Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 148220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 741(@200wpm)___ 593(@250wpm)___ 494(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 741(@200wpm)___ 593(@250wpm)___ 494(@300wpm)
Her lips curve in an impish little smile. “Maybe second time is the charm.”
“Yeah. Lesson learned.”
There won’t be any more girls. Not after this one. Can’t imagine touching anyone else again.
But I sure as fuck wish now that I’d let her touch me a little more before it was over.
“Hey,” Anna says softly, watching me. “I know you’re not okay. But you will get through, yeah?”
Somehow. My throat’s a fucking mess, so I just nod.
“All right.” She gives me another tight hug before stepping back. “And don’t shut us out. Not Mom and Dad, not me and Daisy. Or next time I’ll send Mom—and if you think a gate will stop her…”
I give a thick laugh. “I’m not that stupid, pipsqueak.”
“Good.” She bites her lip. “Can you especially make the effort with Daisy? Mom and Dad and I, we all understand that you might need space. She doesn’t. Now she’s licking her leg constantly and the vet says it might be a self-comfort thing. So if you could just stop by more often, or I’ll bring her out here more, or even if you do the video thing on the phone—”
“I will.” I’m such a fucking asshole. “Thanks for looking out for her.”
“Of course. Though it’s Mom and Dad who are keeping her most of the time.”
“You have her tomorrow morning?” At her nod, I say, “I’ll stop by, yeah?”
“Yeah. Oh! Just don’t be surprised by—” She wiggles her engagement ring, the diamond sparkling. “I’ll have a visitor.”
Gunner. But considering that neither of them banged anyone else for ten years, not real surprised they’re making up for it now. “Is he moving in?”
“Kind of already has. Except I’ve got to figure out space for his books.”
“I’ll find another place. Then you can have the upstairs.”
Dismay fills her expression. “You don’t have to—”
“I know. But just…give me a little time to get it worked out. Don’t just throw my stuff out on the lawn.”
“Aw, man. There goes my plan to landscape the front yard with piles of your ratty sports shit from high school. Though I guess all your stuff wouldn’t be much different than what Daisy leaves out there.”
Ow. I grin and then all at once Crash’s spine pops apart in my hands, and my girl’s begging me to let her go, and I can’t fucking breathe again.
“Aaron?” Concern sharpens her voice.
“Just…I need to walk around and clear my head.” Because if I return to the cabin right now, my girl might destroy me if she asks me to let her go again. I press the key into her palm. “Lock it up again after you get Daisy. Don’t look at me like that—I’ve got to figure out the rest first. Just don’t let the girl go, no matter what she says. Because it’ll kill me if she…” I can’t finish that thought, because it kills me just thinking about it. “Just give the key to Gunner.”
“Okay,” she says softly. “I love you.”
Throat in a knot, I head off. “Love you, too, pipsqueak.”
One good thing to maybe get me through. Because the rest of this doesn’t have a thing to do with love.
I don’t even fucking know her name.
26
I haven’t been giving much thought to the future. Not anything further than getting out of here and rescuing Matt. But one visit from a dog changes everything. Because I’m scratching her ears and giving her all the loving that she wants, and suddenly I am thinking ahead. That after freeing Matt…there might be a chance for more. If nothing else, at least giving Stone an explanation.
After my brother is safe.
I’m on the floor with Daisy when the key scrapes into the lock. I’ve dressed—in a pair of shorts and one of Stone’s shirts—so I don’t go scurrying for cover. And I try not to think about how I must have looked before, tied up and gagged and still flushed from sex. While his delicate fairy of a sister looked at me in horror. Because she’d thought Stone was torturing me.
And he does. But…not in a bad way.
To my surprise, she’s the one with the key. She barely looks at me. “C’mon, Daisy. Time to go.”
Wearing a happy grin, the boxer immediately races to her side. Like so many of her breed, Daisy’s only got one speed: go go go. She’s fun and silly and probably exactly what Stone could use right now.
And I hate the way his sister looked at him. “He’s a good man.”
“Oh, you think so?” Sarcastic fury burns through that reply, her gaze scalding my face. “You think you know anything about my brother? You don’t. You’re just another toxic piece of ass that he felt sorry for and tried to save.”
My chest tightens. “Okay.”
“And you don’t get to talk to me at all. Not after what you did, playing bait. You’re the reason he was in that Cage. You’re the reason he’s hurting so bad now.” Her gaze swings around the cabin. “I don’t agree with what he’s doing here, but one thing is for damn sure—you should be locked up somewhere.”