Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Sadie gnaws on her lower lip. “What does it hurt if we let him have a little time?”
“Are you crazy?” Van throws up his hands. “He kidnapped her!”
I slide away to stand next to Sadie. Her gaze is pinned on me. She wants to believe me. “Because he loves her,” I say.
“That’s the language of abusers,” Van says.
I whip around to the dickhead with my fist up. “What did you call my dad?”
“If the shoe fits.” Van steps forward until his chest is close to mine.
Sadie wedges herself between us. “Stop it, you guys. Let’s just call Dad and he can decide what to do. Those three need to work it out.”
“So we just sit here?”
“Yes,” Sadie and I both say at once.
Van’s face hardens. “Traitor,” he mutters and then stalks off, disappearing up the stairs.
Sadie apologizes. “He’s usually not this way at all. He’s nice and fun.”
“Unlike me?” I joke.
“Well, you did say everyone calls you an asshole.”
“Fair enough. I can be nice, though.”
“Why aren’t you?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. I guess because it was easier.” I stop before I say anything more. Not having connections means no losses. I liked life that way, or I thought I did, but as I stand here, inches away from Sadie, I realize that way was dumb as hell. Be alone all my life when I could have her? When I could cradle her in my arms, mold her sweet frame to mine, kiss her until she’s breathless and then kiss her more, giving her my own oxygen until everything inside of her is a blend of her and me.
“Wh-hat are you thinking?” she stutters. She raises her hands between us, but I keep advancing until the back of her knees hit the sofa in the living room. I lean forward, and she loses her balance, falling backward. I catch her waist with one arm and draw her tightly against me.
“Saving you, saving me,” I mutter and then capture her mouth with mine. She tastes like honey and sunshine, and I know from the first touch of her lips on mine that I’m just like my old man because there will never be another for me but Sadie.
CHAPTER 8
SADIE
Holy crap. He’s kissing me. I press my hands to his chest to push him away, but my brain doesn’t listen. Instead, my fingers grip his shirt in a tight hold as his mouth works over mine. My lips part for him as Dunc’s tongue slides across the seam of my mouth.
That’s all the opening Dunc needs. He thrusts his tongue into my mouth. To my surprise, he tastes sweet like sugar. It’s the last thing I was expecting when it came to him. I start to kiss him back, needing more of him.
When I do, a deep, sexy rumble comes from inside of him. I swear I can even feel it against my hands on his chest. My whole body wakes up in a way I’ve never felt before. I kiss him harder, pushing my body into his. Another groan leaves Dunc.
“The fuck!” Van’s shout brings me back to reality. It also has Dunc releasing his hold on me. I fall onto the soft sofa. Dunc spins around, giving me his back. I shake myself out of the trance his kiss put me under, realizing that once again, he and Van are in another standoff. Only this time, I’m not fast enough to get between them.
Van barrels right into Dunc. Dunc grabs ahold of him, bringing him down to the ground. The house freaking shakes when they land. Not that it stops them. This is going nowhere good fast, and I’m unsure how the heck I’m going to stop it at this point.
“Calm the fuck down,” Dunc orders.
“Two seconds I was gone and—” I can hear the anger in Van’s tone.
“Got her first kiss?” Dunc sounds cocky about it. My heart sinks at his words.
“Motherfucker.” Van hits him in the side. He kinda deserved that one, but I know I need to somehow stop this madness before one of them really gets hurt.
“Stop!” I scream as loud as I can. “Please.” Van is the more aggressive one, so I go after him, knowing I need to get between them. It’s the only thing that will get Van to stop throwing punches. They both release their hold on each other.
I ignore Dunc and grab Van’s arm. Not that he needs my help to get up. My lips still tingle from Dunc’s kiss, but whatever lust-filled dream I let myself fall into with him evaporates away.
“He’s an asshole,” Van grumbles.
“I’ve heard.” I sneak a glance over to Dunc, who is glaring at my hand on Van’s bicep.
“Who said you were my first?” I snip, wanting to get that little dig in there. I try to be cocky, but I’m sure my pink cheeks are giving it away. Van barks a laugh. Now who’s the traitor?