Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 35974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
“There are things we still need to talk about,” I said, my voice low. “But they can wait.”
“Mmm,” she hummed against my skin. “Good, because I don’t think I can form coherent thoughts right now.” She stretched before settling down again.
My chuckle rumbled deep in the quiet of the room. “Did I fuck your brains out, baby girl?”
“Don’t get cocky,” she muttered, but I could hear the smile in her voice. “Though… yes. You absolutely did.”
I pressed a kiss to the top of her head, breathing in the scent of her hair. The anger that had been simmering inside me since I saw Dillon hit her was finally quieting, replaced by something else. Something I wasn’t ready to name yet but recognized all the same.
We lay in comfortable silence for a while, my hand stroking her back up and down. I felt her breathing even out, her body growing heavier against mine. Just when I thought she might have drifted off, she spoke again.
“What happens when Gunnar finds out?”
I chuckled, the sound rumbling through my chest. “He’s gonna be pissed as hell. Might try to take my head off.” I kissed the top of her head. “Worth it. So fuckin’ worth it.”
Chapter Ten
Hannah
The rest of the night was spent getting to know each other. Knuckles was an asshole in the extreme, but he was funny as shit. He constantly picked at me. He learned I was a jealous bitch and took full advantage. Without even leaving our little room, he managed to have me swearing to cut out the eyes from every club whore in the compound. He’d laughed so hard he had tears streaming from his eyes when I made the threat under my breath.
He wasn’t mean about his teasing. He just liked getting a rise out of me. Not so much when I turned the tables on him. Before long there was a full-fledged tickle war going on, and Knuckles lost. Epically.
“That’ll teach you to fuck with me.” I gave a satisfied nod as I sat astride him, hands on my hips.
He stroked his rough hands up and down my thighs, the difference in our sizes a huge fucking turn-on. His muscled abdomen was so fucking delicious I wanted to taste every single inch of it. Again. “I guess it will, little hellion.” His cock poked my ass interestedly as he continued to chuckle. “I’m gonna have to teach you a lesson about what happens when you tickle me,” he threatened, though there was no heat in his voice. I was too caught up in the sensation of his hands on my thighs, the way his calloused fingers left trails of fire on my skin, to really pay attention.
“Oh yeah?” I arched an eyebrow, a smirk playing at my lips. “And what kind of lesson would that be?” I leaned down, my breasts brushing against his chest as I whispered in his ear, “Because I will retaliate.”
“OK. Retaliation sounds interesting.” The man really was a hound dog. I loved it.
“The kind that involves me riding you until you beg for mercy.”
His cock jerked against my ass, fully hard now. “Fuck, Hannah,” he groaned, his hands moving to grip my hips. “You’re playing with fire, woman.” He growled, his fingers digging into my flesh.
I leaned down, my hair creating a curtain around our faces. “Maybe I like the burn.” I nipped at his bottom lip, enjoying the way his breathing hitched. “Maybe I want to burn you too.”
The shift was sudden -- one moment I was on top, the next I was beneath him, his powerful body caging me in. “You already have,” he rasped against my throat. “Burned me to the fucking ground.”
His beard scratched deliciously against my sensitive skin as he trailed kisses down my neck to my collarbone. I arched into him, my body already responding to his touch like it had been made for him alone.
The night faded into morning with neither of us getting much sleep. Not that I was complaining. When I finally did drift off, wrapped in Knuckles’s arms, I slept better than I had in years. No nightmares, no restless tossing and turning. No waking up to a man touching or hitting me in ways I hated. Just peace.
I opened my eyes to find Knuckles dressing. His large frame moved around the small apartment with effortless efficiency. When he realized I was awake he gave me a smile filled with appreciation and welcome.
“Hey, baby.” He crossed the short distance to sit on the edge of the bed. “Why don’t you get some more sleep?” There was something in his face that warned me I should do what he said. Not because he’d be displeased, but because I didn’t want to know what he was doing. Unfortunately, the part of my brain that hated bullshit knew curiosity would get the better of me if I didn’t question him.