Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 37824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
“Isn’t this a place people go to for alcohol?”
“That it is.” I watch her closely to see her reaction. “I know this is a big change for you, sweetheart, but you no longer have to worry about your safety. I’ll never let anyone touch as much as a hair on your head.” I want her to feel safe here.
“Bars are filled with sin.” A small smile pulls at her lips. She’s not wrong there.
I live in that bar, and the things I want to do to her are sinful. Fuck, the things I have thought about doing to her while I got myself off inside that bar were just as bad. That was before I’d even touched her. Knew that she smelled like vanilla and sweet apples. Who knows what my mind will conjure up next?
I want to punch myself in the dick. This is so not the fucking time. She doesn’t need this shit. I rescued her from a cult twenty minutes ago. Any time I touch her or move too quickly, I see her tense up. I’d be shocked if she wants to talk to men once she is completely free.
She’ll never be free of me.
I’ll have to punch myself in the head along with my dick at the barbaric thoughts I’m having. Neither of my heads are acting right. Not that I can stop that. Libby has this effect on me. It’s her own little superpower. She is the only one in the world that wields it.
“I live above it.” I grab my phone and the drone controller. “I’ll help you out. Stay put.” When I exit the truck, I land the drone before helping Libby down. I need to install a side step for her to be safe. I add it to the mental list I already have going. There is no doubt that she will be a part of my life. It might not be in the way I want it right now, but my brother and Winter are together. I don't think Libby will go far from her sister.
I’m careful not to pull her into me when I help her down. The urge to hold her, comfort her, and make her feel safe is riding me hard. It takes all my self-control not to be too overbearing. What the hell is wrong with me? I have never had this problem before. I interact with women all the time in the bar, but never have I had an ounce of interest in them.
“My leg isn’t that bad. I can get down on my own.”
“It’s not about your leg. It’s slick out and the truck is high.”
“Oh.” Her eyes brighten. She doesn’t want to be treated differently because of her leg. Libby has no idea I will treat her differently, and it has absolutely nothing to do with her leg. Which I will be getting checked out by a professional once she’s ready.
I punch in the code to the back door. The screen opens, allowing me to place my thumb on it. The lock clicks over.
“I feel like I’ve gone to the future.”
“I’m sure there is a lot you’ll want to see and learn.” She nods. I flip on the lights before opening the door wider so she can enter the back entryway. “The bar and kitchen are that way.” I gesture down the hallway toward the front. “My place is here.” I nod to the stairs. My hand goes to her back to guide her. The second I make contact, she stiffens. I jerk it back.
We both say sorry at the same time.
“It’s me that should be sorry,” I repeat. “I know you don’t want to be touched.” I need to work on keeping my damn hands to myself for now.
“It’s not that, really. Just not used to it. I mean not without…” She trails off, and I find myself almost feeling grateful. I'm not in the right frame of mind to hear the details of what she went through at the hands of the men at Heaven’s Temple. I'd lock her in my home and go back to Heaven’s Temple on a rampage. While it would be justified, right now, I need to focus on her. Everything else can be left for later.
“I know.” I say that so she doesn’t have to. Not until she is ready, at least. Libby gives me a small smile before heading up the stairs. I stay close behind her. When we get to the top, I once again enter the code before placing my thumb on the scanner.
“This is really cool.” A small laugh leaves her.
“It’s not really normal. I just have these kinds of locks because of my job.”
“At a bar?” I bark a laugh, opening the door for her. “What?”
“I own a bar. It’s not really my job. I have people manage it. It’s more for me to have roots here. My brother relocated here, so I followed suit.”