Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
If her mother’s words hurt Sloane, she doesn’t let on.
“Fine? That piece of shit she shacks up with has been pummeling her,” Sloane barks out. “And what about Kaden? You had nothing to say about me taking him in?”
Rhiannon perks up, looking a lot less pitiful at the mention of her son. “You have Kaden? How is he?”
“Fine, no thanks to you,” Sloane grumbles.
Rhiannon’s shoulders hunch and she drops down onto the sofa near her other sister. They reach for each other, holding hands. My heart aches that Sloane is the outsider in her own family. I, of all people, know how that feels.
“I think we’ve all had more than we can handle of your self-righteous bullshit,” her mother says as she stubs out her cigarette in an ashtray on the bar. “It’s time for you to go now.”
Sloane’s flinch is slight, but I catch it. It’s not my place to put in my two cents, but I do think we should go. Rhiannon is safe with her mother and family. Now I need to see to Sloane’s mental well-being.
“Don’t go back to him,” Sloane says to Rhiannon. “And text me when you’re ready to see your son. He misses you.”
Rhiannon starts to cry and the other sister soothes her. I slip back outside with Sloane on my heels. When we reach her car, I gently take the keys from her hands and give her a push toward the passenger side. Shockingly, she goes without argument.
“This is how the other side lives.”
I arch a brow at her as I turn the vehicle on. “I didn’t say anything.”
She shoves the seat belt buckle into place with a snap. “You didn’t have to. I can read the disdain written on your face.”
“It’s not disdain.”
“Right,” she huffs, glaring out the side window. “What then? Pity? Second-hand embarrassment?”
She’s prickly and upset. I’m an easy target. Is that what she needs? To vent out all her frustrations? I know one thing’s for sure. She’s in no mood to deal with Kaden. Rather than driving us to my house, I take the route to hers. As soon as we pull into her driveway, she climbs out and slams the door so hard the whole vehicle shakes.
“Sloane,” I call out, trotting after her. “Talk to me.”
She waits by the door, arms crossed and scowling, for me to unlock it. As soon as I do, she shoves inside and starts letting it all out.
“I bet you’re rethinking your ‘future’ now, huh? Got a taste of the other side and it’s not so pretty, is it?” She gestures at herself. “Some of us come from nothing. We will always be nothing.”
Now she’s starting to piss me off. I toss her keys onto a table and grab the front of her T-shirt, hauling her to me.
“Take it back.”
Her nostrils flare. “Take what back?”
“The part where you’re indicating you’re somehow less than me. I fucking hate that. Take it back.”
She claws at my hand clutching her shirt. “No! It’s the truth, Dempsey! I’m me and you’re a damn Park! In what world did we ever think this could work?”
I crowd her, forcing her back until her ass hits the closed front door. Her eyes widen as she stares up at me. They continue to flicker with anger, but heat is also there.
“I don’t give a fuck where you came from, babe, only that you’re here. Got that? I only care that you’re here. With me. Where you fucking belong.”
Her lips part and she blinks, frozen in my penetrating stare. Unable to keep from touching her like I want to, I crash my mouth to hers. The kiss snaps her out of her daze and she fucking bites my lip. I growl, pushing my hips against her, letting her feel how hard that defiant act makes my cock.
As though her anger has finally conceded to lust, she stops trying to push me away and instead tugs at the button of my jeans. I realize she’s finally ready for me and that silent, small act is her permission. Testing my theory, I yank at her button and then draw her zipper down on her jeans. She cries out when I slip my hand beneath her jeans and panties, going straight for her pussy.
“Dempsey,” she whimpers the second my fingers reach her clit. “Oh, God.”
I continue to kiss the hell out of her, nipping and sucking at her lips and tongue. She claws at my shirt and manages to pull it up my body and over my head. It hangs around the arm that’s working her clit.
“Are you hot for me?” I rumble, ghosting my teeth over her jawline. “I’m not fucking you until you’re nice and wet, babe. Got it?”
She whines and quivers. With each circle of my fingertip over her clit, she grows a little wilder. I abandon her clit to rub at her slick opening, coating my finger in her arousal before going back to attack her pleasure point with slippery fervor.