Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 120031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
“Ah. He thought sleeping with your cousin would spur you into giving him more.”
“I know I should have said something to Mallory, but I didn’t want to hurt her, and I wasn’t sure she’d believe me anyway. As her relationships were always short and sweet, I figured she’d toss him aside pretty fast and so there was no great need for her to know. But instead, things got more and more serious between them.
“I won’t lie, I’m not remotely close to Mallory. I don’t even like her, and there’s no love lost there. She’s done some bitchy things to me over the years. But that doesn’t mean I’d ever want to cause her pain. And she will be hurt if she finds out. I know I should tell her, I just don’t know how. Go on, tell me how much of a horrible person I am.”
He rubbed her upper arm. “You’re not a horrible person. I can see why you didn’t tell her, and I can see why you still haven’t. Although some would preach how unethical it is to keep secrets like that, there would be nothing to gain from telling her. It would just make you feel less guilty because the secret’s finally out, so you could even say it would be selfish to say something.”
Casey gave a soft snort. “That’s stretching things a little, but I’ll go with it.”
“What does this all have to do with Sherryl? Should I take it that she knows?”
“She knows, and she’s threatening to tell Mallory.” Casey told him everything—her broken sort-of-friendship with Sherryl, the female’s history with Miles, and the conversation she and Casey had had that morning.
“Do you think Sherryl really will live up to her threat?”
“I don’t know. I told Preston earlier that we should spill the truth to Mallory, but he said he’d keep Sherryl quiet.”
Feeling his mate’s shame, Eli squeezed her thighs. “The person in the wrong here is Preston. He tried to hurt you, and he used your cousin to do it. Then he kept it from her, and he’s pressured you to do the same. You might be withholding a heavy truth from her, but you’re not the one who should be feeling so ashamed of themselves.” He pressed a kiss to her mouth. “I’d like a little chat with Sherryl.”
Casey stilled. “No. Don’t. Part of the reason she’s being such a bitch right now is that she’s hurting. Being face to face with my true mate—something she’ll never have—will only make it worse. Plus, I really don’t want her anywhere near you.”
“Casey—”
“I accepted that you needed to have that man-to-man talk with Ignacio, so I let it slide that you didn’t take me along. Now you need to respect that I’m the one who needs to deal with Sherryl. I get that you want to cover me in bubble wrap and hide me in your man drawer, but you can’t.”
“Man drawer?”
“That place every guy has where he dumps receipts, chump change, batteries, light bulbs, screws, spare keys, and all manner of shit. You’d like to say you don’t have one of those, but you do.”
“Yeah, I do.” Eli sighed. “Fine, I won’t go looking for Sherryl. But if she ever comes at you when I’m there, I won’t keep my mouth shut. There’s no way I’d be able to stand back and say nothing while someone gave you shit—I don’t have that restraint in me. And, honestly, I wouldn’t want to restrain myself.”
“At least you’re honest.” Leaning into him, she hooked her arms around his neck. “I’m never going to be able to sleep now. Want to help me burn off the calories I just ate?”
His cock jerked. “You need rest.”
“I did rest. Now I need your dick in me. Get with the program.”
“Baby—” He cursed as she whipped off her top and bra, baring her gorgeous breasts. All the blood in his body seemed to head south. “You’re not being fair.”
“You don’t want me?” She slowly lowered the zipper of her jeans. “I guess I could just make myself come. But you did promise to fuck me into oblivion. I thought you were a man of your word.”
He tossed her over his shoulder and stood. “Fine. I’ll make you come with my mouth,” he said, heading for the bedroom area. “Then you’ll sleep.”
She snorted. “You’ll be inside me within minutes, Axton, and we both know it.”
“No.” He dumped her on the bed. “You’re only getting my mouth.”
“Yeah, yeah.” She parted her thighs. “Let’s see how long you can last before you thrust that cock inside me.”
He didn’t last long at all.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Eli stopped off at the smoothie bar on his way to collect Casey later that week. He was hoping he could soften her into agreeing to stay at his lodge the whole weekend. He had plans. Mostly that they spent it naked.