Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 44804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
“Do you see how she kept fighting without hesitation? He had a grip on her, but she didn’t let that stop her attack.” I speak quietly into Lizzie’s ear while she continues to watch. “You need to have that same tenacity. Never stop fighting.” I notice movement from the corner of my eye and I glance at Caleb as he nods his head and smiles.
“Never stop fighting, baby.”
She smiles at his words, but immediately winces as Veronica kicks Vince hard in the chest. The telltale crunch of broken ribs resonates in the air.
Vince is knocked off-balance from the hit. Dropping to one knee, he’s able to grab her ankle. She brings her other leg back and nearly lands another vicious kick to his face, but Vince tackles her to the platform with her beneath him. His crushing weight pins her in place. He releases her leg and reaches for her waist as she wriggles under him in an effort to get free. They wrestle for a moment and he pulls her hips toward his with a strong grip. Just as he smiles, thinking he’s won, she throws her elbow back and it lands hard on his nose.
“Oh fuck,” Caleb comments, his hand moving to his nose in empathy.
She’s ruthless, and her skills are designed to take advantage of the natural instinct to protect the sensitive areas she targets.
“Oh!” Lizzie’s hands flies to her nose too as she grimaces. Yeah, I know that fucking hurt. Vince doesn’t release Veronica, though, which is obviously what she was counting on. Instead he drops all his weight onto her and his head lays against her back, caging her in. She struggles beneath him for a moment before realizing he’s got her pinned. Despite her formidable fighting ability, she’s physically outclassed in such a vulnerable position by his massive strength.
I barely hear Vince say “Gotcha” in a playful tone and then he kisses the crook of her neck. Veronica continues to struggle, though. Her breathing picks up until it’s nearly panicked. Looking at Caleb, both confusion and concern are apparent on his face. Lizzie’s shoulders hunch and she stirs uncomfortably between us.
“Get off of me!” Veronica shouts and pushes forcefully against Vince’s massive frame. He props himself up on his knees, lifting his chest off of her back. In a blur of motion almost too quick to follow, she moves to stand on the other side of the ring.
Vince holds both his hands up while he stays still on his knees. “It’s just me.” Her shoulders rise and fall as her breathing slowly evens out. Slowly, he gets off the ground and walks calmly to her as if she’s a cornered animal.
She swallows and shakes out her hair. “I know. I know.” He takes her hand and leads her to the stairs.
“What the hell was that about?” I ask Vince in my head.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of her.” I nod my head slightly as they walk past us. Lizzie looks to Veronica with concern in her eyes, but the vampire stares straight ahead, obviously still shaken and embarrassed by her reaction.
“She’ll be all right, little one.” I kiss her soft lips as Caleb rises.
“Come on, baby girl. We’re going to show you how to block like Vince should’ve done.” I snort at his words and help our little mate up, who’s still watching Veronica leave.
VINCE
Veronica scowls when she sees the bed, her spine stiffening and she says, “You think you can chain me, pup?” There’s humor in her voice and a little smirk on those beautiful full lips.
I love that nickname she’s given me. Pup. The way the word spills from her lips makes my own lift in an asymmetric grin.
With every heavy step I take toward the pair of handcuffs dangling from the headboard, she follows behind me. I push aside the black velvet covering the cuffs so she can see the metal underneath. “They’re silver. You won’t be able to break out of these, babe.” A thump in my chest makes me second-guess what I’m doing as she gasps and then goes still. It’s hard to swallow with the flash of betrayal that lights across her eyes. Only for a moment, though. She needs this. She needs me to be a worthy mate. One who will heal her as much as she’s already healed me.
With her gaze focused on the bright metal, she noticeably swallows. Her dark eyes find mine while she shakes her head slightly.
My tone is soothing and I add a hint of playfulness although that thump in my chest happens again. “Don’t you trust me, baby?”
She hesitates, merely staring at the cuffs in my hand. Eventually she settles on a muttered truth spoken just beneath her breath. “I don’t want to do this.”
I know she doesn’t, but after seeing her triggered and scared again today, I’m not going to wait to show my mate she can trust me.