Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89658 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89658 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Don’t get me started on having to stand in the background while she told her brother and me, by default, what that jackass ex-boss of hers did to her. Sure, it could have been much worse, but he touched her without her permission. Staying calm and not showing the rage inside me in front of Caleb took more control than I thought I possessed. Then Joey wrapped her arms around me, and I got to hold her, and some of the anger slipped away.
Now, here I am, lying in my bed, staring up at the ceiling, waiting for them both to go to their separate rooms. Then there will be more waiting to ensure my best friend is asleep before I can go to her. I’m probably going to hell for this, but I can’t stay away. I love her more than I ever thought possible. After her earlier revelations and the fact that I spent three days without her, there is nothing that can keep me away from Joey tonight. Not even the risk of getting caught. In fact, I almost think it would be better if we were caught. Hiding and sneaking around is getting harder and harder when all I want to do is hold her and shout to the world that she’s mine.
I’m going to have to talk to her about that.
Heavy footsteps sound as they pound up the stairs. I hear Caleb as he steps into his room and closes the door. Now we wait. Closing my eyes, I pull up the many images of her I have engrained in my mind to hold me over.
My bedroom door creaking open jolts me awake. My eyes pop open as they adjust to the darkness of the room. I hear the door click closed and the lock slide into place.
Joey.
I must have fallen asleep, and my girl came to me. I pull up the covers, inviting her in, and she doesn’t disappoint. Joey slithers under the covers and settles in her space, resting against my chest. “I missed you.”
“Oh, Sunshine,” I whisper. “You have no idea,” I say, pulling her a little closer and placing a kiss on the top of her head. Her hands glide over my abs and grip my cock, and as much as I love her hands on me, I don’t want that. Not tonight. “Can I just hold you?” I ask her. I would never deny her anything, so if messing around is what she wants, then that’s what she’ll get, but tonight I need more than that.
“You don’t want me?”
“Hey.”
She tilts her head up to look at me. I can make out her silhouette, but I can’t see her eyes, but I can guess there is worry and maybe a little hurt looking back at me if I could.
“There is nothing in this world that I want more than you. I just missed you so fucking much, and after hearing what you went through, I just need to hold you. I need to know you’re here with me. I need to feel your skin against mine and know that you’re safe.”
“I’m safe. It was a kiss.”
“One you didn’t want.”
“Our past is the past.” She tosses my earlier words at me.
“I know, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to stalk to his office and beat the shit out of him. He put his hands on you, Joey. That’s not okay.”
“It could have been much worse. I pushed him off, he stopped, and I removed myself from the situation.”
“I feel sick when I think about what could have happened to you. He needs to be punished.”
“Not you too.” She sighs. I can hear the sarcasm in the tone of her voice, and it pisses me off.
I move out of her hold and climb out of bed. My feet carry me back and forth over the plush carpet as I pace the distance of the room and back, over and over again.
“Brock?” she whispers. This time it’s fear and uncertainty that I hear.
I stop next to the bed, bracing my hands on the mattress. I can make out her form but can’t see her features. “He put his hands on you,” I grit out. “He threatened you, Joey. The man made you feel as though your only choice was to quit a job that you loved. That’s not okay.”
“I’m okay.” Her voice is soft.
“Thank fuck for that,” I say, letting my anger at what she went through take over. I’m well aware that it was minor compared to what it could have been, but he put his hands on what’s mine, and he needs to pay for that.
“I don’t know why you can’t just let this go. I’m here. I’m safe, and nothing happened, not really.”
“Why?” I ask in disbelief. “Because when anyone hurts someone I love, I get pissed. Why are you letting this go so easily?” My chest is rising at a rapid pace, and my pulse is thundering in my ears. How can she not see that this is not okay?