Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
He needed his rest.
“Think that counter might be clean by now, baby.”
She jumped with a cry, turning to glare at Victor, who stood leaning against the doorway, his arms over his thick chest. He’d put a pair of black pajama pants on. And damn, they looked good on him.
“Victor, you scared me. It’s the middle of the night, you shouldn’t be creeping around.”
“I made plenty of noise. Thought I was going to wake up the whole household.”
Guilt filled her. “I’m sorry I woke you up. You don’t think I woke anyone else up, do you?”
Way to make a good impression, Gracen.
“No one else is awake,” he reassured her. “And you’ve got it completely wrong.”
“What do you mean?” She put the cloth down. Everyone had been very complimentary about the dinner she’d made last night.
It had been a bit odd, eating in a formal dining room. Growing up with her grandpa, they’d just sat in front of the TV to eat. They hadn’t even had a table. So, it had been kind of intimidating. Luckily, Nico had made it all more lighthearted. At one stage he’d mock-whispered to her how the Queen of England probably had worse table manners than the Malones.
It could be true.
After dinner, she’d watched a movie with Victor before going up to bed a few hours ago. She’d probably gotten maybe an hour of sleep at most.
“Whenever you have a nightmare or can’t sleep or you just need something, then you’re to wake me up immediately. What you are not to do is sneak out of bed without telling me where you are.”
She grimaced. “Were you worried when you woke up and I wasn’t there?”
“Worried doesn’t cover it, little bit.” He prowled toward her, and she watched him warily.
He crowded her against the counter.
“I’m sorry,” she told him. “You need your rest.”
“So do you.”
“I had an hour-long nap this afternoon, which is probably why I couldn’t sleep tonight.”
“Gracen,” he warned. “That’s not what happened. Do not lie.”
She dropped her face, ashamed.
He cupped her chin, tilting her face back. “Nightmare?”
“Yes.”
“What was it about?” he asked.
“Losing you.”
He nodded solemnly. She thought he might tell her that nothing would ever happen to him. That her fears were silly. But instead, he lifted her onto the counter. She was only wearing panties and his T-shirt.
“Baby, you’re freezing. Where are your pants? Socks? We need to get you some more clothes.”
“I have clothes back at my apartment,” she protested as he grabbed her feet. Stepping back, he shocked her by holding them to his tummy. He was boiling hot, and she gasped in surprise, trying to pull back as he rubbed his hands over them.
“Leave them there,” he growled. “You’re far too cold. You should have put more clothes on. What if one of my brothers had seen you like this?”
“It’s just like wearing a dress.” But he did have a point. “I need my clothes. Can we go get them?”
“I’ll figure something out. We need to get all your stuff moved out and end your lease. How much time is left?”
“I don’t know. But won’t I need to move back into my apartment eventually?” She was only staying here while they were figuring out what had happened and whether Santiago was after them. Wasn’t she?
“Baby, you live here now.”
She gaped at him. “Permanently?”
He wrapped her legs around his waist, stepping up against her. His heat slid around her. Okay, she really had been cold.
“That’s what being mine means. You live with me now. You’re mine now. You wake me when you have nightmares. You tell me when you need something, like socks for instance. You let me know when you’re cold, hot, tired, angry, sad, or happy. You getting this?”
“Yes, but I don’t want it to be all one-sided.” She never wanted him to think that she was using him.
“It’s not. Trust me, I’m still getting the better deal out of this. Because I have you.” He kissed her lightly, then lifted her into his arms.
“Victor you have to stop carrying me.”
“If you say anything about being too heavy, I’m going to bend you over this counter and spank your ass with a wooden spoon.”
Yikes.
“Um, I just meant because you’re still recovering from a car accident.”
“I’m fine.” He carried her out of the kitchen.
“Wait, I was going to make some more cinnamon rolls for the morning.”
“Not happening. You need sleep. You still look exhausted.” He set her down by the stairs and led her up them.
“You keep trying to get me into bed. And you haven’t even fucked me yet.”
“Soon, baby. Soon.”
Instead of putting her to bed, he led her into the bathroom and lifted her onto the counter. Then he turned the water on in the giant tub.
It really was big enough for the two of them.
He placed his hands on the counter on either side of her, watching her closely. She stared into his eyes, studying him back.