Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 83970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
The other men looking at her is not the only reason I’ve kept her so close. I can’t seem to keep my hands off of her. The anticipation has been building all night, and I waited until after Josie and Kaleb left before I suggested to Em that we get out of here as well. Thankfully, the newly wedded couple cut out as quickly as they could.
I saw Shadow in a darkened corner with Misty. I grin at the sight, seems the teacher’s assistant isn’t as easy to resist as he’d lead me to believe. No doubt Shadow will have company tonight.
I can’t tell if she’s nervous about what may happen tonight or if she’s tapping her foot on the floorboard of the town car out of excited anticipation. I place my hand on her knee and kiss the top of her head when she leans against my chest. Ian has staff at the house, but assured me we wouldn’t be bothered. He knows a little of the situation Emmalyn came from and has been very accommodating to her needs.
Finally back at the house, I close and lock the bedroom door we’ve been graciously provided for the night. She turns around, and the seductive look on her face shoots straight to my cock, which wastes no time getting rock hard.
“Emmalyn,” I grunt and stride toward her ready to throw her on the bed and fuck her all night. I lift my hand to touch her face, and even though she tries to hide it, I see her turn her head slightly preparing to be hit.
My world crumbles. Even after all this time, somewhere in her mind, she believes that I could turn into a man violent enough to put my hands on her in an abusive way.
I take a step back, and she reaches for me. “Diego?”
“You’re scared of me.” It’s not a question; she can’t deny it.
“I’m not,” she swears. “I flinched. I’m sorry. It wasn’t purposeful, I promise.”
“Let’s get ready for bed, Em.”
I undress quickly, tossing the suit haphazardly on the low dresser. I grab the t-shirt I wore for the ride into Denver and walk over to Emmalyn. She’s upset; that makes two of us.
“Let me help you with your dress.” I unzip the back and let it fall to the floor at her feet and pull my t-shirt over her head. Not exactly how I saw undressing her going when I first pictured it earlier.
“Diego, I didn’t mean,” she swallows roughly, and I can see tears begin to shine in her eyes. “I’m not afraid of you. I just…” I put my finger over her mouth.
“Let’s lay down.” I guide her to the bed and let her climb in first.
We lay in silence for a few minutes before I feel the need to explain my position. I need her to trust me completely.
“My mother,” I begin. “My mother was abused for years by my father.”
She stiffens against my chest.
“I remember her begging him not to hurt me; to hit her instead when he’d get angry.” I pause in an attempt to let the emotions running through my head subside. They show no signs of leaving, so I continue. “It was all I knew. My very first memory of my mom was her clutching me to her chest, crying. She had a black eye and her lip was split.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through that,” she says softly.
“I’d hear him from my bedroom late at night.” I cringe at the memories. “He’d…” I can’t even finish. I turn my head so I can see her eyes. “Did your husband ever… did he force you to…”
She shakes her head. “Never,” she whispers. “Thankfully. He’d beat me and tell me he hated me because I wasn’t attractive anymore, but he never forced himself on me that way. He had other women, though.”
“Thank God,” I mutter and kiss her forehead. “I’m not telling you all of this to get sympathy. I want you to know that after seeing my mom abused for so many years, I’d never hit a woman. My instincts are always to protect those who can’t protect themselves.” I run my hand up her back. “I know it will take a long time for you to fully trust me, and I’ll work toward that every single day, Emmalyn.”
“Until you, Diego, I hadn’t had a loving touch in years. Bobby would be nice sometimes, but I was always waiting for the slightest thing to change him into the devil I know he is.” She places her head back on my chest. “When did your mom finally get away from your dad?”
A tear rolls down my cheek. “The night he killed her.”
She doesn’t say anything; she holds me tighter, and I can feel the shake of her shoulders as she cries at my loss and a woman she’ll never be able to meet. I turn my head into her hair and breathe her in.