Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 99766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
“Penny’s more grown up than your ass,” I throw back. “Move. I’m taking her out today.”
He eyes me up like he can see inside my head. “I need the words, Terrence.”
“I’m not here to defile Penny,” I growl. “Jesus. I want to take her to lunch and talk to her. She’s been distant and weird. Is that okay, your royal asshole-ness?”
“It’s okay. For now. If I get word you’re fucking my girl, I’ll bash in the other side of your head, man. I’ll put you in a forever sleep.”
I poke his hard chest. “First of all, Penny can decide who she wants to fuck, not you. That’s her decision, not ours. Secondly, I would never do anything to hurt her. Ever. Thirdly, if I for some reason unintentionally hurt her, we both know Penny can handle her own. She’d probably stab me in my good eye.”
He laughs. “My girl has balls of steel.”
“Fuck yeah she does. Now let me in so I can try and bring her back to us. She’s dealing with shit on her own. I don’t like it.”
“Garrett know you’re dating his daughter?” He arches his brow, still not moving from the doorway.
“No, and I’d appreciate it if you kept that to yourself.”
His amber eyes glint in an evil way as his grin widens. “It’ll be our dirty little secret until I can’t stand it anymore and want to fuck with Gary.”
“Are you done being an asshole?”
“Never,” he says, “but I am for now. Good luck. Penny came out earlier to grab breakfast and nearly bit my head off. She’s in a mood. Probably on the rag.” He points at my face. “She’s got one helluva shiner. Might have something to do with it.”
I push past him, entering the loft. Striding down the hallway, I find her room and knock.
“Go away, pet. I don’t have the patience for your shit today,” she grumbles.
I twist the knob, pushing into the room. Penny is on her side, curled into a fetal position. She’s so small, her baggy clothes swallow her. I close the door behind me, kick off my shoes, and then crawl into the bed with her.
“Who let you in, Smash?” she grumbles but puts up no fight when I pull her against my chest.
“Your guard dog but not before an intense interrogation where I had to proclaim my intentions for you.” I chuckle as I stroke my fingers through her hair. “I’ve missed you. This. Us.”
Her body trembles. She tightens her hold around me as though now that I’m here, she can’t bear for me to leave. I want to drill her with questions and demand answers. I want to know what’s going on inside her head. But I know this girl. I can’t push her. She’ll come around in her own time. I just need to be here for her when she does.
“You going to be okay for tonight’s game?” I ask, my voice a low rumble. “Maybe you should sit this one out.”
“And miss beating Rockford’s ass? Duh.”
“There’s my girl.” I let out a heavy sigh. “Let me take you to lunch. We can ride in my new car.”
“Is it as cool as mine?”
“Way cooler.”
She sits up, her blue eyes finding mine. A dark bruise is forming, confirming what Jace told me. Her hair is a mess and dark circles ring her eyes. Something I don’t usually see from Penny flickers in her gaze.
Fear.
Not of me.
Someone else entirely.
“Eli been fucking with you?” I ask, reaching up to rub my thumb over her bruised cheek.
“Nope. I got that from basketball practice. Your cousin is crazy with her elbows.” She swats my hand away. “Are you going to kiss me or keep staring at me like you want to?”
Avoidance.
Got it.
I’ll play her game for now, but I will get to the bottom of this. Sliding my hand to the back of her neck, I draw her to me. Her lips softly brush against mine. A gasp—one of relief—escapes her. I take that opportunity to lash my tongue out at hers, tasting her. She’s so sweet and I fucking missed her all week.
She kisses me back more passionately than she ever has. Needy and greedy. As though my mouth has answers she desperately needs. I try to offer them with each swipe of my tongue. To tell her through a kiss that I’m here for her, that I need her too, that I’ll protect her at all costs.
Tearing from our kiss, she sits up and strips out of her hoodie. Her gorgeous tits are bare, her nipples peaked and eager for attention. I palm her tit, my dark skin mesmerizing to look at as it rubs over her pale flesh. I pinch her nipple, tugging at it until she whimpers. Rolling her onto her back, I kiss down her neck to her collarbone. She arches her back up, desperate for more. I suck her nipple into my mouth, loving the whine that tears from her throat. I nip at her hardened peak and then circle the tender flesh with my tongue. Once I’ve teased that nipple enough, I kiss my way to her other one, wanting to taste it too.