Prey Tell (Ravaged Castle, #1)

by Amanda Richardson

Give me names, I want to ask.

“Tell me, or I’ll figure it out myself. I have connections.”

I know once I tell you that you’ll get all protective and angry, so you have to promise to stay calm.” Her words cause me to bite the inside of my cheek. “I’m listening,” I growl,

Reaching up, I loosen the tie around my neck. “Who?”

Parker laughs. “Right, like I’d tell you.”

I’d likely break all of my rules for her, now that I think about it.

I groan. “Of fucking course you have a list. Leave it to you, Parker, to be the best at selecting the person to take your virginity.”

And with every word that leaves her lips, I lose another fraction of my resolve.

Because I’d probably commit murder in order to be Juliet’s first.

“Look, it’s not because I don’t want to, okay?”

“Out of your league?” I ask her incredulously. “Are you serious?”

Not only did I reject her, but I embarrassed her. I open my mouth to explain, but she pushes off the counter and walks past me.

She doesn’t know it yet, but I know she’ll be fine—soon, she’ll have her pick of the lot. Men would fall to their knees before her.

God knows it took every ounce of decency to reject her.

He cringes. “Long enough to know I’m going to need to gouge my eardrums.”

Sexuality meant a lot of studies on orgasms and sexual relationships. The irony was not lost on me.

You should be with someone who will treat you like a seven-course meal.

It was a lose-lose for me, and a betrayal. I trusted him enough to be honest, to open up.

I still remembered the way my dad looked at my mom. He was the raindrop, and she was the flood. She overtook every single aspect of his life.

“Teaching is the most important job in the world,”

Is it possible for people to become more attractive as they age?

Is Chase Ravage selling his soul like Ariel sold her voice to Ursula? Because fuck, the way he looks should be illegal.

Scheming son of a bitch. He had help. Of course he did. Only one family I know would have a private collection of fucking swans.

Truth be told, I’m not quite sure why the idea of Chase Ravage paying for my engagement party bothers me so much.

The bottles of Dom Pérignon. Squinting, I look closer at the label. Vintage. And the year… My birth year.

It’s over the top, yes, but… the personal touches. The vintage year. I can’t deny how beautiful the whole party is.

I know he used to help Jax out when I was in college.

My entire life rearranges itself before my eyes. My lavish prom dress. My used VW Jetta that he happened to find a deal on.

My girl’s trip to Ensenada my freshman year of college, that he insisted he pay for, because he wanted us to stay somewhere safe.

His insistence that I not kill myself by working during grad school, instead ...

It all makes sense. I was only sixteen when they died, so I didn’t understand their will when it was presented to me.

Everything in my life has been touched by him.

Chase was there for us in more ways than I could ever imagine at the time. And I suppose he still is.

Tipsy, grateful, confused, angry… an emotionally lethal combination.

Maybe it’s because he so very clearly doesn’t want me, and never would.

If he had any issues with me getting married, surely he would not have gone to such lengths to plan this gorgeous evening.

He wants out of my life? Fine. But he can’t pick and choose. It’s all or nothing, and quite frankly, if I have to tell him to get lost and to take all of his money with him, I will.

“Does he treat you like a seven-course meal, Parker?”

My lips quirk to the side. Of course I know she’s obsessed with Hugh Jackman as Wolverine.

I know she likes to read. I know she likes black roses because they remind her of her mom, and mood lighting.

Everything about this fucking part...

He said I couldn’t handle him? Fucking bet.

He’s at my house, probably watching my recording of X-men and eating my ice cream.

I push against Ben but he doesn’t let me go. He watches the man stalk across the room, coming directly toward us.

“Get out.” Ben’s face blanches. “Excuse me?”

“I can assume by the way Ms. Parker was trying to get away from you that you didn’t ask for consent, and knowing your history, I’m going to be looking into why you were even allowed inside.”

“If it wasn’t abundantly clear by now, the deal is off. You’re a liability.

He can throw away an entire business deal over another man touching me, but he can’t admit why he doesn’t want me here?

I’ve barely contained the pure wrath at the idea of Ben Hearst touching Parker.

“You deserve someone who will make damn sure you know that you hold his heart in your hand. Someone who will love you with every cell in his body. There should be no question. Ever.”