Page 15 of Hook

“If you were mine, princess, I’d have dinner with you every fucking night.” He tilts his head. “Or at least, I’d be eating you every night.” His chestnut eyes are alight with desire and the way he’s talking makes me hotter than I’ve ever been.

“Is there any point in me asking why you’re here?”

Suddenly, his focus shifts from me as he gazes around the room, an odd, haunted look in his eyes. He taps his foot rhythmically. “Is there a clock in here?” he asks.

“Yeah, there’s one on the wall,” I say, nodding to it behind him. “Why?”

It’s such an odd question.

His jaw clenches the moment he spots it. “I’m going to have to throw it out the window.” He strides toward it before I can say a word.

“No!” I shout, trying to stop him but failing miserably as he shrugs my hand off easily. “You’ll have to pay for damages if you do that.”

“Screw the damages,” he growls, pulling the clock off the wall and striding to the window. Luckily, the window doesn’t open wide enough for him to get it out. “Motherfucker!” He hurls the clock violently onto the floor.

I rush over and check it’s still working. Thankfully it is. But when I look up, my stomach plummets. He’s staring at me with an intensity that could freeze fire—his hatred palpable in the air between us.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I ask, standing with the clock in my hands.

He takes a few steps closer until our faces are so close. “I can’t stand clocks, princess,” he says darkly. “Their ticking sends me spiraling off the edge…” He shudders. “Get it to fucking stop!”

My scalp prickles with dread at his words, and I feel an intense sensation stirring inside me—something greater than fear.

“There’s a simple way to do that which doesn’t involve throwing it out of the window or smashing it.” I turn it over and pull the batteries out. “See?”

“I prefer it when there’s not one in the room I’m in, working or not.”

Clearly, this guy is fucking insane. I mean, I knew that already considering he’s been stalking me, but the clock issue kind of cements the fact that he’s batshit crazy.

I place the clock on a nearby chair and step away from him, crossing my arms over my chest. “I want you to leave.”

He cocks his head and slowly advances toward me. His intense gaze locks on mine as he backs me against the bed. He reaches out and grabs my hips, leaning in closer, making my heart flutter erratically. “I don’t think so, princess,” he whispers in a deadly voice that sends chills down my spine. “Why are your cheeks flushed? And why are you breathing so heavily?”

“Because I’m scared,” I stammer as his icy fingers graze my skin. “Scared of what you intend to do to me.”

He grins. “This is the perfect place for you to explore other options, isn’t it?” His gaze moves to the bed behind me. “How about we have some fun, princess?”

“No, this is inappropriate,” I murmur weakly, trying to remember why I’m refusing his advances.

Piero.

“I’m engaged to another man.”

A knock interrupts us, thankfully, giving me the chance to get away from him and answer the door.

He grabs my arm and stops me. “I’ll get it.”

I swallow hard as I watch him move toward the door and open it. “Thank you so much.” He takes a silver tray from the staff at the door.

“No worries. Did you know that the man out here is passed-out?”

My stalker laughs. “Yeah, I think he went a bit too heavy on the vodka.”

I hear a laugh in return. “Fair enough.” And then he shuts us back inside, holding my tray of food.

“I’m hungry,” I say, glaring at him. “So if you don’t mind, I think it’s time you leave.”

He purses his lips. “I’m hungry too, princess. Now go and lie on the bed so I can feast on you.”

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