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)
“Technically, it lodged in the floor.”
“You could have bled out,” I mutter.
“That would have been my own fault. It should never have happened at all. That gun never should have gone off. I put you in danger.”
“I put you in danger, too,” I say with a frown.
“It was a job I signed on for.”
“You didn’t sign on to get shot and die.”
“Those are just hazards of the profession,” he says, shrugging.
Okay, fuck. I can’t help myself. I throw my arms around him and swing myself over so I’m sitting on his lap. I did this once before, and it wasn’t about sex. This time, I lower myself down and immediately feel how hard he is through his sweats. I want to grasp him, run my fingers down the length of him, take him out, and do filthy things to him. But first, I need to ask him something.
“Beau, please. Stop doing that job. I don’t want you to put yourself in danger and get killed. I don’t want you to get injured. I tried so hard to reach you, but I didn’t know where you were. I didn’t know how to contact you. No one would let me through. I should never have told you to leave. I didn’t truly want that. What I wanted was for you to stay. I just thought it wasn’t real for you. I thought you meant what you said about not feeling, not doing a future, and not letting anyone in. I was angry, and my anger blinded me to how much I would miss you if I ever let you walk through that door.”
“You could have tried suing me. That would have gotten my attention. Also, it would have forced me to contact you back, at least through my lawyer.”
“What?” I want to shake him. Instead, I just set my hands on his shoulders. “Why the heck would I sue you? Wait. Okay, maybe I know why you went there, but I would never. That would imply I want your money, and I don’t. I just want you.”
“You could have sued for an apology,” he suggests.
I gape at him. “Do people seriously do that?”
“Yes, when their honor has been affronted or is at stake. Throughout history, a person’s reputation has long meant everything to them. Hence, duels, but since they’re illegal…”
“I couldn’t find you, but you came back,” I utter.
“I didn’t think you’d still be here.”
“I know. Me neither, honestly. That’s something else I want to work on with Katie. I want to create a sustainable fashion line. I haven’t quite gotten my feet back under me yet, but I don’t want to leave here. Even if it means scraping by and sewing prairie-style dresses for the rest of my life.”
Beau smirks and says, “I do find them quite hot.”
“What?” I run a hand down his chest, overtop his T-shirt. His nipples harden, making tiny twin tents in the thin, soft fabric. “You said they were horrendous.”
He winces. “Ouch. Did I really? Was I truly that awful?”
“You were such a flaming toad, but honestly, I doubted that you meant it. It always seemed like you were trying too hard.”
“I couldn’t try hard enough. No trying in the world could have kept you out,” he says with a soft smile.
“Can I be the one who doesn’t keep you out? Right now?”
“Sam,” he groans. I love the way he says my name. A hiss and a rasp, curling around the S, cradling the end. His eyes darken, especially when I keep my hand going. I’m sitting on his lap, but I scoot back and trace the outline of his hard bulge through the blankets and clothes. “Sam.” Yeah, that time, it’s more choked and with less finesse. His eyes darken, and they’re not so frigid anymore. “I was so worried you’d hate me.”
“I don’t hate you. I could never hate you. My body has always wanted you, and my heart didn’t take long to follow suit. I want you just as you are.”
“I don’t want me as I was. I want to be better. I want to be the man my parents believed I could be. I want to do something worthwhile with all the money I have. I’ll still run my agency, but I’ll do as you asked. I won’t put myself in danger. I don’t have to take a single one of those jobs again if you don’t want me to.”
“I don’t want you to give it up if you love it. I just want you to be safe.”
“I don’t love it. I don’t love anything. That’s the problem. I have all the money anyone could ever ask for, but my life has zero love,” he says dejectedly.
Looking into his eyes, I cup his face and bring it to mine. “Let’s change that then.”