Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
His mouth moves to my neck, peppering my skin with soft, heated kisses that leave me trembling in their wake. My breath comes in short gasps, a mixture of anticipation and relief, like I’ve been waiting all day for this moment. I tangle my fingers in his hair, pulling him closer, wanting more.
“Aubree,” he whispers against my skin, voice husky. My name on his lips sends a shiver down my spine. I arch into him, the press of his body a comforting weight.
He slips a hand under my shirt, skimming the bare skin of my waist. Every nerve ending feels like it’s sparking to life, and I let out a quiet whimper. The sound seems to embolden him, and he returns to my mouth, claiming it in a series of slow, deliberate kisses.
For a moment, I let the outside world fade—no threats, no stepfather with suspicious transactions, no timeline. Just us, hidden away in a cabin, devouring each other’s taste like we can’t get enough. His grip tightens slightly, and I feel the tension in his muscles. I know he’s still holding back a little, concerned about hurting me or pushing too far, but I nudge him to let go.
“Boone,” I whisper, tugging the front of his shirt. “Don’t overthink. Just… be here with me.”
A soft chuckle escapes him, though his eyes are dark with desire. “Yes, ma’am,” he teases, leaning in again.
We lose ourselves in that kiss, in the gentle dance of tongues and lips, the sounds of our own breathing mingling with the crackle of the fire. My heart pounds a frantic rhythm, and I find myself wishing this moment could stretch on forever, free of any looming threats or responsibilities. Just two people, sharing something real.
Eventually, the need for air forces us apart. He presses his forehead to mine, his breath coming in ragged pulls. I brush a hand over his cheek, my chest heaving as I try to steady myself.
“That was…” I begin, but my voice trails off. I’m not sure I have the words to describe what it was.
“Yeah,” he agrees, swallowing hard. “Let’s see if I can do even better.”
I laugh as we tumble together, his mouth covering mine with another mind-numbing kiss. One that I’ll never be able to recover from.
Chapter 25
Boone
My phone buzzes on the coffee table, and I tense up the second I see Dean’s name flash across the screen. It’s late—later than when he usually calls—so right away my guard is up. Aubree’s in the bedroom folding laundry, humming a little tune I can’t quite place. I stand, running a hand over my hair, and swipe to answer.
“Dean,” I say, trying to keep my voice low and even, “what’s going on?”
A sigh crackles through the line before Dean speaks. “Finally got some updates. Got Bravo Team watching your girl’s stepfather, and so far…nothing. No suspicious meetings, no weird transactions, aside from the ones we already know about. All he does is go to the office, then come home to Aubree’s mom,” he states with a muttered curse. “It’s a damned waiting game. I hate waiting, you know that.”
I pace the living room, glancing every so often at the closed bedroom door to make sure Aubree isn’t listening. “Yeah, I know. But if there’s nothing, there’s nothing. At least it means he’s not making any new moves.”
Dean’s quiet for a beat. “Look, Boone, I also talked to her mom. I gave her a rundown—nothing too detailed, just enough so she knows Aubree’s safe. She was getting worried.”
I feel a knot loosen in my chest. Aubree’s been worried sick about her mother, but we didn’t want to reach out in case her stepfather was monitoring her calls. “She’s all right? The mom, I mean?”
“As far as I can tell, yes,” Dean replies. “She’s anxious, but that’s normal. She wants to see her daughter. I had to convince her that laying low is still the best option. Frankly, she’s got doubts about Charles, but nothing concrete. It’s a mess.”
I exhale slowly, raking a hand over my beard. “All right. Well, thanks for letting me know.” My eyes drift to the fireplace, the dying embers casting a faint glow across the cabin’s interior. “Any other news?”
Dean makes a low noise of frustration. “Not much else. The police have been slow to release info about the brick incident a while back, the one at the shop. Forensics is tied up. And—”
Suddenly, a shrill beep blasts through the phone, loud enough that I recoil, nearly dropping it. Dean hisses a curse on the other end. “Hold on, something’s coming through… Shit. That’s—” He breaks off, presumably reading something on his end. “Boone, an alarm just triggered at Slice Slice Baby. Looks like a forced entry. The system we installed is going off.”
My stomach twists. “Someone broke in just now?” At least we know the system is working, but that’s cold comfort if the place is getting trashed.