Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 115186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Her heart and her head might not be totally at peace with all this yet, but they were finally in one place.
“This snuck up on me,” she whispered.
“Yeah. Same.”
“This is not how I envisioned the direction my life would take.”
“Yeah. Same.”
“I never thought I’d end up with someone like you.”
“Yeah. Same.”
She grabbed his beard and tugged on it. Dropping her voice an octave, she echoed, “Wanna make this fuckin’ clear, then we need to move the fuck on. I’m doin’ this for one reason and that one reason is you. Ain’t doin’ it ‘cause I’m forced to, doin’ it ‘cause I want to. Can’t see myself with anyone other than you anymore.” When his mouth opened, she pressed a finger against his lips and shook her head. “You said this was complicated, so let me simplify this for you… I love you, Rome.”
It was finally out there. She could never take it back.
“Yeah…”
She held her breath, waiting.
“Same.”
She released it in relief.
He might not have said the actual words, but he didn’t need to. Because she felt it instead, enveloping her like a warm hug. She didn’t want to let that feeling go.
How did her life take such a crazy turn?
Oh… She knew.
It was all due to the man in her passenger seat.
The one she kissed long and hard.
The one who whispered promises against her lips of all the things he’d do to her, all the things she had missed, once his casts were removed.
She couldn’t wait.
After their talk in the tobacco field, she drove him back to the motel in Parsington. Once he grabbed his stuff with her help, he sent Booger on his way, and they headed back to Manning Grove to a much better motel.
The Fury-owned Grove Inn.
She told him there was no way she was sharing a room with roaches since they still had a lot to discuss and settle between them before any major decisions could be made.
She helped him undress and get into bed. Once he was comfortable, she joined him only wearing her bra and panties.
Even though they had a lot to figure out and a future to plan, she ended up distracted since the casts, his tattoos and a snug pair of boxer briefs were all the man wore.
She’d be much happier if he wasn’t stuck in casts. Or had broken ribs.
So would he.
But then, they wouldn’t be doing much talking at all.
She curled around him, being cognizant of his ribs as he slowly combed his fingers through her loose hair.
Using a fingertip, she slowly traced his many tattoos as well as the lines of his muscles. When she was done exploring, she stroked the back of her fingers down his beard. Brushing her thumb over his slightly parted lips next, his warm breath drifted over the pad of her thumb.
He snagged her hand to stop her. “Makin’ me hard.”
With a lift of her head, she saw he wasn’t lying. “Well, it’s proof that’s not broken.”
“That breaks, just shoot me.”
“I don’t think a broken penis warrants euthanasia.”
“The fuck it don’t. Would be a humane way to put me out of my misery.”
“Sex isn’t everything.”
“Speak for yourself. ‘Cause, for me, bein’ inside you is.”
She hid her grin against his warm, dark skin. When she could finally control it, she said, “Never expected you to be such a romantic.”
“Surprises the fuck outta me, too.”
She rolled her eyes. “I know how to get rid of that hard-on.”
His eyes heated. “No shit. So do I.” He dragged the pad of his thumb over her lips the same way as she had done to him.
“I had another idea.”
He patted his bare thigh. “Don’t mind bein’ on the bottom and lettin’ you ride me like a mechanical bull.”
“That wasn’t it.”
He pursed his lips, most likely trying to come up with another idea that wouldn’t aggravate his ribs too badly. Unfortunately, those options were limited.
“Jerkin’ me off?”
“I was thinking more along the lines of making sure we’re both on the same page.”
“That don’t sound as good as you jerkin’ me off.”
“Deal with it.”
He chuckled softly. “Don’t get sassy with me, woman. Or your ol’ man’s gonna have to teach you a lesson.”
“You’re not my ol’ man yet.” She playfully nipped at his nipple, making him jump.
He groaned, “Fuck. That didn’t help my ribs.”
“What do you think will happen if I blow you or jerk you off? Or ride you like a mechanical bull?”
“This fuckin’ sucks. Just for this reason alone, Smith needs to…”
Her pulse sped up. “Needs to what?”
“Nothin’.”
“That’s one of the topics I want to discuss. We need complete honesty between us. No secrets.”
“Maddie, there’s shit that’s gonna happen in my life you do not need to fuckin’ know. Better for you. Better for everyone involved.”
“Club business isn’t my business, isn’t that right?”
“You know how it fuckin’ works and don’t act like you don’t.”