Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 65066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
“No, okay. I don’t. But I like what we have. My fox is…I need to be protected. All I ever wanted was that.” Her shoulders slump at the admission. It’s a half lie. She wanted more, but she settled for protection. I want to say something, comfort her, but what? We don’t see the world the same way. For me, there’s only predator and prey, and I’ve made damn sure I’m a predator. Jordy is weak. At worst, she’s prey, a pawn to those more powerful than her. At best, she’s collateral damage. But I can’t say that. On some level, she already knows it. Despite her hope for something better. A love to be all, end all.
“I guess it sounds silly to you,” she whispers. She won’t meet my eyes.
I drop her chin. I’ve done enough damage.
“Get in the truck, Kit. We need to go.”
Chapter 5
Grizz
On the ride, Jordy is quiet.
I keep thinking about what she said. She laid it all out for me. Fates, this kit needs someone to protect her. The first guy to come along and treat her decent and she spills her guts to him. As if I’m her soulmate. Her one true love. I’ve seen enough to know that shit doesn’t exist. I might want to fuck her, my bear might want to keep her, but that’s just biology. She makes love something noble. She has a whole manifesto. Love is something to live and die for, something to believe in.
The only thing I believe in is revenge. Revenge: that’s what I live and die for. The only reason I met her in the first place is this job for Frangelico. A job I took because he can give me what I want.
I gotta find more leads. More proof that the reason the vampires are taking shifters is to use them as sweetbloods. Nail down the location of the shifter slavers Jordy mentioned. If there’s a black market for shifters operating in Frangelico’s territory, we need to shut it down.
Then I can continue on my original hunt.
The only wild card is Jordy. There’s no way I’m sending her back to Augustine, but I can’t keep her. Snatching her was just part of the job. If I’m not careful, she’ll become a distraction.
In my line of work, distractions will get a bear killed.
Jordy’s just a clue to the mystery. She’s nothing but a means to an end. As much as my bear wants her to be more, it’s not safe for her, or fair to me.
Bottom line: I can’t get involved. No more fantasizing about keeping her forever. I’m going to use her to complete my mission. If she lets me in, I’ll take a taste, but I’ll make it clear it means nothing.
She thinks love is forever—she’s wrong. Everything ends. And when the time comes, I’ll be ready to say goodbye.
Now I just need to harden myself to the disappointed look on her face. It kills my bear when she hurts. I can’t think too hard about that.
She makes a small noise when I park in front of the surplus store.
“Stop number one. Get you some clothes.”
I hop out and scan the street as I head around to open her door. She exits more slowly, probably because she’s wearing a shirt and too-big boots and nothing else. She doesn’t have panties on under my shirt. Better forget that fact, or I’ll get too hard to walk.
“Come on, Kit.” I steer her towards the women’s clothes. Her big eyes blink up at me. Her little nipples show through the thick flannel of her shirt dress.
I grit my teeth. Think of baseball. Baseball…nice and boring. Jordy in a jersey and nothing else, kissing the ball, handling the bat… No!
“What do you want me to wear?” she asks, oblivious. Her scent rises, thick and sweet. Her body responding to me. On some level, she’s not so oblivious.
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Do you want certain outfits? For any special events?”
“Not going to attend any fancy balls, Kit. You just need clothes. Stuff for going around town. Clothes to keep you warm and cover you. Nothing to draw attention. Shoes too.”
A nod, and she disappears. Slowly the cart fills with shirts and shorts, a pair of canvas shoes, a light sweater.
I catch her arm as she comes by again. “Grab some dresses.”
“What type?” she asks. She looks up at me, so sweet and trusting. If only she knew what I want to do to her.
“Fuck if I know. Dresses. I like these.” I turn her away from me, towards a rack of floral, flouncy outfits.
She fingers them. “They’re pretty.”
I grab a few, including the ones she touched longingly.
Blushing, she swaps them out. “I’m not an extra small.”
“You’re extra small to me.”
She flushes. “I’ll need to try them on.”
“Go ahead. I’ll wait. You got everything you need?”