Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 36646 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36646 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
“Cubs?”
“Yeah. Alex. His girl. Their child.”
“No one said I was protecting them. And I’ve not met the girl yet.”
He smirked at me. “But we’ll be taking her to Somerset with us to our new home.”
I scowled and shoved him off me. Immediately I felt the loss of his warmth and had to fight myself to keep from whimpering and pulling him back. The smirk on his face said he noticed, though. “I’ve not got any intention of keeping Gracie with me. God knows I’ve got enough on my plate just adjusting back to civilian life. And who says I’m going to make Somerset my home? Our home? You’ve lost your mind.”
Mike rolled over on his back with a groan. His cock was still high and proud, ready for another round.
“That thing ever go down?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Only when there’s not a desirable woman in the vicinity.”
“Guess you’re up all the time then, huh.” I gave him a disgusted look. It wasn’t that I wanted to think I was special or anything, but it still hurt to know I was just one in a long line of women this guy had had. I likely wouldn’t be the last.
“Nope. Ain’t been this hard this long in my life. Not even sure I was this horny even as a fuckin’ teenager. Not to mention the fact I just came a flood for you.”
That surprised me. On many levels. But I wasn’t about to say so. Of course, Mike glanced my way and winked at me.
“Look,” I said as I snagged my clothes and started dressing with jerky movements. I needed to clean myself up but didn’t want to look like I was running away. Also didn’t want to stand there naked while he looked his fill. “I don’t care if we’re fuck buddies. We can both scratch an itch when necessary. But you demanded I not lie to you, so I want the same. I don’t need your flattery or pretty words. Just your dick.”
Instantly, his gaze grew hard. “I never say anything I don’t mean, Josephine. Not for you. Not for anyone.” With that, Mike sat up slowly before retrieving his own clothes.
Yeah. I might have overreacted. But Goddamnit, the man appealed to me on more levels than I could count. He ticked every single motherfucking box I had. Michael Wilbanks was not only my match in every way, he complemented me like no partner I’d ever had. Who was I kidding? I’d never really had a partner. Not like I thought of Mike. He got me. And that scared the fuck outta me.
Chapter Five
Mike
Backing off and giving Josephine space was the hardest thing I’d ever done in my life. If I was going to keep her I had to do it, though.
She avoided looking at me or talking to me the rest of the evening. I lay down and pretended to sleep so she’d relax a fraction. Either I fooled her or she was so exhausted she couldn’t help herself, because ten minutes after she lay down, Josephine was out cold. I couldn’t help but smile. She might not want to feel secure in my presence, but she did.
I dozed on and off throughout the night. When I woke, I’d glance at Jo to find her sleeping contentedly. She looked so fucking young when she was asleep it was hard to reconcile that with the seasoned warrior I knew her to be. Which was odd, considering she was medical. She’d be in the middle of a combat zone, but not in an active combat role. I’d bet my life that woman had seen more than her fair share of fighting and that wasn’t something that happened in the U.S Army. I wondered if that was what Col. Gill owed her.
Just before daylight, I roused myself. She was on her side, facing me on the second bed in the room. Her hand rested under her cheek on top of her pillow. Strawberry-blonde hair fanned out around her like a fiery halo. She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen in my life. And she was all mine. She just wouldn’t admit it to herself. Yet.
Careful not to rouse her, I dressed and slipped out of the room. I wanted to give her something to think about. Let her wake up without me. See what she did. If I was right, she’d be cranky as fuck the rest of the day. I grinned. It’d make the night even better.
Sure enough, an hour later, I watched from the car I’d had a friend drop off as she stomped out of the room and looked around. “Michael, you motherfucker!”
I barked out a laugh. She immediately zeroed in on me and scowled, flipping me off as she marched to the car, opened the door, and plopped inside before slamming the door.