Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
She nodded. He could feel her gaze on him. “I really am sorry I worried you, Joshua. I was so scared for Bastien. If Nikita had him…”
“You fuckin’ knew he was already dead if Nikita had him.” He glanced sideways at her, letting her know he wasn’t about to listen to bullshit.
They drove in silence, and then he suddenly pounded on the steering wheel with his fist in an explosion of violence. She jumped, her heart accelerating. She glanced at his stony features and then out the window. He knew he was scaring her and he had to stop, but he’d never experienced such fear. Terror.
His world had nearly ended. Every dream he’d ever had – given up – and then felt he got back when she came to him, was gone. He’d been sick. Since that moment in Borneo, when he’d gone berserk and annihilated the five men who had taken those three young girls from the villagers, he had managed to convince himself that monster was gone. Subdued. He was one hundred percent in control. He would never repeat that shameful act. When Molly told him his woman was gone, the monster was back instantly and roaring for blood. A leopard’s killing blood.
What was the point of allowing her to try to explain anything to him right at that moment? He wasn’t willing to listen. Or he couldn’t. Either way, she had zero chance of making him understand why she drew Sasha’s crew away from his home. Maybe she didn’t know why she’d done it.
Silence filled the car and he glanced over at her. She stared out the window, but he saw the tears tracking down her face. She was quiet about it, crying in silence, not trying to use tears to get her way. The sight twisted his heart. He wanted to pound the steering wheel again, because the monster was loose and it was still afraid it had lost her. Lost her to the man who had claimed her.
He had no right, Shadow snarled. None. She wasn’t his. She was never his. She belongs to us.
She did. Sonia belonged to them, but she wasn’t property. You heard her. She told him she chose us. She had. He’d heard every word she’d said. He glanced over again, and she had turned her face even more from him and had pressed her fingers tightly against her lips. He couldn’t take it. She was his, and he wasn’t doing a very good job of taking care of her. She had to have been terrified to walk out to the SUV and put herself into the hands of someone she was certain had tried to kill her. She’d been incredibly brave – not thinking straight, but brave.
“Baby, don’t cry.” Joshua couldn’t help the soft, velvet tone. She broke his heart crying like that. He reached out and brushed a tear from her cheek. “I’m angry that I nearly lost you. When she told me…” He broke off, the darkness in him roaring for blood.
Now that the monster in him was loose, he wasn’t certain he could stay in control. It had taken those years at Jake Bannaconni’s ranch to bring him back his calm center. “Just know I’m happy I’ve got you back for more reasons than you know.” He caught her hand, brought her fingertips to his mouth to kiss them and then pressed her palm tight to his thigh.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered again. “I really am. I realize now, it wasn’t the smartest plan. I just didn’t want them…” She broke off and pressed her fingers harder into her lips.
They were home and he turned off the motor, but he didn’t move. He hadn’t thought he could hear her explanation and really listen, but he had the feeling her motivation hadn’t been entirely about Bastien.
“Sonia. Were you protecting me?” Taking into consideration the way she was with Jerry and Molly, and if what she’d told Sasha had been true and she loved him, it would be fiercely, and yes, protectively. He wanted to swear all over again and this time pound his fist into the wall, but he forced back the monster threatening to swallow him and stayed silent and still. Looking at her.
She was beautiful in her disheveled state. He loved when she was put together, because she was gorgeous, but this was best. Her hair was falling out of the braid she’d used to tame it. Her tee was stretched tight across her breasts, so he could see the outline of the curves and the way her nipples were tight little temptations. Her jeans clung to her hips and rounded ass, cupping her bottom, putting all sorts of wonderful but dirty ideas into his head. She was barefoot, and she had small, delicate feet.
“Sonia, I’m not going to go crazy and hurt you, I am just asking for the truth.”