Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
I gave him a questioning look, still struggling to come up with verbal responses.
“Grant texted you several times, then I tried, then we called. Finally, I came out here. I was worried. Carlo said—”
I held up a hand. “Whatever he said, ignore it.”
Rogue frowned. “He said he didn’t hurt you, and you looked healthy enough when Grant came to get him, but you know how Grant is. He was sure something happened.”
Something sure as hell had happened, but I was not going to talk about it.
“I caught him sneaking around and interrogated him, then called Grant.” That was all completely true.
Rogue studied me for a moment. “No, something else happened. Did he piss you off because—”
“No. Yes. I was mad that he was out here and that I had to defend myself.”
Rogue’s eyes widened. “He attacked you?”
“No.” Not in the way Rogue meant. Not at all really, but it had felt like an attack, a seductive attack on all the instincts I’d buried: violence, roughness, dark need. “He just invaded my privacy. You know how I hate that.”
I prayed Rogue would stop asking questions before my head exploded or I puked all over the floor. He was between me and the bathroom, and if I didn’t get something to settle my stomach soon, I was going to be in trouble.
He studied me with narrowed eyes. “I still think there’s more to it.”
“Have mercy on me and make me some coffee and breakfast.”
Rogue grinned. “That I can do, but I’m not promising I won’t ask again.”
“Why would I expect you to just let something drop? When have you ever done that?”
“Do I really push too hard?”
He sounded so sincere and worried that I forgot how bad I felt for a moment. He was a damn good friend, as good as his brothers had ever been. “No. You always know just when to stop, and everyone says talking to people is good for me.”
“What do you think? You’re the only one whose opinion matters.”
“I think it’s hard as hell, and I can only do so much at a time, but in the end, yeah, it’s good for me.”
Rogue smiled. “Then I’ll keep pushing.”
“Not about last night. Nothing happened other than me thinking someone was after me.”
“And finding a little shit who doesn’t know what’s good for him.”
“From what I understand, you were often described the same way.”
He stuck his tongue out at me as he handed me a cup of coffee. I breathed in the scent, then took a small sip. It was like heaven.
Rogue cracked an egg into the frying pan. Hearing it sizzle made my stomach growl. “So you’re one of those guys who needs to be well fed when you’re hungover?”
I sipped my coffee again. “Yeah.”
“Bet that was hard as hell out in the desert.”
I shuddered, remembering the few times I’d gotten truly wasted out there. “Sure was. Army rations don’t cut it when your head is about to fall off your shoulders.”
Rogue grinned. “I bet not.”
“I didn’t drink much when we were on assignment. It was too dangerous. You couldn’t let your guard down.”
Rogue nodded. “Next time you need to do this to yourself, call me, and I’ll join you.”
“And what will Ghost say about that?” Ghost had also been a member of our team before joining the FBI. He’d just left that position after falling hard for Rogue.
Rogue laughed. “Nothing good. Or maybe he’ll join us, then Rhys can take care of all of us.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m sure he’d love that.”
“He’d deserve it.”
“Only sometimes.”
“So what happened last night? Dreams?”
I needed to tell him something that would make him stop wondering about Carlo, but I wasn’t ready. “Let me eat first, then I’ll talk.”
“So there is more to this.”
“Nothing to do with Carlo.”
“But not dreams either?”
“Dammit, Rogue.”
“Fine.” He shut up until I’d eaten and was almost feeling normal again, normal for me anyway.
“Thank you. That was fantastic.”
“Tell Jacob, and maybe he’ll let me in the kitchen on occasion.”
“Can you cook other things?”
Rogue laughed. “Not really. I do eggs and bacon and can boil pasta, but that’s about it.”
“Then Jacob can keep the kitchen to himself, and you can come here if I need to be cured again.”
Rogue huffed. “You’ve eaten. Now talk.”
“I held a gun on Carlo.” I couldn’t bring myself to mention the knife. That felt almost as horrific as telling him what had happened in bed with the other man.
“Okay. That’s not a big deal, is it? You had no way to know he was supposed to be here.”
I sighed. “I haven’t used a weapon on anyone since I was rescued.”
“Oh, wow.”
“Yeah. I don’t know if I could have defended myself if I’d needed to. I think if my life was on the line…”
“Have you talked to anyone about that?”
“I’m talking to you now.”
Rogue frowned. “Anyone else?”