Total pages in book: 178
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
“He’s been brought up on it.” I shrugged. “He likes it.”
“It’s thick, and brown, and....” I swear, Twitch paled a little, closing the bright yellow lid and pushing the jar as far away as he could, muttering, “No, thank you.”
“So,” I started. “You need to stop leaving marks on me.”
But Twitch just ignored me, taking the plate of toast to the little boy in his underwear watching cartoons on the family room floor. When he returned, however, he stalked over to me with meaning. With every step he took, I was forced back one until I felt my bountiful derriere hit the kitchen cabinets, and when he had me where he wanted me, he looked down at the newest hickey. His eyes flashed a moment before he lifted his hand, resting it lightly at my neck, running his thumb over the purple redness at my collarbone.
“Can’t you read?” he uttered, the whiskey-smooth lilt of his voice causing my body to react. “Every one of these marks is a love letter.” He peered down at me, those soft brown eyes seeing deep inside me. “You look hard enough and you’ll figure out what they say.”
Jesus Christ. I’d never been more turned on by mere words in my entire life.
I wanted to grip the back of his head, pull him down to my neck, and beg him for more scripture to read in my spare time.
Instead, I ruined the moment. “What are we going to do about Ling?”
His eyes darkened at hearing her name. “We’re not doing anything.” His jaw steeled, and he quietly said, “Leave her to me, angel.” At my look of uncertainty, he went on. “I’m not sure she’ll come back, but after the message I sent, she’s sure to back off.”
“What message?” I couldn’t help but ask.
And surprisingly, he answered me, his thumb gently running over my skin in a consoling manner. “Comply or die.”
I think he was a little shocked when I peered around him to look at A.J. When I was sure he wasn’t listening, I kept my voice low and avoided his gaze. “I don’t want her to be given a choice.” When I met his narrowed eyes, I told him candidly, “I want her gone.”
He blinked at me a long moment before his lips thinned. “It’s not gonna be easy. She a queen and her Dragons keep her protected. We gotta be smart. Discreet.” At A.J.’s shuffling around the family room, Twitch twisted back to look at him before turning back to me, and explaining, “A problem of her proportion might take some time to—” He thought of the word. “—disappear.”
“I don’t care.” I put my hands to the waistband of his jeans before hooking my fingers into his pockets and gently pulling him closer. He came when called. I looked up at him, looked him right in the eye, and whispered, “I want her dead.”
The way he looked at me then, with an admiration and respect I rarely saw him wear, made my insides quiver. He reached up to cup my cheek, and I leaned into his touch as he rumbled out, “Solid.”
It was a compliment but completely unfounded, since I felt I was falling apart.
And when he put his hands to my shoulders and peered down at my lips, he asked, “When are you gonna give me that mouth, baby?” The need in his voice was palpable. “I’m tryin’ to be patient, but I told you before, I’m not a saint.”
“Soon,” I promised breathily.
I wasn’t ready just yet, but nearly there. When I gave him my mouth, there was no going back. It was the last piece of myself I had to give, the most intimate part of me I had to give, and I wasn’t giving it up without certainty.
And when he looked at me the way he was looking at me right now, with his heart on his sleeve as well as in his eyes, I lowered my gaze as my heart thumped. “Stop it.”
He sounded confused. “Stop what?”
My cheeks flushed. “Stop winning me over.”
His gruff chuckle hit me right in the ovaries, and when he wrapped me up tight, lowering his head and laughing into my neck, I held onto his pockets and smiled bashfully.
It was then I realized I wanted more children with my beautifully tortured king, and maybe if he came through, putting the Dragon queen well into the ground, we’d talk about that.
Twitch was the medicine I didn’t know I needed, and I wanted to shoot him up, right into my veins, and stay high on him for a lifetime.
What did that say about me?
Lord.
I didn’t want to think about it.
Molly walked into the kitchen, and groaned, “Oh, God. Stahp.”
When Twitch twisted to look at her, his eyes crinkled in the corners. “You know, you could just fuck off.”