Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
She was vibrant and vivacious and had the biggest heart of anyone I’d ever met. And she was in my arms. Kissing me as I kissed her. And, fuck if she wasn’t fucking delicious.
When we finally broke apart, there was a softness in her eyes that hadn’t been there before, a look of trust and something soft but vulnerable. We both were breathing hard. Annie looked up at me with a dazed expression filled with something like wonder. She was definitely not opposed to me kissing her. I wasn’t opposed to kissing her either.
For a moment, I just admired her lovely face, highlighted by the orange hues of twilight, her cheeks flushed from our closeness. Then I smiled reassuringly down at her. I stroked her cheek with my thumb before brushing my mouth over hers once more, then slowly sat back, moving away from her.
“Wow.” She actually looked giddy. Like this was all a grand adventure. “That wasn’t like what I always expected at all.” There was a nearly dreamlike expression on her face. Her eyes were half closed and she was so relaxed where she was pressed against me. Like a drowsy little kitten.
I narrowed my gaze. “Oh? How’s that?”
For the first time since Annie had come under my care, I saw that serene exterior crack. There were flashes of fear from time to time, but mostly in social situations. The other ladies put her at ease by just being themselves. This was different. Her expression blanked, and the color drained away from her face, her lips almost disappearing into her face they got so pale. She broke out in a sweat and I could see the pulse in her neck speed up and knew I’d fucked up but good.
“I-I’m s-sorry.” She stood up quickly and fled back down the path.
“Annie! Annie, stop!”
She didn’t. Running back toward the house, she seemed to go faster with each step away from me. At least she was headed back to the home we shared. I knew that’s where she’d go because it’s where she always went. She had expressed no desire to leave the compound for any reason unless I suggested it. Those times, I always went with her and she’d seemed grateful for my presence.
I’d known kissing her would be a mistake. Getting a taste of the delicate woman who had such a remarkable inner strength while still keeping a gentle nature meant the shriveled up part of my soul had been infused with her inner light. I knew there was no way she could keep giving that to me and not fade away to a shadow of herself, but I knew I’d forever crave that warmth and sweetness. I never wanted to hurt her. Especially not with this.
Considering the nature of cults and women, I had no doubt she had experienced some horrific things. She’d even told me some of it. I mean, she’d been trapped inside a box, for Christ’s sake! She’d specifically told me that and I’d been so wrapped up in just trying to absorb all she’d been telling me I hadn’t stopped to consider what she’d had to go through during those two years she’d been “reconditioned.” I now knew the pain she hid was deeper than I’d realized. And I should have thought to fucking check before I up and kissed her.
“Dom!”
Shit. Fuck. Shit. And piss.
Lemon.
I saw her and my daughter, Calista, headed in my direction with a full head of steam. Calista hung back slightly, frowning but hesitant, but she continued forward. Lemon didn’t hesitate. Her fists were clenched and the fine muscles in her arms bunched as if putting the point on her anger. I stuck up my hand in sheepish greeting like a lame-O, but honestly, there was nothing else I could do. I’d fucked up. Me. So whatever she dished out, I’d take with a bowed head, on my knees. Then I’d walk on my knees back to the house and plead, grovel, beg, or even borrow Falcon’s fucking pink monstrosity to ride her round, until she took me back.
Wait. We weren’t a couple. Right?
Fuck.
“Hey, Lemon.” Yep. I just kept getting lamer and lamer.
“What the fuck did you do to Annie, you bastard?” Lemon wasn’t slowing down as she approached and I braced myself for impact. Her hand cracked across my face almost before I saw it coming. Girl was getting good at not telegraphing her movements. Rocket would be proud.
“Lemon!” Calista stopped dead in her tracks, covering her mouth with her hands.
“Sour puss…” Rocket was close behind her, though he was trotting to catch up. Probably had seen or heard Lemon and took off after her. He didn’t often try to mitigate the damage caused by his vice president -- she was, after all, the vice president -- but he’d protect his wife with a ruthlessness matched only by the other members of Grim who had women of their own.