Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80495 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80495 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
“I think that’s not a real medical diagnosis,” I respond.
“Damn it.” Her jaw locks up, and she instantly turns into an avenging, war-like goddess. At the sight, my body wakes up from its self-induced slumber really fast. It’s only a vibration that rips through me, but it’s more than enough. “I don’t have to be a doctor to tell you that I think your heart’s a mess.”
“What heart?” I grunt.
“Beau.” I can’t take her saying my name like that. She’s touching my ankle now. My bare fucking ankle. A chill sweeps through me.
“Alright.” If you give people brutal honesty, it’s usually enough to shut them down as well as shut them up. “It’s as good as it’ll ever be, and I mean that in every sense. I get yearly checkups done, and they’re quite extensive. I take good care of myself. I eat well and exercise. In the other sense, I’ve gone to enough therapy to keep me moving forward, but it’s already been established that I’ll always be an asshole.”
“How has that been established?”
I snicker. “I blackmailed my sperm donors, aka my birth parents, for hush money.”
“Okay, but that doesn’t make you an ongoing asshole.”
“There’s a reason the term ‘rich asshole’ exists. Money corrupts people.”
“There’s a reason the term ‘asshole’ exists because anyone can be one.” Her hand briefly brushes along the top of my foot like she’s going to stroke my toes. It’s singlehandedly the most erotic thing anyone has ever done, and it’s not even my kink. I don’t have a specific kink.
Thankfully, the cat on my lap lets out a nocturnal fart that is both loud and pungent.
We both freeze. I’m scared to laugh because that would involve opening my mouth to inhale. I can’t believe that just happened. It’s eyewatering.
“Wow,” Ignacia gasps, breaking the silence first. I’m afraid to look at her. I don’t want to bust a gut hard enough to eject this beast from my lap because I might get some claws in things I really don’t want them in. She’s on my lap, after all. “I’m glad that was loud because you might have blamed me.” She tries to fan the stink away from herself.
The action makes me look at her, and when I see her eyes are watering, that’s all it takes. I’m going to laugh. I’m going to, and it’s going to be a great roar, and my dick is going to be eviscerated by Absolute Unit Cat’s murder mittens.
Maybe I wished too hard for a distraction. I already know I’m off my game, but clearly, I have no idea just how much until I hear footsteps outside. On the porch. A knock follows.
At four in the morning.
“Let me.” I’m up so fast that the cat tumbles off. I don’t even look behind me, but I do hear the angry, miffed hiss. “Whoever’s out there at this hour isn’t normal.” I’m in full protection mode. Whoever and whatever is out there is going to have to get through me first, and even out of my work clothes, I’m large enough and mean enough, plus trained enough to give the impression that the act of doing so would really suck.
I’m still far too off and not myself. Like an imbecile, I thought that when I went to the door and pulled it open, Ignacia would stay the hell away, safely inside.
That’s not what happens.
I hear her whimper of agony right behind me as a blond, athletic douchebag comes into view. From the photos, I know exactly who this piece of shit is, and already I’d like to acquaint him with my fist to his nose and rearrange his impeccable Grecian features just for ever existing.
And for ever touching the woman behind me. He dared, and right now, I’m in full Neanderthal mode. I’m not stopping for a second to reason how wrong that is. There’s a good chance this fuck is walking out of here with a very botched nose job if he so much as breathes in Ignacia’s direction.
Even if they were once in a relationship.
Chapter seven
Ignacia
No!
I don’t know if I say it out loud. I just feel a little whimper escape my throat, and then I’m falling. Crumpling. Going down in a heap on the floor.
How could he have found me? I was so careful. I gave up my life and my freedom for nearly a year.
I see Aiden the Anus’ twisted, sick smile. He’s so proud of himself. He’s obviously just so darned thrilled that he’s managed to wreck everything and ruin my life all over again. That nasty grin is going to be the last thing I see before I pass out, and then…and then he could do anything with me or to me. I have to stay conscious. I have to fight this. Pretending he doesn’t scare me or that none of this affects me in any way, and I’m just fine and dandy, thank you, isn’t an option. I’m already on the floor. And I’m already very clearly broken and defeated.