Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 142939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
He lifts his head from out of my neck. That sexy smirk is back on his lips again. “I know.”
Suddenly, there’s a popping sound from somewhere inside the house, and then a familiar voice yells, “You bring her out here right FUCKING NOW! Hot Takis!”
10
VANE
Ocean slaps her hands over my eyes as my bedroom door bursts open.
“What–”
A flash bang goes off, my vision only saved by Ocean’s palm. In an instant, I’m moving and snatching my pistol from the holster along the side of the bed. When I turn, I find a gun pointed at my face.
A woman in a black ski mask glares at me. “Ocean, you all right?”
“I’m good.” Ocean sits up and tries to move past me, but I scoot her behind me again. There’s no way in hell I’m letting her get hurt.
“You sicko,” the woman in the ski mask hisses. “Thinking you can do whatever you want just because you’re worth billions. Stealing a woman and bringing her here to this, this–”
“Rebel, it’s not like that.” Ocean tries to push past me again.
No chance. But I relax just a little. Rebel is one of her crew. She’d never hurt Ocean. Me, on the other hand … I suppose I’ll just have to wait and see.
Felix appears underneath Rebel and weaves between her ankles. That little traitor.
She reaches down and pets him, all while keeping her gun trained on me. Then she stands. “It’s not like what?” She reaches up and removes the ski mask, her eyes narrowing on me. “This guy is a pervert!”
Ocean snorts a laugh. “Well, sure, but he’s only perverted for me.” She reaches out and presses on my wrist.
I allow her to lower my gun, but I keep my gaze on Rebel. If her barrel strays toward Ocean even a little bit, we’re going to have a problem.
“Did he drug you? Is that what this is?” Rebel asks.
“No!” Ocean swallows hard. “Wait, I mean yes–” When Rebel’s barrel twitches, she hurriedly adds, “But not in a bad way! In an okay way. It’s fine. I’m here of my own free will.”
“Yeah, because you came to steal tech, not get in this guy’s bed. This is clearly some sort of hostage situation. You know the word to say. Just say it.” She stares at Ocean.
“The word?” I raise my brows.
“Code word,” Ocean says, her hand on my back. “Like ‘Hot Takis’ means she’s throwing a flash/bang. But I’m not going to say it.” She pins Rebel with a stare. “Now lower that gun. Everything’s okay. I’m okay.”
Rebel slowly drops her gun. “Did … did you two just–you know … All the way?” she whispers it as if that will keep me from hearing.
“Yes!” Ocean laughs.
I wrap my arm around her, pulling her against me.
She yanks the blanket up to cover us. “I was perfectly willing, okay? Calm down. I can’t believe you’re here. At least Magic isn’t–” The lights snap off, and a distorted voice comes over the house comms. “You will release your prisoner, or I will rain hell down on your entire existence, you fucking worm!”
Ocean sighs. “Never mind.”
“Magic, we’re clear. She’s safe,” Rebel says.
“Ugh, seriously? I was going to do all this fun stuff with the lights and the”–the lights begin flickering in staccato fashion—“and his whole house is wired so I can”–the garbage disposal starts running, and my fire alarm blares.
I cover Ocean’s ears.
“Magic!” Rebel cries.
The alarm stops. “Fine. This was absolutely zero fun.” Her voice is normal now, no longer low and morphed. “She’s safe, right? Not harmed. What are you going to do to that conniving asshole Vane?” She laughs. “Ocean, you going to blow him up with his own tech?”
“I’m all good. He’s all good. Look, you two have the wrong idea.” Ocean starts feeling around for her clothes.
But I ripped her shirt clean off, so she doesn’t have one. I quickly yank my shorts from the floor and don them before running into my closet and tossing her one of my shirts.
“He’s not a bad guy.” She beams up at me. “Thanks.”
“But he set a trap for you, didn’t he?” Magic asks over the comms.
“Well, yeah…” Ocean pulls on my shirt, looking absolutely perfect in it.
When she stands, it falls to her thighs. I button it up for her as she talks to her friends. “He set me up to get me here so he could show me that … well, that he …”
“Looks to me like he got you here to show you his dic–”
“Rebel!” Ocean laughs. “No!”
“I mean, she’s not completely wrong.” I kiss Ocean on her forehead.
She looks down at my bare chest, then shoves me toward the closet. “Get dressed. I don’t want anyone looking at my man.”
Rebel whistles. “Your man?”
Magic gasps over the speakers.
I take Ocean’s hands in mine. “Yours? You mean it?”