Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 73680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
“Is that where the pirate hunting came in?” I tease, marveling at how firm his thigh is.
“Yeah, I had to start small before fighting off the aliens. I was working at a garage and starting to dip my toes in some sketchy shit when someone recommended me to your dad. I can’t say he put me on the straight and narrow exactly, but being a prospect with the Screaming Eagles was the first time since my unit that I felt like I belonged somewhere. And five years later? Here I fucking am.” He eases back on the bench, taking me with him and resting my head on his chest.
That horrible cloud of endless terror is fading. It’s not like I’m not still scared out of my mind, but I think my lunch is safe in my stomach for now. I could probably even sit up without his arms around me if I wanted to, but I’d really prefer to stay here, to soak up his warmth and know someone’s here to watch over me.
“And you’re okay now?” I ask quietly. He’s been through more than me and I still hide in my closet.
“I try to keep distracted. Just get my mind off it when it feels like it’s going to be too much. Some days all I can fucking think about is blood and explosions, and those are usually the days someone ends up punching me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I probably deserve it. Just saying you shouldn’t be fucking ashamed of needing a hand from someone who’s fucking been there and fucking done that, I’m here.” He chuckles softly. “Just, you know, don’t ask for Lefty, ‘cause I’m not that flexible.”
It takes me a minute to understand what he meant. “Oh my God! You’re horrible!” Despite the situation we’re in, I laugh into his chest. Then I push off and look up at him. “Thanks.”
“Huh? For what?” He looks genuinely confused.
“For trusting me with your story. For making me feel safer than I probably am. I have no freaking idea what the Pit Vipers are going to do with me, but it can’t be good. You’re a hero.”
And then I lean in and kiss him softly on the cheek. At least I mean to, but he turns my way and it’s our lips that meet instead.
I freeze.
He does too.
This isn’t what I’d planned, but I’m not sure how to back away now. Or if I want to. If there’s anywhere that’s really not the time or place, a Pit Viper cell is almost definitely it. And yet, the soft heat of his lips against mine is an irresistible comfort in a scary situation.
Ripper slides his hand into my hair, combing his fingers through it until he’s palming the back of my head. Obviously he doesn’t want to pull away either.
His lips part, and I follow suit without hesitation. Kissing under the circumstances is crazy, but what hasn’t been since that box showed up?
I lose myself in the kiss, clinging to his shirt while he holds us together. His lips are soft, but the fist in my hair tugs at the roots, holding me in place and making me want to squirm just a little. His other arm curves around my back, grazing the exposed skin between the top of my jeans and the bottom of my shirt and pulling me close.
When we finally pull away, breathing heavily and flushed, he’s basically fucking me with his deep green eyes. If he asked right now, I’d be naked on the bench, begging for more. How do these guys do this to me? I woke up in Alpha’s arms this morning, and now I’ve fallen right into Ripper’s, only a few hours later.
“We can’t do this.” I wet my lips, still feeling the phantom press of his. “Not just because we’re in a cell waiting for who knows what, but I slept with Alpha last night—”
Ripper’s eyebrows go up.
“Not like that! But we… he comforted me too, in kind of the same way. I don’t want to cause problems between—”
“Faith, it’s okay. I had a feeling. I like that you give enough of a shit that you don’t want to fuck anything up, but it’s not a problem. Trust me. The three of us are a team, we don’t mind sharing.”
I blink. “Sharing?” Does he mean what I think he does?
“Damn you’re cute when you’re shocked. How about you think on it while we’re stuck, and if we’re all still alive later we can revisit this conversation.” He gets off the bench to try the door. It rattles as he shakes it, but doesn’t look like it’ll go anywhere. “Now I’ve got even more incentive to get us the fuck out of here. What’s taking them so fucking long? I figured Crow would be back here, to brag, if nothing else. He seems like the kind of fucker that gets off on his own voice.”