The Secret Read online J.L. Beck (North Woods University #3)

Categories Genre: College, Romance, Young Adult Tags Authors: Series: North Woods University Series by J.L. Beck
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Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 72591 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
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I watch her sleep for a long time, wondering who the hell would hurt her and how I’m going to get her to tell me more. I need to know who did this… I need to know so I can make them pay. I'm consumed by her, this bright red-haired beauty with big blue eyes, and petal pink lips. A girl has never held my attention before, not unless I was fucking them, and somehow Emerson not only has my attention, but she has the rest of me too. She’s weaseled her way into my mind, into my every waking thought.

For once it isn't about the physical aspect, though I would be down to screw Emerson. That I'll admit. Of course right then she decides to squirm in my arms rubbing against my already semi-hard cock.

This is bad.

Think about something else, anything else. Hairy assholes, mole rats, one-eyed hookers. I try to imagine the least sexy and most disgusting things I can, but all I can feel is her perfect little body rubbing against mine. Her hot breath fanning out on my chest and her almost inaudible whimpers vibrating through me.

I try my hardest not to get aroused by her, but fuck, my dick is not getting the memo.

This is going to be a long night, a long, hard night.

Pun intended.

Chapter Four

Emerson

I wake up the same way I fell asleep, cocooned in Clark’s embrace. My cheek pressed against his shirt clad chest, his clean scent and the warmth of his body surrounding me. Never in a million years did I think I would be able to handle someone touching me like that, let alone take comfort in it. There’s something about Clark though, I can’t explain it, pinpoint it, something that gives me hope, something that calms the ever roaring storm inside of me.

Never have I felt so content, so at ease in the presence of another person. I revel in the feeling, and hope with all my heart that this is going to last, because I don’t know if I could survive another heartbreak, because one thing is already certain. Clark holds my heart in his hands a boy I barely know holds my heart and he has the power to shatter it into a million pieces.

He stirs after what seems like a long time but still not enough. I want him to hold me all day. His hand rubs up and down my back as he dips his head and kisses the top of my hair. The gesture is so gentle, kind, and it moves me.

“You okay?” he asks, his voice raspy with sleep.

“Yes, thank you for staying with me,” I say, my throat still throbbing from crying and screaming in my sleep. Of course this is nothing new for me. Night terrors have been a constant in my life for years. What is new is having someone hold me all night.

“My dad is coming home tonight,” Clark says, and all the lightheartedness I felt seconds ago vanishes. I’m not sure if he caught my body stiffen or if he is a mind reader, but Clark hushed me right away, rushing to my rescue like a knight.

“I’m scared…” I confess, the trembling in my lips already starting.

“It’s okay, you’re safe with me. I promise,” he tells me and I believe him. My brain tells me I shouldn’t, but I’m tired of listening to the crippling fear, tired of letting it control me.

Clark has never tried to hurt me even though I’ve been alone with him multiple times. He’s never showed himself to be a monster, and while I know that the darkest of villains often hide in plain sight, Clark isn’t like that and I should give him the benefit of the doubt, that’s what normal people do, right? Clinging to his words, I let myself find strength in them.

It’s going to be okay… it’s going to be okay…

He can never hurt me again…

Hating it but knowing we should, I start to pull away. As I do so, my leg brushes against a firm bulge in his sweatpants. It’s huge. I gasp knowing what it is, and like an idiot, I look up at Clark’s face. A pained expression mars his beautiful features.

“Sorry,” he says hoarsely. I wait for him to make a move, to come at me. My heart thunders inside my chest, but nothing happens, he doesn’t move, not even an inch.

“I’m… I’m sorry,” I apologize, feeling stupid after a brief moment. Clark is not a monster, he can control himself, his urges.

Clark shakes his head. “Don’t apologize, not for being scared, not for anything. You don’t owe anyone an apology, least of all me.”

Stupidly I believe him. I hang on every word he says, like a silent prayer hoping this will last forever, that the nightmares of my past will remain hidden, buried deep inside of me.


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