Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“They know,” Madeline said flatly. “At least, they know his side—and they’re never going to believe mine. Besides, it all happened years ago—I don’t want anyone digging it up again. I just want to forget it.”
“You shouldn’t have to forget it—you should have vengeance,” Grath argued.
She sighed deeply.
“That’s not how things work—it would only drag everything up again and I don’t need that! What I need is just to get through this Christmas peacefully and then go back to my home and my job on the Mother Ship without causing a scene.” She looked at him pleadingly. “So please—won’t you just leave this alone? I never would have told you if I had thought you were going to start hunting people down! Besides, Principal Thurgood is already dead—he died of a heart attack last year,” she added.
Grath took a deep breath, trying to push down the Rage that still wanted to consume him.
“That’s the male who didn’t believe you, right?” he asked.
Madeline nodded.
“That’s the one.”
“Well, I hope his death was painful,” Grath said savagely. “But as for that fucker we met in the park, I can’t promise not to pound him if I see him again.”
“Believe me, I don’t want to see him either,” Madeline told him. “We’ll just stay far away from the hardware store and stick close to the house—hopefully we won’t see him anymore.”
“We’d better not, if he wants to keep his head attached to his fucking shoulders,” Grath growled.
“All right.” She nodded, looking relieved. “Now that’s settled, can we please get back into bed? I’m freezing.” And she shivered and put her arms around herself.
“I guess so,” Grath said grudgingly.
He settled back on his side of the bed, leaning against the headboard and Madeline climbed in beside him, sliding under the quilt, still shivering as she did so. Grath noticed and looped an arm around her.
“Come here, little girl—let me warm you up,” he told her.
Madeline leaned against him and he could feel how chilly her soft, curvy little body had gotten. He held her closer and sighed.
“I’m just so sorry you had to go through that, Madeline. It’s so fucking wrong.”
She nodded.
“It wasn’t easy but it’s in the past. And you know what?” She looked up at him. “I actually feel better about it now.”
“You do?” Grath frowned down at her. “But I didn’t kill the male who hurt you. I didn’t even maim him!”
“It’s not about that.” She shook her head. “I feel better because I…I’ve never told anyone else about it before—not after trying to get the principal to believe me and having it blow up in my face, anyway,” she added dryly. “But telling you and having you believe me—”
“Of course I believe you!” Grath exclaimed, holding her closer. “I just wish I could have been here with you to protect you back then.”
She smiled up at him.
“See? Just hearing you say you believe me makes me feel better. It makes me feel…validated, if that makes any sense.”
“It would make more sense if you’d let me pound the ever-living fuck out of that asshole who hurt you,” Grath grumbled. “But I guess as long as you’re feeling better…”
“I am. Thank you.” Leaning up, she kissed him on the cheek and snuggled against him. “Thank you so much, Grath.”
“You’re welcome, baby. Any time.”
He couldn’t help wishing that kiss had landed on his mouth instead of his cheek. But of course, they were just pretending to be dating. Though he knew he would sweep the little female up in a heartbeat if only he wasn’t a Hybrid with no chance of bonding her to him.
Madeline sighed contentedly.
“You’re so warm. I just love it!”
“I can get as warm as you want me to, baby,” Grath assured her. He scooted down in the bed so he was lying down again, making sure he kept her cuddled against his side. “Just let me know—I can turn it up or down as much as you need.”
“Mmm…just a little warmer then.” Madeline was already looking sleepy.
She threw one leg over his hips and wrapped her left arm around him possessively, which Grath really fucking liked. He let his internal temperature climb another degree or so and stroked her long, silky hair which was spread over his chest like a shining shawl.
As he looked down at the curvy little female, Grath felt a tenderness he’d never known before filling him. He had no idea how they’d gotten so close so quickly when he had spent months trying to keep her at arm’s length. He knew it was dangerous but somehow he couldn’t help it—right at this moment, he didn’t care. He just wanted to hold Madeline and keep her warm and feel her soft, curvy body pressed against his own all night long.
He would worry about the consequences tomorrow.
TWELVE
MATTIE
There were no more bad dreams that night—though there were some rather erotic ones…