Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 110802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Knox nodded, thinking they would agree to relocating if for no other reason than that they thought Harper would be safer that way. “There’s a little building I think would be ideal for you. I hope you’ll at least check it out before refusing.” His brow furrowed. “Why are you smiling?”
The whole thing was just so typical of him. “You’re such an opportunist. You see me get attacked and think, hey, I can use this to my advantage.”
“This surprises you?” He’d warned her in advance that he was ruthless and would do whatever it took to get his own way.
“Not at all. Part of you is gloating that the incident has bitten into my ‘I don’t need to relocate the business’ argument, isn’t it?”
“The experience just proved what you already knew: it’s not a safe area.”
“Sure, but I grew up there. I’m a Wallis, Knox. That means that when it comes to crime, I’m not one who can judge.”
“But you are mated to a demon that many fear and many would like to see dead. Just a few months ago, you were taken from me. I had no idea where you were, and I couldn’t reach you. I don’t want to experience that again. I proposed psychically tagging you so that I’d know where you were at all times, but you were against that. I agreed to drop it, but you agreed we would compromise on things. I’m asking you to compromise here.”
He knew she found his overprotectiveness stifling, particularly since she also had to deal with his demon’s overprotectiveness. She thought it was mostly Knox’s need for control at work. Admittedly, he did need control. Not just to keep his demon and his abilities in check. He’d spent most of his childhood under the control of a sick, cult-like leader who’d dictated when he woke, what he ate, what he wore, when he slept, and where he slept.
The leader had insisted on complete submission, disallowing the others to make their own decisions, and punished any form of rebellion. Eventually Knox had joined the outside world, swearing to himself that he would never again be under the control of another. He’d seized all the things he’d previously been denied, including knowledge, independence, and possessions.
Now Knox took what he wanted when he wanted it. Now he lived by his own rules. Operated on his own schedule. He had a strong sense of self; it was something he’d worked hard for. He enjoyed the level of power, success, luxury, and decadence he had in his life. But nothing had ever been as important to him as Harper. She wasn’t just important. She was necessary to him.
He’d explained to Harper that his overprotective behavior wasn’t an attempt to control her, but she found it difficult to grasp that she could be indispensable to someone. He supposed that if your parents – the two people that were meant to love and care for you – didn’t consider you essential to their lives, it would never be easy to accept that anybody else could or would. Lucian might care for her in his way, but he’d never put her first.
“Like I said, I’ll talk to the girls about it.”
“Fair enough.” Done talking about others, Knox flipped open her towel and took a moment to drink in every inch of her. Satisfaction welled up in his demon at the sight of the possessive brands it had left on her breast and navel. Knox also liked to mark what was his, hence the many small bites on her ivory skin. Neither he nor his demon had been possessive of another being until Harper.
“It doesn’t seem fair that I’m naked and you’re not,” said Harper. Dark eyes gleaming with a savage possession met hers as he shrugged out of his shirt. She swallowed at the sight of his powerful body. There wasn’t a single ounce of fat; just pure hard, sculpted muscle. But she didn’t have long to admire the view, because he then gave her his body weight. She’d never admit to the dominant fucker that she liked that feeling of being surrounded and trapped.
Harper slid her hands onto the solid bulk of his shoulders as his mouth consumed hers, feasting and dominating. His teeth raked down her throat, and then he was licking and biting her neck. Moaning, she arched into him. That was when one ice-cold, psychic finger slid between her folds. Harper gasped. She still didn’t understand how something so cold could give off pure heat, but the sensation burned her flesh and made her pussy spasm.
He sucked on her pulse just as he shoved two psychic fingers inside her. Another moan slipped out of her as they expertly stroked, swirled, and thrust. They weren’t just pleasuring her; they were building a need that only Knox could fulfill. If he was to walk away right now she’d stay like this – a sexual mess. No amount of touching herself would get her off. Only he could take away the ache once he put it there.