Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 37638 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 188(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37638 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 188(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
Little by little, the tension faded from my body. My mind focused on nothing but the next brush stroke. Lethargy wrapped around me like a warm, fuzzy blanket, and I was nearly asleep where I sat. It was like I was in a trance. Waiting for the next stroke of the brush.
I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew, Brick was moving me so that I lay with my back to his chest. He reached over and switched off the light before settling on his side, my head pillowed on one arm while he wrapped the other one around me. He shifted once to pull me more solidly against him, then was still. The warmth and security were an extra layer of comfort, and there was no way I could fight against sleep. With a sigh, I closed my eyes and let it take me.
Chapter Three
Serelda
I woke up needing the bathroom. It didn’t seem like I’d moved a muscle. Brick’s big, solid body was still snug behind me, and his brawny arm wrapped around me. The only difference was, the arm my head was pillowed on was also wrapped around me. I’m not sure I’d ever felt so safe and warm as I did in that moment.
Despite needing to get up, I found myself drifting, allowing myself to imagine this same setting but with a different scenario. What if Brick claimed me as his? What if he wanted me the way I wanted him? He could be wrapped around me like this after a night of lovemaking. Or because he genuinely wanted to be with me instead of trying to keep me from running off or to calm my fears.
There was nothing more I wanted to do than stay right where I was. And I tried! But my bladder was having none of it, and I had to get up to take care of business.
Brick grunted, his arms tightening slightly before letting me go. “Where’re you goin’?” God, his voice was sexy roughened from sleep! Made me wonder if he’d sound like that if he bellowed to the rafters as he came… deep inside me…
“Bathroom.” My voice was husky, and I suspected it wasn’t only because I’d been asleep. I was more turned-on than I had ever been in my life. Even before my father had sold me and Winter to sadistic bastards to use as they pleased. Before I hadn’t been old enough to know what sex really was. After, I hadn’t wanted to be touched by a man ever again. Now? I still didn’t want to be touched. Except by Brick. I wanted him to touch me more than I wanted to take my next breath.
He growled once, then kissed the delicate skin behind my ear. “You come right back. Ain’t time to get up.”
Instead of answering, I scrambled out of bed and hurried to the bathroom. The urge to retreat again like I had before was strong, but I knew Brick wouldn’t allow it. Sure enough, ten minutes later, there was a knock at the door.
“You ain’t stayin’ in there the rest of the night, little warrior.” He knocked again for emphasis. “Come on.”
I opened the door, suddenly shy about seeing him. I’d acknowledged to myself I wanted Brick, but I wasn’t sure I was ready to face the reality that he’d never see me that way. I ducked my head, but Brick caught my chin and gently forced my head up so he could look down into my eyes. There was only a nightlight where the light switch was. The curtains in the room were pulled, and I’d turned the light in the bathroom off before I’d opened the door. I had no idea what he thought he could see, but I was grateful for the lack of lighting.
“We need to get a few things straight, little warrior.”
“Why do you keep calling me that?”
“Because it’s what you are. And no. It’s not because of your name. I know what your name means, but that’s not why you’re a warrior.”
“I’m not a warrior, and I know you know it.”
“Oh?” He tilted his head as he continued to look down into my face. I wished I could see his expression. The reddish-orange glow of the safety light on the light switch wasn’t enough to get a good read on him. “Why would you say that?”
I snorted, turning my head to free myself from his fingers. He refused to let me go and stepped closer into my personal space in a slow, deliberate step. If it had been anyone other than Brick moving in on me like he was, in a dominant position holding my head still, I’d have backed up and tried to get away. With Brick, I not only held my ground, but stepped forward, closing the scant inches separating us. His arm slid around me to palm my back with his big hand. It nearly covered the entire surface. Instead of panicking, I inhaled deeply of his scent. It was comforting. Just like it had been when I’d lain in his arms on the bed.