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)
Sonia stumbled out of the cabin, and Joshua instantly caught her arm and pulled her into the shelter of his body. He wrapped his arms around her and put his chin on top of her head. She stayed there, unmoving, fighting back nausea, trying desperately to breathe through Gatita’s raking claws. Joshua’s hand stroked calming caresses down the back of her head, his fingers whispering through her hair.
It’s all right now, they will take care of it.
Strangely, it wasn’t Gatita’s voice she heard. It was the male leopard calming his mate, pushing his message through Sonia, giving her the impression of Joshua and Sonia tearing apart the cabin. The big male believed in the man, and he wanted Gatita to believe in him as well.
No one had spoken to Gatita but her. No one else had known about her until Joshua had come to them that first night of the female’s heat. Sonia had counted on her. The leopard had been her only companion these last few months. A part of her didn’t like sharing. She pulled out of Joshua’s arms.
“I see what you mean,” she said, still shaken. To cover the fact that her stomach was still churning and her body trembling, she stepped off the porch to solid ground. “If I were you, I’d pull them all down. Most of them have rotted, from the outside looks of them. These were slave cabins. Get rid of them, and if you need smaller homes for your men to stay in while they’re here, I’d choose the best locations and make slightly larger houses, ones with full kitchens, good bathrooms with showers so they’re comfortable. You could have the one with the best view be your guesthouse and make that special.”
“I thought it might just be my leopard that could feel that. Historical or not, they should come down. Like you said, most are falling down anyway, and they’re unsafe. The few Cordeau renovated, he didn’t keep the historical look at all.” He fell into step beside her, reached out and took her hand so that they moved together, side by side, along the path, their hands linking them together.
She bit at her lip. Just walking with him made her feel exhilarated. The feeling added color to the already bursting colors in the swamp and groves. Everything about being with Joshua felt intense. That was more than scary to her. She needed someone to talk to.
You have me. Gatita sounded a little annoyed.
Maybe I do, but you’re biased. All you can think about is having more sex with that male.
Gatita preened, purred and stretched languidly. That’s what you’re thinking about with your male.
It was true. So true, but Sonia wasn’t giving her cat the satisfaction of agreeing. She kept walking, debating whether or not to pull her hand away. Glancing up at Joshua’s set features, she decided against it. He was back to looking on the dangerous side.
“You don’t have a poker face. I can read every thought in your whacked-out-way-of-thinking mind. You promised me you’d try. Now you’re back to thinking about running.”
She glared at him. “Don’t read my mind if you don’t like what I’m thinking.”
“Baby” – he shook his head – “I’m reading your beautiful face, not your crazy mind.”
She couldn’t help wanting to smile, but she didn’t. She had very real concerns, although she couldn’t share what they were. “Has it occurred to you that I might be protecting you?”
He stared at her for a moment, his eyes back to that blue-green, all man. All dangerous. All hers. She blinked. She couldn’t think that way.
“No, that never occurred to me,” he admitted. “But given the fact that I’m beginning to realize just how fucked up your thinking is, I should have.”
She gave him her blackest scowl. “My thinking is perfectly logical. Just because you don’t have all the facts doesn’t mean there aren’t good reasons.”
“So share.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know you well enough.”
She was looking at him, so she saw the dangerous ice that crept into the lines carved deep into his face, but then he flashed a humorless smile. He looked more like a predator with prey in his sights than a man.
“All right, baby, you’re going to get to know me rather fast. I’m known for my patience, but with you, I find I don’t have that much. While you’re renovating the rooms in my house, don’t forget to include a nursery.”
She yanked her hand from his. “You are the most annoying man I’ve ever met.”
“I’m just getting started. I’ll pick you up for dinner tonight at seven. Wear something nice.”
“Can’t. I’ve already got a date.”
It was the wrong thing to say, and she knew it the moment the last word slipped out of her mouth. His fingers shackled her wrist and he pulled her in close. Before she could say anything, his mouth was on hers, one fist in her hair. His hand tightened there, pulling her head back, his kiss dark and demanding. Her scalp hurt, but in a good way, adding to the pleasure bursting through her.