Total pages in book: 150
Estimated words: 146034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 730(@200wpm)___ 584(@250wpm)___ 487(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 730(@200wpm)___ 584(@250wpm)___ 487(@300wpm)
“Don’t worry, I can take care of that little problem for you, Cookie.” Ryder burrowed his face under her chin, and she was giggling again.
I swore, these two were impossible to be around. If Dakota thought she was the one who was suffering from second-hand lust? It was palpable every time they were in the same room.
Combustible.
Always felt like I needed to duck and take cover before the two of them went boom.
Except for right then, this didn’t feel indirect or derived. This sensation that I was going to bust. The way every cell in my body expanded and pressed and throbbed as I watched Savannah on the dance floor.
Gliding around, all that lush dark-blonde hair swishing around her shoulders. Body hugged in the perfect travesty of that dress. But what had me seeing red was Jaron’s hand that was sitting precariously close to her ripe, pert ass.
My hand tightened so hard around my plastic cup that it cracked and beer trickled out.
“Fuck,” I spat, and the legs of my stool skidded on the floor as I stood. I dropped the ruined cup into the nearly full pitcher since I’d been sipping on that same drink for the entire night.
Ryder cracked up. “If that wasn’t ever a sign, I don’t know what one is. You’re on your feet. Now do something with them.”
I glanced between him and the wasted cup and Savannah.
Fuck it.
He was right.
“Get it, brother,” he shouted behind me.
I tossed him a finger over my shoulder as I strode for the dance floor, cutting through the few bodies it took to land me at Savannah’s side.
She’d just stepped on Jaron’s foot, setting them off beat, and I could feel the weight of her laughter ripple through the air as she tried to right herself.
I tried to hold in the chuckle. The way some twisted contentment expanded my chest when I looked at her fumbling around.
The woman a disorder.
That aqua gaze lit when she noticed me approach, that coy thing she loved to wear playing all over those plush, gorgeous lips.
Let’s just say Jaron looked less excited to see me.
“Sorry, Jaron, but I’m gonna have to cut in. Give your father my respects.”
“But I—”
I used my body to wall him out, not giving him a chance to respond.
Savannah giggled a sweet, disbelieving sound as I slid an arm around her waist and tucked her close, taking her other hand in mine so I could begin to lead her in an easy two-step. I did my best not to breathe out in relief with the feel of her in my arms, but maybe she could hear it anyway as she edged closer. She tipped her face up so she could meet my eyes. “I see the reformation was a complete failure.”
“Pssh…I am only trying to keep you from embarrassing yourself. You stepped on that poor boy’s toes so many times I doubt he’s going to be able to walk tomorrow.”
“And have you no care for your own feet?” Her tease was easy.
“Nah, these feet can handle it. You can stand on them if you need to. I’ll take care of the rest.”
A low, throaty laugh rippled from her lips. It tumbled through me like a crash of greed. “You like taking care of things yourself, don’t you, Officer Patterson? Like being in control?”
Neither were actual questions. They were both a suggestion and an accusation.
My throat tightened a fraction. “I figure if I was in control of everything that went down around here, things would turn out a whole lot better for everyone.”
“That’s because you’re genuinely a good person, aren’t you?” Savannah’s brow puckered in question, a twine of disbelief, like she couldn’t fathom that someone might truly be.
My chest squeezed. Shame bottling thick, and the confession was rumbling out before I could stop it. “I used to be, but it seems I keep falling short.”
Aqua eyes creased at the sides as she gazed up at me.
A swilling sea.
A storm.
Paradise.
“I don’t believe there’s a single bad bone inside of you.”
Dangerous.
This woman was dangerous.
Fingers reaching in, searching around in my insides like she might have a tap into who I was. And I wasn’t supposed to feel like this. My selfishness had proven that I didn’t deserve it.
Instead of giving voice to it, instead of admitting she was wrong and needed to stay far, far away, I lifted my hand and twirled her around twice.
Savannah squealed at the sudden change, shiny locks of her hair whipping around before I pulled her back in to me, closer this time, her tits pressed low on my chest as I led her in a gentle sway that still felt as if the earth was rocking below us.
Guiding her in time. To this rhythm that felt both chaotic and slowed.
My hand splayed across the small of her back, and her heart ravaged against mine.