Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
“Shit.” Sure, it could be purely a coincidence they were here. It happened. I am after all at a travel plaza. Regardless she wasn’t able to convince herself of that scenario.
“Anything else?”
“No thanks, this will tide everyone over until we get home.”
One man entered as she paid. She glanced directly at him, making sure he knew she was aware of him. He dusted off his coat.
“Looks like you’re hungry.” He paused beside her.
“Chicken’s for the dogs. Soup’s mine.” She secured the bag handles. “Thanks. Have a good one,” she remarked to the cashier. Without a look back, she strode to her van and climbed in. Noting the man watching her from near his car, she made her way to the back. Confident they couldn’t see in there because of the drawn shades, she wasn’t concerned.
“Hope, move.”
The bitch hopped to the floor with a wag of her sabre tail.
Leena occupied the spot and divided the chicken. Argo first. Hope, Pax, then Erma. While they made short work of the chicken, she opened the soup.
Her stomach rumbled as she allowed herself a few spoonfuls. Surprisingly good. Staring at her guest, she rocked him.
He lifted thick lashes, exposing dark grey orbs. “I thought I dreamed you.”
She gave him a wry smile. “Nope. Dogs and I are very real. Open up. I need to get some soup in you. Can you push up on your arms? I can’t have you sitting up all the way because we’re being watched. I’m confident that they can’t see you but not sure about shapes moving around.”
“You’re in danger?”
The protective flood to his tone had her gut overturning. “Don’t worry about that. Open.”
He lifted enough so the soup didn’t spill down his chest. That hard, muscled chest. Although, it took a significant amount of energy from him, for sweat pebbled his skin.
“Rest again. You’ve had enough. I’ll leave it here if you want to try some later.” She set it in a cup holder then returned to the driver’s seat and started the engine.
One baleful glance around and she backed out of her spot, the black SUV remained there.
Vehicle in drive, she left the travel plaza and headed toward home. She maintained a steady speed and lost herself in the Wicked soundtrack.
* * *
αβ
* * *
Pain existed so he knew he was alive. He was also aware he was moving. Warmth had replaced the icy cold and he slowly opened his eyes. It was dark and there were warm things pressed against him.
Dogs.
He recalled someone mentioning dogs. Not an animal he typically got along with. Either small ones as his sister had, which he truly wasn’t a fan of, or larger ones, he was more of a cat person. Didn’t appear to be so needy. However, there were a lot of small ones or these were larger. A large wet nose snuffed his face and he wished he could see to make something out. No light came in from the front.
He struggled up enough so he could move both curtain and shade to peer out. Snow fell, an orangey hue from the lights along the interstate and the occasional other vehicle.
Glancing around, he realized the dogs he was in the back with. German Shepherds. Three, very sizable and capable in appearance. They all lay around him.
“Fuck.” He flopped back as they slowed and turned. He peered out again when the engine died.
A woman hopped out and went to the gas tank before swiping her card. He put his head back and burrowed his body beneath the warmth.
Whoever she was, having him here didn’t seem to bother her.
Then who can blame her with the protection she has? He closed his eyes and instantly she came to his mind’s eye.
Five-six. Curves in all the right places. Dark skin and long black ringlet curls. Her gray sweater hung to mid-thigh.
His cock stirred and rose as he continued to envision her. I guess no effect there from the water and cold exposure.
The van rocked as she climbed back in. Light filtered back from the front as she ushered aside a curtain and stepped through.
“Wake up.” He opened his eyes fully. A soft light filled the back as she added more water to the bucket hanging in the crate.
“There’s more soup here if you’d like to try some more. We’re an”—she yawned—“an hour or so from my home. You can eat more there.”
Her voice carried strong and assured. At her side, a fourth dog waited. The leader. Alpha. That was obvious.
“Why did you save me?”
“You want to go, go. I’m not keeping you here.”
There was an edge to her voice. All four dogs alerted on it and he nearly held his breath.
“I am grateful, but you’ve put yourself in danger.”
“So, you said,” she commented, heading up to the driver’s seat after pausing to leave the curtain open. “What’s it going to be? Staying or going?”