Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 68058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
He picked up his t-shirt and pulled it over his head. “Are you threatening me?”
“I wouldn’t dream of it, sweetheart.”
“Why are you such a fucking asshole?”
“Oh, baby, that’s not what you were saying earlier.”
“I was drunk and stupid, and now I’m pretty sure I’m going to die.” He pressed his hands against his forehead like he was trying to hold his brain inside.
“A beautiful man like you? That would be a shame. A sad loss for us all.”
“God, aren’t you even the least bit hungover?”
“Nope. I’ve learned how to be strong no matter what. I don’t let petty things like alcohol affect me. Sometimes you need to wake up after a hard night and be ready to kill.”
“Are you always so goddamn arrogant?”
“Is it arrogance if it’s all true?”
“You are completely insufferable.”
My phone buzzed, but I ignored it. I didn’t want to talk to anybody right then. I was putting up a good front because I’d learned how to. In reality, my head was throbbing. I needed some water, some coffee, and whatever delicious breakfast Jacob was getting ready to cook up. Once I had something in my stomach, I might be able to think about talking to whoever it was.
“Answer your damn phone,” Rhys said. “I’m done talking to you.”
“No, you’re not.”
Rhys moved slowly, bringing himself into a sitting position, then resting his head in his hands. I wanted to pull him against me and demand he let us sleep some more. If I’d been determined to keep him where he was, I easily could have, but I knew he was right. Someone could come in at any time, and I didn’t want anyone, especially Grant, to discover us.
If I need to, I could take Grant in a fight, but I tried not to hurt men who were decent, even if I didn’t care for their attitudes. After Grant’s whole don’t-mess-with-my-brother bullshit, I knew he’d make things difficult for me if he found me here.
I got to my feet, pulled on my jeans, then found the t-shirt I’d tossed across the room. I was reaching for my boots when Rhys groaned. When I turned his way, his face was pale and he was holding his hand over his mouth. I grabbed a bucket and put it in front of him just in time for him to bend over and be violently sick.
I should have walked out and left him there, but that would have proven I was the asshole he thought I was. Instead, I grabbed a rag and wet it at the sink just outside the tack room. Rhys was still hanging over the bucket when I returned, so I pressed the rag to the back of his neck.
I half expected him to push me away. When he didn’t, I knelt beside him. Finally, he sank back, and I moved the rag to his forehead.
“Thank you.”
The words were barely audible, but I was sure he’d said them. “You’re welcome.”
“I’m sorry.”
I shook my head. “Nah. It was expected.”
“You’ve got to teach me your secrets sometime.”
“I have plenty of secrets I could teach you.” His scowl made me smile. “But first, I want you to know I get tested regularly, and you’re the first guy I’ve fucked without a condom in years.”
“Oh fuck. I… I never… That was so stupid. I get tested too, and it’s… it’s been a while since I was with anyone.”
I was going to tell him again how hot it was, but we heard something, and both of us froze. There was someone out by the stalls.
“You’ve got to go,” Rhys whispered.
“How?” I mouthed. If I left the tack room, whoever it was would see me.
He gestured toward the window that faced the back of the barn. He had to be kidding. I wasn’t even sure I could fit through it.
“Rhys?”
It was Grant.
Again, Rhys pointed to my only escape route. “Now. Go.”
I unlatched the window, thankful the vertical panes opened outward. I hoisted myself up just as I heard Grant turn the knob of the tack room door.
“Why the fuck is this locked?” he yelled. “Rhys, are you in there?”
I didn’t have time to exit gracefully. I flipped forward, doing a somersault and landing with a thump as Grant keyed into the room.
“What the fuck? Are you okay?” I heard him ask as I moved silently away from the barn, hoping no one had witnessed me doing gymnastics out the fucking window.
When I reached the house, I sat down on the back steps. I desperately needed breakfast and coffee, but I also needed a moment to process what had happened before having to talk to anyone.
If I hadn’t woken up with Rhys, I would have thought I’d dreamed it all.
Or maybe not. My back was tender where he’d scratched me, and I felt dried cum pulling at the skin of my belly when I moved. Normally, I hated that feeling, but today, I didn’t mind having the evidence still on my skin.