Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“Hollis! You can’t just leave!”
“I’m sick,” I growl. “So fucking sick. I’ll see you later.”
I speed the whole way to the fire station. It’s snowing and the streets are slick, but I’m a man on a mission. Make everything right. But how? I don’t know and that just makes me want to throw up. This day keeps getting worse and worse.
I need to explain.
I want to help.
He’s going to hate me more than he already does, and it kills me. It kills me because I didn’t want this for him or Roux.
My car slides into a parking spot. I barely get it turned off before I’m flying out and into the station. As soon as I step inside, I notice a woman speaking to Roux while Roan paces. The woman sees me and smiles.
“You must be Hollis? You and your mother went to get Roux and Roan last night?” she asks, her nose crinkling.
Unable to formulate an answer before seeing Roan’s face, I glance over at him. His jaw clenches, but he says nothing.
“Yeah,” I grunt out. “Roan, can I talk to you for a sec?”
The woman nods. “I think that would be great. Roan, go talk to your friend. I wanted to ask Roux a few questions anyway.”
His nostrils flare, but I plead with my eyes as he walks over to me. He passes me and steps outside. I follow him around the side of the building. Is this where he’s going to kick my ass? Finish the job Jordy clearly wanted to do?
His expression is unreadable. It’s dead. Empty. A void. I don’t know if he’s mad or upset.
“Roan…”
“Don’t,” he warns, his bronze eyes flashing a yellowy gold like fire.
“I didn’t—”
He rushes me, his palm covering my mouth. The brick digs into my back and his hips keep me pinned. “I said don’t.”
His eyes lose their fury as anguish sets in. He’s scared. Devastated. Fuck. I want to wrap my arms around him and promise him it’ll be okay. Has anyone ever assured him it would be?
“I can’t lose her,” he hisses, bringing his mouth to my ear. “Carol is talking about putting her in a temporary home and I…” His voice breaks. “I can’t fucking take that, rat.”
I flinch at the name. Doesn’t feel like much of a caress now.
My palms slide up his muscular chest over his hoodie. I’m desperate to hold him and make him all the promises in the world. He needs it.
“If…” He trembles, trailing off, as his hand slides from my mouth down to my neck. “If they take her away from me…” He pulls back, searing his flaming eyes into mine. “I’ll fucking kill you.”
I blink in confusion. “What?”
“You heard me, rat. If this all blows up and I lose my sister, then I’ll have nothing left to lose. I will hunt you down and fucking destroy you.” His palm tightens around my throat, restricting the airflow.
“I can fix this,” I promise, though it’s not my fault and I don’t know how. “Let me help you fix this.” My hands slide up his neck and into his messy hair. I scrape my fingertips along his scalp. His eyes flutter closed briefly.
I steal the moment.
Inhale him.
Stare at him.
Feel him.
We’re on the edge of something, and it’s about to be taken away from me.
So I keep the moment for as long as I can.
I grip his hair tighter, making him open his eyes and hiss in warning. He clutches my throat tighter. Despite his anger and devastation, his body responds to mine. I can feel just how much so, as his dick rubs against mine through our jeans.
His shoulders sag slightly and his hand falls away from my neck. I pull his head toward mine. Forehead to forehead, we breathe in each other’s scent. Amber eyes lock onto mine—the brokenness in them causing little fissures inside my heart. I caress his scalp with my fingers, trying to convey wordlessly these intense feelings for him that have consumed my every thought.
Our mouths are so close.
I could kiss him.
Would it solve everything?
So close.
A tilt of my head.
I could make it happen.
He exhales and tilts forward, bringing his lips near enough to mine, they almost brush. “Remember, Hollis, if I lose her, I’ll ruin you in every way possible.”
Not a kiss.
Just cruel, hateful words that make my stomach clench violently.
“Roan…”
He pulls away so abruptly, I nearly collapse without his body holding mine up against the wall. Roan is hard in his jeans. An angry scowl paints his face into something hauntingly beautiful. Those lips…fuck. Those lips are pink and full and would feel so good pressed to mine.
“Roan…” My voice is shrill and pleading.
The vulnerable boy retreats into the shadows as the fierce one steps up, ready to defend.
“Get the fuck out of my life, rat.” He cracks his neck and gives me a scathing glare. “Or I’ll do it for you.”