Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
“I guess no one thought I was worth anything before.” She looked away. “Avery sure didn’t think so.”
“’Cause he’s a stupid-ass motherfucker. And a waste of oxygen.” I held her gaze for a long moment before I told her my intentions. “You know he’s gonna die. Right?”
She shrugged. “Ain’t gonna pretend to be outraged or to beg you to not hurt him. If he did that to me, how many other women did he do it to?”
“Ain’t even lookin’,” I said, shaking my head. “All I care about is that he did it to you. For that, he’s gonna pay.”
“You know, I can deal with him.” She let her gaze drift off to the side, and her expression turned hard and fierce. “Gonna kill him and his kin.”
I grasped her chin and turned her gently back to face me. “You focus on me, Jolene. Really look at me.” I knew I could be intimidating, but this was for her own good. And mine. “You’re gonna do exactly what I tell you to regarding those motherfuckers. And that is you’re gonna leave them to me. Once we get back to Florida and Salvation’s Bane, I’ll take this to Thorn, and we’ll put a plan in motion. That way, we control what happens and, most importantly, you’re safe.”
She met my gaze. She wasn’t defiant or bold or even resigned. Jolene just gave me a steady look of her own and shook her head. “Cain’t promise you that, Styx. I love you. I’m certain of it. I’ll do anything for you and love that I can give you what you need. But I’ll never lie to you. Not for any reason. And this, I can’t give you.”
I groaned because, Goddammit, her fierce bravery, along with her complete honesty, turned me the fuck on. With one hand, I undid my jeans. With the other, I took her hand and shoved it inside my boxers and urged her to cup my hardening cock. “Gonna do my best to change your mind about that, but fuck, woman! That bloodthirsty streak you have is the sexiest Goddamned thing I’ve ever seen in my fuckin’ life.”
With a little sob, Jolene lunged for me, squeezing my cock and hooking an arm around my neck as she found my lips with hers. She was as aggressive as I’d expect from a woman who’d basically told me I could boss her around if I wanted, but she’d make up her own mind if she did as I told her. Though her kisses were unpracticed, she took what she wanted, still gripping and squeezing my cock.
“Fuck me, Styx,” she whispered against my lips. “Fuck me and show me how to enjoy this.”
I grunted, lifting her so she wrapped her legs around my waist, though she didn’t let go of my cock. Carrying her to the bed, I fisted a hand in her hair and cupped one cheek of her ass with the other. Somehow, I got us in the bed, her beneath me, doing her level best to make me lose my fucking mind. She was succeeding.
Somehow, I managed to pry her hands off me and pin them above her head with one of mine. She whimpered and mewed much like a kitten as I kissed her neck and growled against her shoulder.
“God, you smell good, Jolene. Wanna eat you up.”
“Yes,” she sighed as she thrust against me. “Styx! Oh, God!”
“Tell me what you’re feeling, baby.”
“I’m burning up inside! I need you!” Her pleas were almost a sob. She’d cried enough today. From here on out, I only wanted her to have pleasure.
“I know. You felt how hard I am. I’m burning too, Jolene. We’re going to take care of each other. You get me?”
She nodded slightly, her eyes wild with need. I wanted to worship her body like she deserved, but she didn’t look like she could take much more without losing her mind. I reached for a condom on the nightstand, but she whimpered and shook her head, struggling to free her hands. Immediately, I let her go, not sure what was wrong. But she just pulled my hand back to her and kissed my fingers.
“No condom,” she said, shaking her head. For emphasis, she snagged the one I had in my hand and threw it over the side of the bed.
“Baby.” I didn’t really care, though I’d been willing to use one for her benefit. But she seemed to be having a really strong negative reaction to this.
“I felt them. Before. I don’t want to feel that again. I just want you.” She closed her eyes for a moment, tears leaking from her eyes. I wasn’t sure if it was from fear or frustration, but I got the sense it was a little of both. “I’ll take responsibility if… if…”