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)
I can’t believe I’ve said that to anyone, let alone Roadkill, the fucking Vulture Hollow MC enforcer, but here we are, and my chest is that little bit lighter.
Road swallows, searching my face for evidence of dishonesty, but in the end, he nods. “You can say that again. What did he do to you?”
I step back, unsure if I haven’t already said too much, but it feels so freeing to share this with someone. I might be setting a future trap for myself, but if that’s the case, I already did that when I first kissed him. This man, with his searing gaze and smiles that always hide some kind of mystery, will be the death of me.
I swallow and point to the long scar on my face that goes from my forehead, through the eyebrow, to my cheek. “This? I must have been like ten or something. We watched The Lion King together, and once he decided I’m the ‘bad’ brother, he marked me like Scar. And since our parents weren’t home, no one heard me screaming. That would be just the beginning of the shit he pulled, but of course, since he’s blood,” I say bitterly, “you’re not allowed to question your loya—”
I run out of words when Road cups my face and steps close, examining the scar I’ve had to get over at some point. At the time it happened, Roy was already old enough to understand that cutting someone’s face was not just play, but he did it anyway. Too bad he was always so charming it ended up being forgiven.
“Who’d hurt this face?” Road whispers, stroking his thumb along the mark in my flesh.
“You did. Quite a few times.” I have to inhale to gather my thoughts, but don’t push him away. “My dad just instructed me not to tell the doctor what really happened and got me a knife as consolation. He said the scar made me look ‘tough’, like I wasn’t such a pretty boy anymore. Do I look tough enough now?”
Road’s sigh makes me shiver, and when he leans in, moving his nose up my cheek, I am close to falling straight into his arms. “It’s not an either-or. You’re still a pretty boy, and anyone can see it. Bet Roy was so damn jealous. Now me fighting you? I was just looking for a way to get my hands on you.”
My face flushes and I can’t help myself, my hands find Road’s waist like it’s second nature by now. “Even before you knew I was an option?” I whisper, needy for his attention.
That smirk. I might just die because of it one day.
“I’m free in my head, right? I undressed you so many times before that bomb went off.”
My heart does that nervous flip that only he can elicit. “You’re such a dirty fuck.” I can’t help my own smile.
Road snorts, but he spins us around, knocking the air out of me as my back hits the wall. “Me? Dirty? How do you know I wasn’t dreaming about fucking you in some fancy palace, in a swan-shaped bed, all romantic and shit?”
I laugh, because now he’s being ridiculous. At least it eases the tension of our messed-up situation. I run my hands up his chest. “Because you want a fuckbuddy, not a husband.”
No one’s ever watched me the way Road does, nostrils wide, as if he doesn’t want to miss any of my scent. His pupils are like two coals burning for me. How could anyone have the strength to say no to this?
“What do you want?” he asks, sinking toward me, until his forearm rests against the wall above my head, and he’s leaning over me, almost touching.
Fuck, how I love his crooked nose, and even the burn scar. Road looks like he means business, and once again, I’m breathless.
“I want… I want this not to end just yet,” I whisper. “I know it’s messed up what we’re doing, but I want it too much to let go, so let’s navigate this best we can, okay?” I’m afraid even that is saying too much. Like I’m opening a wound in my chest in the presence of a hungry wolf. I can feel him salivating, but can’t stop myself, not when this desire for him feels like a first sip of water on dry lips.
Road dives straight for my mouth with a kiss that leaves my head spinning and my legs weak. But he’s there to hold me up, strong, rough hands, grabbing at my flesh as if he’s worried I might turn into dust.
“I want to keep you.”
I cup his face, and my heart pounds faster when he slides his hands under my waistband and squeezes my ass. “And you can’t be dead for that. So just listen to me when I tell you to stay off the road to the north of Felix Ruther’s farm today. That’s all I ask. Trust me that I’m trying to navigate this for us.” I give him a soft kiss on the lips.