Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 78142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Where? I have no idea.
Maybe I’ll call Jake and see if I can crash with him for a few days. I don’t have a car, but I have enough money to catch a bus back to the western slope.
Of course, if I go back west, I’ll no longer be close to my rehab facility, but I can call Tim anytime. He can talk me off any ledges I find myself on. I’ll be back soon for my arraignment anyway.
I grab my duffel bag and my backpack, open the door to my bedroom, and walk out.
Only to drop my jaw when I get to the living room.
Diana’s there, and fuck it all.
She’s wearing a bright-red lace nightie that leaves nothing to the imagination.
Already my cock is responding.
She looks up at me. “Where are you going?”
“I told you I’d be out by morning.”
She walks up to me and grabs my hand. Sparks shoot through my body.
“Dragon, don’t leave. We both know you need to be here.”
I look her up and down. “Why are you dressed like that?”
“This is what I sleep in.” Her cheeks turn pink. “You think I put this on for you?”
It was a little presumptuous of me, I suppose. Maybe she does sleep in lace nighties. I can see the outline of her nipples. At least she’s wearing panties. If I could see that bare pussy, God…
“I just want to apologize,” she says. “I…”
“You what?”
She lets out a forced chuckle. “I was going to apologize for throwing myself at you. But then I realized I’m not sorry. I mean, you started it with that kiss.”
“I kissed you to get you to shut up,” I say.
She cocks her head. “You did?”
“Yeah, I did. You were yammering on and on about how I got myself into trouble last night.” I cross my arms. “You don’t even believe me, do you? You think I was actually soliciting that poor girl?”
Her shoulders slump, and she doesn’t respond.
“Then why didn’t you believe me when I told you I was sin? That I would take you to hell? You clearly believe the worst of me, Diana, and there’s nothing I can do to change that.”
She takes a deep breath, tenting her fingers in front of her chest. “I thought a lot about it. We were both in a weird place last night, and it’s probably best that we didn’t…you know.”
I simply nod.
Jacking off got me the release I needed, but damn, standing here looking at her… I still want her more than anything.
“Agreed.” I take a step toward the door. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll get out of your hair.”
She stands then, walks to me, and my gaze falls to her beautiful legs.
“Stay. Please. We’ll make this work. I start my new job tomorrow anyway, and I won’t be home much. Besides, we need to find you a lawyer.”
“Last I checked, that’s my problem, not yours.”
She wrinkles her nose. “I have contacts. My brother’s on his honeymoon, of course, and my mother’s retired, but do you think they’re the only two lawyers I know?”
“I can’t imagine your mother or your brother would represent me anyway.”
“They would if I asked them to. But I don’t have to ask them. You need a criminal defense attorney, and neither of them practice that kind of law.”
“I suppose you know someone who does?”
“Not personally, but I know lawyers, and I can get you a referral.”
“I can’t afford any kind of lawyer that you recommend.”
She stomps her foot. “For God’s sake, Dragon, I’m not saying you’ll have to pay for it. There are people who owe me favors. Who owe my family favors. Why can’t you get that through your thick head?”
I sigh. “Because I’m done taking from your family, Diana. That’s why I can’t live here.”
“God, you sound just like Jesse.” She rolls her eyes. “Don’t take Steel money. Don’t you know by now that we have enough to last a hundred lifetimes?”
“Doesn’t mean I’m entitled to any of it.”
“No, it doesn’t mean that. And quite frankly, it doesn’t mean I’m entitled to any of it either. I just happened to be born into this family. You think I did anything to earn a penny of it?”
I stop a moment, gaze at her. The look on her face is serious. She believes what she’s saying. And she’s right, of course. Most of the Steel fortune was made before she was even born.
“It’ll be easier for me to help you if you’re here.” She steps in front of the door. “So don’t go. Accept my apology and stay here.”
I should apologize to her as well. I had no right to kiss her the way I did or say anything about the guy she was with—and she had every right to slap me.
“Do you think we’ll be able to resist these urges we both seem to have?” I ask her.