Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
“We been moving too slow?” he asked.
“Perhaps,” Grady allowed.
“She asleep?”
“I think so. Effie?” Grady asked.
She let out a small snort, then she sat up. “I gots another seecit.”
“Do you just?” Amusement filled Grady’s face.
Who was this man? Steele hadn’t seen him look this happy and carefree in . . . well, maybe never.
“What is it?” Grady asked.
“I’ve got magic beans!”
“You do?” Grady asked.
“Yep! You want some. I can give you some of my magic beans.”
“You keep them, sweetheart.”
“Okie-dokie. Ooh, I has got another seecit.”
“What is it?”
“I think Grady’s pretty.”
Steele’s eyes widened.
“I’m not pretty. I’m a man.” Grady gave her a stern look.
“Men can be pretty. He’s pretty. But, shh, don’ts tell him that I think of kissing him.”
“You think of kissing me? Um, him?” Grady asked, appearing shocked.
“Uh-huh, but it’s very naughty. Cause you know what? Do you?”
“What?” Grady asked
“I thinks of kissing Steele too. Isn’t that so bad?”
“Why is that bad?” Steele asked.
“Because I can’t have two men. That’s silly. G-greedy. Nan said it’s bad to be greedy. She said I’d get fat if I ate too much. Guess . . . guess Nan was right. She said that no man would want me if I frowned or got mad or complained.”
Jesus.
Steele met Grady’s gaze with his own. Nan had a lot to answer for.
“My bosses are a bit scary, but at least they’re pretty to look at.”
“Effie, eyes on me.” Steele sat again, leaning forward to take her chin in his. “Fuck, it’s like she’s totally drunk.”
“Yep.” Grady had to catch her as she nearly slid out of his lap. “It’s like trying to hold on to slime.”
“I like slime. It’s so slimy. Can I haves some of your slime?” she asked.
“No,” Steele told her.
Her lower lip trembled.
Dear. God.
He had experience with Littles. With women crying. But he’d never felt like he’d been hit in the gut like this when faced with a trembling lip.
That lip . . . it could well be his fucking kryptonite.
No. Be strong.
“No slime?” she asked.
“No slime,” Steele told her. “It will make a mess. Get into everything. No slime.”
“That’s so sad!” she wailed.
“Effie.” He couldn’t give her an inch or she’d take a mile. He had to stay firm. Set boundaries.
Even if that was difficult as hell.
“You should have a badge,” she said.
“What?”
“Like a warning sign that says you are so mean.”
Grady snorted.
“Give her to me.” Steele held out his arms.
Grady’s face tightened. “No.”
Steele eyed him. “We’re going to share her. Remember? Sharing her means you need to actually fucking share her.”
“Fuck.” Grady closed his eyes, then breathed in and out slowly. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I don’t want to let her go.”
Steele understood that. That didn’t mean he wasn’t going to push the other man to let her go. He finally lifted her over to Steele.
Christ. He loved holding her. She fit perfectly in his arms. She wasn’t too small or too big.
Just. Fucking. Right.
And what was he? Fucking Goldilocks?
“Effie, listen to me.”
“You gots pretty eyes. Like a clear sky with no clouds.”
He did?
“I want you to listen to me, Effie. Grady and I might be scary. We might be dangerous. But you never have to fear us. Tell me you understand me.”
She opened her mouth and he waited for her agreement.
“I’m going to be sick.”
25
Grady wiped Effie’s face while Steele held her against him as they sat on the floor. She made a pitiful noise. “I don’t feel so good.”
“I know, Twinkletoes,” he said soothingly. “I’m sorry you don’t feel good. But we’re going to make you feel better.”
“I needs to go home. Brooks is all alone. I need to go to him.”
Grady shared a look with Steele. The last thing he wanted was to take her home. But she was right, Brooks was on his own. And at sixteen he could probably handle it. But they couldn’t just call him and tell him they were stealing his aunt for the night.
“We’ll take you home,” Steele said.
“Good. I want my bed.” She moved her feet back and forth. “Why aren’t I moving?”
“Because you’re not standing, baby,” Steele told her with a grin.
Grady stood and then helped her up, holding her steady against his chest.
“You smell so good.”
“Is that another seecit?” Grady asked.
“Why would it be a secret? Don’ts you know how you smell? Silly man. Lucky you’re so cute.”
“Cute and pretty?” Grady said in a mock growl. “I ought to spank you just for that.”
“Promises, promises.”
He gave Steele a surprised look, to find the other man was grinning.
“Come on,” Steele said. “Let’s get Sleeping Beauty home to her bed.”
“I’s not Sleeping Beauty! I don’t want to sleep for a hundred years, then be awakened with a kiss! Could you imagine that morning breath?”
Grady grinned.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Who are you then?” Steele asked in a serious voice.
“I’s Belle. I tame monsters.”