Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 25932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
“I didn’t, baby. I was speaking metaphorically,” I explained through choked laughter, amused, but also using it to disguise my primal reaction to the revelation. Knowing she would be mine and mine alone made it difficult to bury the caveman inside me.
She sputtered for a second, then seemed to just accept everything with a sigh. When her eyes met mine again, the embarrassment was gone. I felt even more drawn to this girl who could be so fierce but knew when to let things go. I hoped she used the same logic when I told her the truth about her father.
I gestured for her to walk ahead, then put my hand on the small of her back. The proprietary gesture and the scowl I shot at anyone who looked at her for more than two seconds made it clear she was with me.
Once we reached the door to my workshop, I unlocked it and turned off the alarm before ushering Kiara inside. When I flipped the lights on, Kiara looked around with awe, filling me with satisfaction. I was proud of my creations but seeing the look on Kiara’s face made me feel something new.
“You’re a swordsmith?” she breathed as she took in the equipment and walls filled with specialty-bladed weapons, primarily swords. ”Did you make all of these?”
“Yep.”
“They’re amazing.” She wandered to the closest one and reached up to trace some of the etchings on the blade of a saber that an Army cavalry has ordered as a gift for their retiring lieutenant.
“Feel free to look around. Be right back.”
I crossed the studio to an open door that led to my office. We didn’t want any of the evidence on the judge to be kept in Mac’s office since he met with so many people there. So I kept it hidden away in my safe. After retrieving it, I went to find Kiara and found her admiring a tiny music box with a knight in shining armor sitting on top of a horse with his sword in the air—balancing in the lid. He held a princess in his arms, and the song it played was from some movie that I couldn’t remember the name of. “It’s definitely not my normal kind of project,” I explained when she glanced at me with a puzzled expression. “But my prez asked me to make it for his old lady, and I like a challenge.”
“Well, it’s beautiful,” she murmured softly, her eyes a little dreamy as she looked the box over once more. I filed that away to think about later.
“Thanks. Let’s sit.” I pointed at a small table and chairs set by a little kitchenette. Once we were seated, I slid the files across the top, and she placed her palm on top of them. But rather than rip the first one open, she hesitated. Then her gaze raised to mine, and the fear swimming in the dark blue depths had my chest clenching again.
“I’m sorry.” The softly spoken words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. I almost shook my head in exasperation. If my brothers were around to see me acting like such a pussy, I’d never hear the end of it. But the only person I was worried about was my girl.
She swallowed, then took a deep breath and put her shoulders back before opening the top folder. As she read through the files, the silence was heavy, broken only by the sounds of our breathing and her shuffling paper.
Her expression slowly went from stoic to disbelief, until it finally crumpled into devastation.
Eventually, Kiara slowly pushed the files back to the center of the table and glanced up at me. She looked so lost, I just wanted to gather her into my arms and make it all go away. But I didn’t have the power to change anything. And considering the shock she had just been slapped with, I knew it wasn't the right time to force her to face the sizzling attraction building between us.
Instead, I stood and walked to her side, then held out my hand. I was about to pull my arm back when she finally grasped my palm and allowed me to help her stand. For someone so tiny, she had a hell of a grip and was squeezing the fuck out of my fingers.
My mind immediately wandered to what it would feel like if it was her virgin pussy sucking on my digits. Which only proved that I was still a bastard. She was too good for me, and I knew it. But it didn’t change the outcome. I was keeping Kiara. She was mine.
However, I was resigned to letting her go—for the moment. “Gonna walk you to your car, baby.”
She didn’t say anything, and she didn’t release my hand as I led her back to the parking lot.