Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 37093 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37093 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
“Oh, no.” Blade took Odette’s arm and gently extracted her from my arms. I wanted to protest, but I recognized now wasn’t the best time. Odette looked shell-shocked and fighting over her like two dogs with a bone would only distress her more. “I’m going with you. Me and Odette need to talk, and now’s the perfect time.”
“Don’t you think she needs time to process all this or some shit?” On some level I knew that wasn’t the right thing to say, but it slipped out before I could stop it. “You can talk to her tomorrow.”
“Nope. I think now’s the perfect time.” He led Odette to the Bronco and helped her inside. I clenched my teeth and flipped Wylde off when he cackled like a fucking loon.
Turned out, Blade was on my side. He spoke quietly with Odette all the way back to the compound. Yes, she was feeling more than a little fragile, but she kept looking at me any time Blade would ask her a question. They were in the back seat, but she’d meet my gaze in the rearview mirror anytime she was unsure of herself. She already relied on me to help when she needed it. That knowledge made my chest swell with pride.
When we were back at the compound, Blade reached out a hand to me. “You keep taking good care of my sister, Cyrus. Don’t know what she sees in you, but I’m convinced she loves you.” I took his hand and gave it a firm shake.
“I…” I cleared my throat. “She’s a good woman.”
Blade, the bastard actually grinned. I suppose if there was another man on earth who got me, it was Blade. “I hear ya.” Thing was, he probably did.
I took Odette to my room and stripped her bare before getting undressed myself. We lay down in the bed together, and I pulled her to me so her head rested on my shoulder and my arms were securely around her. She didn’t cry but I thought she might be holding it all in.
“You can, you know, tell me your feelings or whatever you need to do right now.”
“I don’t really know what I’m feeling.” Her voice was soft and a little mournful, wrapping around my heart and squeezing uncomfortably.
“That’s supposed to be my line.” As I hoped, that got a small smile from her. But it wasn’t nearly enough.
I let the silence stretch on for a while before I asked my next question. “Did you love him, Odette? Does it bother you to know what’s about to happen to him?”
“No. Not at all. Either of those things. I thought I wanted him, but I think I knew from the first time we were intimate he wasn’t going to be the man for me. It still hurt when I discovered his secret, but had I not realized I might be pregnant, it would have been a relief. I had a way out without confrontation on my part. I mean, finding out your boyfriend has a wife and kids is confrontation enough.”
“True.” Then I asked the question that was burning inside me. The question I dreaded asking because it put me in a position to hear the word I hated most in the world. This time, hearing it might tear a hole in me big enough to drive a semi through. “What about me? You’re still not leaving me, but do you love me?” She’d said it once but had been exhausted and probably half asleep when she had. I needed to know even if I couldn’t give her an answer to the same question.
She stilled, then looked up at me. There was a beautiful, soft smile on her face. “Yeah, Cyrus. I love you. More than I ever thought it possible to love someone. Especially in such a short time.” She settled back but didn’t stop talking. “I had you built up into a fantasy no one could ever live up to. For two years I thought about you and how I wanted my life to be with you.”
Just like that, my world crumbled. She might love me, but it was likely I’d never measure up to what she wanted. “I’ll be what you need, Odette. I swear I’ll figure it out.”
“That’s the thing, Cyrus. You surpassed everything I thought I ever wanted. Sure, you’re abrupt and gruff, but you’re one of the best people I know. And you take care of me. You give me what I need.”
The band tightening around my chest eased and I found myself shaking with relief. Of course, Odette noticed and frowned up at me.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing! I…” God! Feelings should be outlawed. They were confusing and messy and… “I love you.”
There was silence while Odette blinked up at me, surprise on her lovely face. Then a slow smile graced her features, and I completely lost my heart in that very instant.