Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 159500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 798(@200wpm)___ 638(@250wpm)___ 532(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 159500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 798(@200wpm)___ 638(@250wpm)___ 532(@300wpm)
Road turns, and while the tub’s narrow, he manages to look at me as he presses his shoulder to the wall. There’s a darkness in his eyes, as if they were rotting blood rather than chocolate. “I would kill him all over again if I could.” With that, he turns back and pulls my arms around him. While I’m the one holding him, the warmth of his body, and the anger I sense in him are so damn reassuring. “Squealed like a pig at the end.”
I smirk when I think that’s what Kalash said about Luna. “I killed Kalash. I lost my shit and stabbed him I don’t know how many times. Only reason I’m not soaked in blood is ‘cause Bracer tried to help me cover it up, so I changed and showered. But then I messaged you and—you know what went down after that. I don’t even know what the Butchers know about it now. Bracer wasn’t at the hospital.”
“It’ll work out somehow,” Road says and pulls my trembling hand to his lips, leaning back as if I were his favorite chair. Despite the somber atmosphere, I find myself smiling at the comfort of this moment. Now that my body is used to the hot water, it feels like we’re both floating in zero gravity, away from whatever real life might bring. I curl around my man, savoring his presence after missing it for what felt like forever. I don’t know how he’s managing to stay so calm and keep reassuring me when I’m this emotional wreck, but soon his calm seeps into me where our skin is touching and clears my head.
I kiss his shoulder as I stroke his chest, so amazed that he is here with me. Alive. “So… what now? What was that husband talk about?” Even that is less stressful than what we had to discuss before.
Road glances over his shoulder, but it only lasts a split second, offering me the best view on the dark flush climbing the back of his neck. “Yeah… I want them to treat you with respect. This way, they’ll have to. It makes sense.”
I kiss his nape. “‘Makes sense’? That’s your proposal?” I tease even though I’m bewildered by this concept. I know biker life though, and if his club is anything like mine, I understand where he’s coming from.
He lets out a helpless roar, then splashes his face and rises to twist in the tub so we can see each other with ease. Warm droplets cascade down his neck and wide chest, but I can’t follow their trail, not when he’s staring at me with eyes so intense I feel not just naked but stripped to my core.
“Fine, it’s stupid, but I want you to myself. I don’t want no other guy thinking you’re up for grabs. And I want to know that you want that too,” he says breathlessly, kneeling between my spread legs.
I sigh and slide my hands down his sides. I love how he’s built. A wall between me and the world, the tattoos and bruises on him like the best graffiti. But it’s his confidence, his unbreakable bond with me that makes me say, “yes. No one else would do.” I’m so entranced by his dark eyes I don’t even blink. “I want all of you, all the time.”
He shrinks, exhaling, as if he were braced for rejection until I confirmed that I don’t in fact want to run away from him. “Yes to what? Getting married?” he asks, still cautious.
I bite back a smile. My life is in ruins, and yet this moment still feels like distilled joy pumped into my veins. This amazing, brave guy wants me. “Yes. I want to be yours, and I want you to be mine.”
He reaches back, holding both hands at the back of his head, watching me with his lower lip stuck between his teeth. “Okay then... yeah, let’s do that,” he says and, after a moment’s hesitation, grabs my face, leaning in for a kiss so deep and intense, I feel it even in my toes.
I slide lower in the bath, wrapping my arms around his neck. Absolute bliss. Even my bruises don’t hurt now. My whole body awakes to his touch and I’m gonna grasp this happiness for as long as it lasts.
“I love you,” I whisper against his lips. “And loved our sex too, Roadie. I want it again. I want to feel you inside me.”
He’s pressing his forehead to mine now and shoves one arm under me as he inhales, staring back at me in helpless wonder. My hair’s floating in the water, but he keeps my face above the surface. While he says nothing at first, I can see every intense emotion reflecting in his gaze.
“Oh shit,” he mumbles, briefly closing his eyes. “Oh fuck…”