torso shots. I wanted to fully capture what was happening.
He unbuttoned another button, taunting me, tantalizing me. Then he reached into his jeans, and my gaze snapped to meet his. I wanted to say something. Intervene in some way…help maybe…ask him what he was doing. But I couldn’t. We were locked in a game that I couldn’t break free from. Now I wanted more. I wanted to know just how far he would go.
* * *
Would he go nude? Or would he stay in this half-undressed state, teasing me, tempting me to do the thing that I shouldn’t do?
* * *
I snapped more photos, but this time I was close. I was looking down on him with the camera, angling so I could see his perfectly sculpted abs as they flexed. His hand was inside his jeans. From the bulge, I knew he was touching himself. And then I snapped my gaze up to his face.
Sebastian licked his lip, and I captured the moment that tongue met flesh.
* * *
Heat flooded my body, and I pressed my thighs together to abate the ache. At that point, I was just snapping photos, completely in the zone, wanting to see what he might do next.
* * *
“Len…”
“Sebastian.” My voice was so breathy I could barely get it past my lips.
“Do you want to come closer?”
“I--I think maybe I’m close enough?”
His teeth grazed his bottom lip. “Are you sure about that? I have another question for you.”
* * *
I snapped several more images, ranging from face shots to shoulders, to torso. Yeah, I also went back to the hand-around-his-dick thing because…wow. “Yeah? Go ahead.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about your boyfriend ‘til now?”
Oh shit. “I—I’m not sure. I didn’t think it mattered. It sort of feels like we’re supposed to be friends.” Lies all lies.
He stood, his big body crowding me. “Yeah, friends…”
I swallowed hard. I couldn’t bloody think with him so close. His scent assaulted me, sandalwood and something that was pure Sebastian wrapped around me, making me weak. Making me tingle as I inhaled his scent. Heat throbbed between my thighs, even as my knees went weak. “Sebastian, wh—what are you doing?”
“
Proving to you that we’re not friends. Will you let me?”
He was asking my permission. I knew what I wanted to say. I understood what was at stake. But then he raised his hand and traced his knuckles over my cheek, and a whimper escaped.
* * *
His voice went softer, so low when he spoke, his words were more like a rumble than anything intelligible. “Is that you telling me to stop?”
* * *
Seriously, there were supposed to be words. There were. But somehow I couldn’t manage them, so like an idiot I shook my head.
* * *
His hand slid into my curls as he gently angled my head. When he leaned down, his lips a whisper from mine, he whispered, “This is all I’ve been thinking about.”
Read Cheeky Royal now!
Nana Malone Reading List
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Shameless
Before Sin
Cheeky Royal
Protecting the Heiress
* * *
Royals
Royals Undercover
* * *
Cheeky Royal
Cheeky King
* * *
Royals Undone
Royal Bastard
Bastard Prince
* * *
Royals United
Royal Tease
Teasing the Princess
* * *
Royal Elite
* * *
The Heiress Duet
Protecting the Heiress
Tempting the Heiress
* * *
The Prince Duet
Return of the Prince
To Love a Prince
* * *
The Bodyguard Duet
Billionaire to the Bodyguard
The Billionaire’s Secret
* * *
London Royals
* * *
London Royal Duet
London Royal
London Soul
* * *
Playboy Royal Duet
Royal Playboy
Playboy’s Heart
* * *
London Lords
See No Evil
Big Ben
The Benefactor
For Her Benefit
* * *
Hear No Evil
East End
East Bound
Fall of East
* * *
To Catch a Thief
* * *
Speak No Evil
London Bridge
Bridge of Lies
Broken Bridge
* * *
The Donovans Series
Come Home Again (Nate & Delilah)
Love Reality (Ryan & Mia)
Race For Love (Derek & Kisima)
Love in Plain Sight (Dylan and Serafina)
Eye of the Beholder – (Logan & Jezzie)
Love Struck (Zephyr & Malia)
* * *
London Billionaires Standalones
Mr. Trouble (Jarred & Kinsley)
Mr. Big (Zach & Emma)
Mr. Dirty(Nathan & Sophie)
* * *
The Shameless World
* * *
Shameless
Shameless
Shameful
Unashamed
* * *
Force
Enforce
* * *
Deep
Deeper
* * *
Before Sin
Sin
Sinful
* * *
Brazen
Still Brazen
* * *
The Player
Bryce
Dax
Echo
Fox
Ransom
Gage
* * *
The In Stilettos Series
Sexy in Stilettos (Alec & Jaya)
Sultry in Stilettos (Beckett & Ricca)
Sassy in Stilettos (Caleb & Micha)
Strollers & Stilettos (Alec & Jaya & Alexa)
Seductive in Stilettos (Shane & Tristia)
Stunning in Stilettos (Bryan & Kyra)
~~~
In Stilettos Spin off
Tempting in Stilettos (Serena & Tyson)
Teasing in Stilettos (Cara & Tate)
Tantalizing in Stilettos (Jaggar & Griffin)
* * *
Love Match Series
*Game Set Match (Jason & Izzy)
Mismatch (Eli & Jessica)
* * *
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