Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Cherish had been shaken up but she’d recover. She wouldn’t stop thanking Sapphire for stepping in. And for that alone, it was worth putting herself in danger.
Sapphire wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her unbruised cheek to his broad chest, listening to the steady thump of his heart under her ear.
It hit her then, the same fear she had for Cherish, Rez had had for her. She couldn’t sit back and watch her fellow dancer get hurt, the same as Rez couldn’t bear watching Sapphire getting hurt, either.
She had been seeing red and wasn’t thinking straight when she went after Taint. She had acted purely on instinct. So, she couldn’t fault Rez for reacting accordingly when he saw what happened to her.
She’d be upset and angry if she had to watch footage of Rez putting himself in danger or getting hurt, too.
He cupped the back of her head and held her close, whispering, “Damn, woman. When I stood there watching what happened, I was torn on whether I should be horny or horrified when you kicked his ass with a fucking shoe.”
“Which is it?”
He blew out an audible breath. “Truthfully? I was scared as fuck.”
“I’m sorry. I had no idea you could see what happened.”
He pulled back enough to stare down at her. “Does that mean if I hadn’t witnessed it with my own two eyes, you might not have told me? Would you have lied to me about how you got the bruise?”
She rubbed her forehead. “I don’t know. But between the bruise and not being employed at The Peach Pit, I’m sure you would’ve figured it out eventually. I mean, you’re a cop. You’re good at putting pieces of a puzzle together.”
“Damn,” he whispered.
“Like I said, I don’t want you doing something stupid over it and destroying your career.”
“I would hope I have more self-control than that.”
She pulled out of his arms and pointed at her kicked-in door. “Really?”
He grimaced. “Yeah, well… I’ll admit it, I don’t have much self-control when it comes to you.”
“And I’m going to lose my security deposit, thanks to you.”
“I’ll pay for the damage.”
“You shouldn’t have to pay for the damage at all,” she exclaimed. “You had no right to do that.”
“I did, Phire. I needed to see you to make sure you were okay. No, not only see you but touch you. I was fucking worried about you.”
“I’m getting that.”
“I’ll secure the door before we leave. And again, I’ll pay for the damage so you don’t lose your security deposit. But at least it proved you’re not safe living here. Any asshole can come kick in your door.”
“Is that how you’re justifying me finding a new place to live?”
He shrugged. “It sounded good, didn’t it?”
She rolled her eyes at him, then sighed. “I don’t know what I’m going to do now.”
“It’ll be okay. We’ll figure it out.”
“It’s not for you to figure out, Rez.”
“Not for me alone but that doesn’t mean I can’t help. In fact, I might have a lead on a job for you. At least until Mel gets a club up and running.”
“Doing what?”
“What you love to do.”
She blinked. “But you don’t want me dancing.”
“And you don’t want me telling you what to do.”
“So, we’re at an impasse.”
“No, we’re not. I’m here for you. Not to make decisions for you, but to be your sounding board. Or to support you in whatever decisions you want to make. Sapphire, if you need me, I’ll be there. If you don’t, I’ll stand by your side and try to only use my mouth to cheer you on.” He paused and took a deep breath. “What I realized watching that footage is, I don’t want to lose you. And I came too damn close to that today.”
“What are you saying?” she whispered.
“You know what I’m saying.”
“I need to hear it. I don’t want to guess, Rez.”
“And are you going to reject me if I tell you?”
“Why would I reject you?”
“Because you’re stubborn and independent and I know you don’t need me. But I hope you want to keep me in your life. Despite the stupid shit I do or say.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. Not about wanting you or the stubborn and independent part, but the part where I don’t need you. I do. I never thought I’d ever say this, but I need you, Rez. Not to be my protector or to make my decisions but to simply be there for me. To accept me for who I am. Who I will always be. To accept me for being me. The fact that you weren’t threatened by my career choice was what attracted me to you in the first place.”
“That was the only reason?”
“You have some other good qualities,” she teased. Her amusement quickly faded when she followed with, “But then you got possessive.”