Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 85183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
"Because I'm asking you to."
My patience snaps. "Well, fuck you, Jude! I don't fucking want to. I am fed up with this shit, just go find Joe already and get it over with!" My pulse thrums against my eardrums as my fingers clench into my own arms.
Glaring at me, he picks up the bag and throws it over his broad shoulder. "Come on." He's heading toward the door. He's gone off in his alpha-zone and isn't fucking listening to me. I need this. Fucking arsehole.
I jump up, and stand, facing him, keeping the bed between us. "The only thing that has got me this far is the thought of killing that bastard. Just knowing he's alive makes me feel like I can't breathe. I need to watch him die. Please don't take it from me."
His eyes set on mine, almost pleading. "There's more to life than revenge, doll. Trust me on that one."
Fuck this. Frustration and anger course through me, and a rage unlike anything I've ever experienced takes over my body. "No! There is nothing more than revenge! You don't have a fucking clue what I need. You weren't held down and raped time and time and time again. You didn't watch your best friend die. You didn't have to stay locked in a room with his body. You can't possibly imagine how much I need to kill that man. You want to know why I didn't tell you about the baby, Jude? I couldn't see past killing Joe. I was prepared to die to kill him if I had to. That is how much this means." By the time I'm done, tears prick my eyes, and I angrily swipe at them. He might think I'm selfish, but I don't care.
He stands silently staring at me, shock and hurt written all over his face. He drops the bag onto the floor, and strides towards me, pulling me tightly against his hard body.
"Until he is dead it doesn't matter where I am," I say. "If he wants me, he will find me. I'm safer with you than I am anywhere else."
"Damn it, Tor. I just don't want anything to happen to you." His hand rubs over my back, his lips pressing into my hair. "As soon as he is dead, we are leaving. Do you hear me?"
I inhale the scent of him and nod against his firm chest. "Okay."
“Joe will have to be so fucking out of it by the time he is anywhere near you that all I have to do is breathe on him to kill him." He pulls away to look at me, his fingers wiping away my tears. He swallows and his eyes dart back down to my stomach. He sighs. "If I let you do this... fuck, Tor, you're gonna have to be strong. It's not just you anymore."
I pull away from him, biting my bottom lip nervously. "I know."
Honestly, those first few weeks were hard. I've never felt so angry and yet utterly destroyed at the same time. I vowed to kill Joe, and it seemed like the only thing that mattered, possibly even more than my own life, but at times I glance up at Jude, standing protectively in front of me... and, well, things change. It sounds so cliché, but I guess sometimes you need to be reminded of what you could lose, of the people you would leave behind. Jude and I only have each other. I still want Joe dead, that hasn't changed, but I know that Jude will help me and protect me. Jude would never let anything happen to me.
He cups my face, his thumbs stroking over my jaw line. My eyes lock with his. "You'll fucking kill me, woman." He leans down and presses his lips to mine gently. "You don't listen worth a shit."
I smile at his southern twang. "Of course not," I whisper.
"You were fucking made for me, huh?"
"Who else would put up with you?"
Jude grins as he grabs my hair and yanks my head back. "I wouldn't want anyone else to."
His lips slam over mine, his hands running down my back and grabbing my arse. He lifts me easily, and my legs wrap around his hips. "Don't pretend you don't love it." He throws me on the bed and leans over me, a predatory look on his face. My stomach tightens, and my breath quickens.
"I do love it," I breathe.
"I know," he says, palming me. "And I'm about to fucking remind you exactly why you love it so goddamn much." His fingers creep around my throat, a devilish smile on his lips.
I really do love it.
I park the car in front of the bookstore and flip the mirror down, quickly swiping my fingers through my hair to give it a preppier look. I didn't tell Tor what I'm doing. It's fucking wrong as hell.