Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Painful memories accosted him, but he pushed them back. He was good at pushing them back. At least Thayer hadn’t been on the receiving end of their fathers “lessons”, well, not like Deacon had been.
With him being the oldest he had to man-up and take the brunt of the shit thrown their way. He had a fucked-up childhood, but he wouldn’t have changed it.
His brother had been spared the horror he had seen, and nothing else mattered.
“I don’t know how that shit works, but it looks like we don’t have a choice. It looks like fate chose for us.” Deacon had never believed in fate or destiny, but after laying eyes on Jessa there were a lot of things he was reconsidering.
“We can’t keep her here forever, Deacon. You’ll fix her car, and then she’ll want to leave.” They heard her in the bedroom, and both of them turned in that direction.
She didn’t come out, and Thayer continued.
“Sooner or later she’s going to see us shift, and then how are we going to explain that? She’ll run away from us so fast and hard we’ll never be able to find her.”
A low growl left Deacon at the thought of her leaving. “I’m not going to let her go, not when she makes the restless energy and my beast calm.”
His voice was calm, but even he heard the determination in his voice.
“We are just going to make her want to stay, no matter what.”
Chapter
Nine
“You sure you’re feeling all right?”
Jessa smiled and looked over her shoulder at Thayer. That was the third time in the past hour he had asked her. “I’m fine, really.” He looked at her sheepishly, and she chuckled.
“I’m sorry. I’m probably driving you crazy asking you every five minutes.”
She turned away from the window. “No, you’re not.” She smiled. “I’ve never had anyone want to make sure I was okay as much as you do.”
Her body heated at his close proximity. Her nipples pebbled, and moisture gathered between her thighs. The look he gave her left nothing to the imagination on what he wanted.
His emotions were written clearly on his face, and she wondered if hers were as well. Could he see that in just twenty-four hours she ached to have him touch her, to have his brother do the same?
Was she that fucked-up in the head that she wanted the first men she came across? For the second time since meeting Thayer and Deacon she thought this, and for the second time she felt shame.
Tearing her eyes from his she looked out the window just as Deacon’s truck drove up the driveway with her smashed in Honda trailing behind.
She had wanted to go with him, to at least make herself useful, but when he had scowled at her she had dropped the subject.
Since they told her she could stay at their place while he fixed her car, she tried to think of ways to lessen the burden of her stay. She insisted on making meals and cleaning up.
The look they had given her made it clear they didn’t have a problem with that. Their almost innocent expression of pleasure over that had her smiling. It was a small price to pay for their kindness.
The massive truck stopped parallel to the cabin, and her heart sank at the sight of her little Honda. The driver’s side was completely smashed in, and the window broken.
The windshield was cracked throughout the length of it. Thayer’s warm breath was by her ear, and when he whistled at the sight she didn’t have the strength to be irritated.
The hairs on her arms stood up at the feel of his close proximity.
“Looks like that tree came out of nowhere, huh?” His voice teased, and she closed her eyes at the way it made her feel. She really needed to get control of herself.
She turned her head, not really knowing how to respond, but feeling the need to defend her poor car. His face was so close to hers, and the feel of his breath, minty and warm, brushing along her face, had the urge to close her eyes and lean closer riding her strong.
Of course she didn’t do that, not because she didn’t want to, because God help her she sooo wanted to, but because she did have a little self-respect. She licked her lips and saw the way his eyes dipped down to watch the act.
She used that moment to take in his masculine features. Hard planes, a straight nose, and full lips had him looking like he should grace the cover of a GQ magazine.
“I’ve had that car for ten years. It’s seen me through a lot of crap.” Her voice was a mere whisper, but he wasn’t paying her any attention. His gaze was still trained on her lips, and when he started leaning forward she closed her eyes. Heart beating wildly, she waited for the inevitable contact of his mouth on hers.