Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 95676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
"Stop manhandling me," she huffs, pushing against my chest. It's useless though. I'm not going anywhere until she tells me what I did to piss her off.
"Then stop trying to run from me." I grab her arms, gently pinning them to the bed on each side of her head before she hurts herself trying to push me off her. I'm not going to hurt her and I don't want her hurting herself fighting me either.
"I wouldn't have to run if you'd stop trying to boss me around."
I scrutinize her expression, mine softening when I see the frustrated tears in her eyes. "Talk to me, kitten. What'd I do to piss you off?"
"I don't need a keeper," she growls. "I may not have much, but I can take care of myself."
What the fuck?
I stare at her for a long moment, taken aback.
"You've been taking care of yourself since you were a teenager."
"Exactly!"
"But you aren't alone anymore, baby girl. I'm here. Let me help."
"You aren't helping," she mumbles. "You're trying to boss me into doing what you want me to do."
I brush her hair back from her face, sighing. She read me all wrong. "Mid-City is rough, especially for a woman alone. I don't want something happening to you because you're hell-bent on proving to the world that you can survive on your own. You've already proven that. You've been proving it since you were seventeen years old."
She stares at me, not speaking.
"I want you with me," I continue, my voice a quiet rumble. "In this bed or in one in Mid-City if that's what makes you happy. I don't care. But I want to know you're safe while we're here. Not because you can't take care of yourself, but because you don't have to. I'm not going anywhere." I lean forward and brush my lips lightly across hers. "Stop fighting me."
"I already owe you so much," she whispers.
"You don't owe me anything. I'm right where I want to be."
"My entire life is a mess. What if being with me messes up yours, too?"
"I already told you I make my own decisions," I say.
"What if your decision ruins your career?"
I shrug off the question, not sure she's ready to hear the truth on that yet. She already ran once because she was afraid of what being with her would mean for me. If I tell her the truth now, she may very well run again. Only, she won't stop running this time. I'll lose her. Worse, she'll lose herself. She'll go to prison.
I gave Duke everything I had yesterday. He's not buying the catfish story. As far as he's concerned, Ivy's suspect. As soon as the Crime Lab confirms that the body is Rory Clark, he'll request an arrest warrant based on the evidence. We've got a few weeks, tops. After that…. Well, after that, shit gets even more complicated.
"I'm so scared, Cam," she admits through tears, her body going limp beneath mine.
"You think I don't know how scared you are?" I ask, wiping away her tears. "You think I don't see how much you're struggling? You think I don't know how much this entire investigation is hurting you? I know this is killing you, sweetheart. And I can't protect you from what's already happened, but I can help you through it. You just have to let me."
"I'm trying, but I'm not used to having someone else to lean on. It's overwhelming, Cam. You're overwhelming, especially when you get bossy."
"Kitten." I shake my head. "I don't tell you how things are going to be because you can't take care of yourself. I tell you how things are going to be because you need to know that you're safe with me. I've got you, and I'm not going to let anything bad happen to you. Trust that I know what you need, and that I'll give it to you."
"I'm trying," she says again.
"Good." I grin down at me. "That's all I want from you. A chance."
"Promise me I won't ruin your life," she pleads quietly, her expression rife with worry.
"You could never ruin my life." That's not even a question. Already, my life is better because she's in it. It's brighter because she's in it. I'm happier than I've ever been.
She takes a deep breath and then nods. "I'll stay here."
I smile at her, fucking thrilled with her decision. "Now, let's see how good you can be," I whisper, leaning down to kiss her lips once more before working my way down her body, determined to leave a trail of fire everywhere I touch. I want her burning for me. I want her to know exactly how good this thing between us is going to be.
"Cam," she breathes when I yank her shirt off to pull her nipple into my mouth. Fucking Christ. How does she have me hard again already? We've already had sex three times since we got here. "You're insatiable."