Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 100470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
He shoves me hard off the log and I hit the earth on my back, knocking the breath out of me. I sit up on my elbows, ready to kick him if he comes near me, but he storms off.
I pissed him off.
Good.
Maybe he’ll stay the hell away from me.
From across the fire, I see Logan stand. He helps Ronan to his feet. At first, I think they’re going to their tent, but then Logan guides him over to where I’m now sitting back on the log.
“Let your sister know everything is fine,” Logan says when they approach, gesturing at the log beside me. “I’m going to take a piss. You have five minutes. Your treat for being good today, pet.”
Pet?
I want to jump to my feet and run my fingernails down Logan’s face. The way he treats Ronan sickens me. But the last time I had a fit, Ronan took a beating. It takes everything in me not to snap at Logan.
“Thanks, Logan,” Ronan grunts out, gingerly sitting next to me.
As soon as Logan walks off, I grab Ronan’s hand and lean into him. The tears come out of nowhere like a flash flood. I cling to him, crying enough for both of us.
“Hey, Rae,” he croons, voice soft and shaky. “It’s okay. I’m all right.”
But he’s not all right. He’s hurt. Logan hurt him.
“It’s all my fault,” I rasp out, hiccupping through my tears. “He hurt you because of me.”
“Shh. Just a few whacks with a belt. I survived. Nothing any worse than what Dad’s doled out before.”
I know he’s lying. I know it was terrifying and painful. He never howled like that when Dad spanked him. None of us kids ever did. This was different. This was a beating.
“I’m sorry, Ro.”
“Don’t be sorry,” he says, voice stern. “Now tell me how you are. Did he hurt you?”
“Tom, the big oaf?” I scoff at him. “No. Just tried to kill me with his stank. Plus, his kids were there too.”
Having Wyatt and Oliva there has helped make sleeping beside the man not so scary.
“Good.” He kisses the side of my head. “You’re strong. We’ll get through this. Just need to hang on.”
“Until what?” I turn to look into my brother’s eyes. “When will this end?”
He reaches up and brushes away the wetness on my cheek with his thumb. “When Ryder comes for us. I know he will.”
I search his eyes and frown. “What if he’s too late?”
“He won’t be.”
“But…”
“But what?”
I chew on my bottom lip, hating to speak the words. “Tom and CJ…” Sighing heavily, I shove down the terror and let anger replace it. “Apparently, they’re going to compete for the chance to marry me.”
Ronan scowls, reminding me a lot of Ryder in this moment.
“I don’t want to have sex with either of them,” I whisper, letting fear creep back in. “I’ve never done it and I’m scared. I wanted it to be you. In my head, it was always you.”
And then it was Ryder, but I don’t mention that.
His features soften. “Even when you found out I like men?”
“Still then.” I swallow down a ball of emotion. “It still could be you.”
He blinks at me in confusion. “But I’m—”
“You could pretend I’m someone else,” I murmur, voice quivering. “Like Ryder. Just close your eyes and pretend.”
Ronan’s brows pinch together and he pulls his gaze away from mine. “Rae.”
“Never mind,” I choke out. “It was a stupid idea.”
He shakes his head and pulls me to him for a hug. “It’s not. I just…I don’t know what to think.”
“I just didn’t want those monsters to take away something so special to me.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
His arm squeezes me closer to him. “If there were ever an opportunity, I would do it for you. Somehow. Some way. I could give that to you.”
My heart flutters at the idea of what he’s saying.
Me and Ronan.
Together in bed. Moaning and licking and writhing. Like that night I watched my parents. Ronan could say those filthy things to me. He could rub the spot between my legs that makes me see stars. I would spread my legs for him and let him push his cock inside me.
Heat floods south and my skin burns hot.
“Tonight?” I ask in a whisper.
He groans. “Rae, I said if there were ever an opportunity. I can’t slip away from Logan.”
“I could come to you,” I offer. “Tom and his kids have to fall asleep at some point.”
“It’s not safe.” He pulls back and cups my cheek in his hand. “Don’t do anything risky.”
Before we can argue any more about this subject, the sounds of footsteps cracking through the nearby forest have us hushing up. Logan returns with eyes narrowed. Ronan gives me another quick hug before rising to his feet.
“You two behaved while I was gone?” Logan asks, gaze penetrating and hard.