Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 77198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
When I got out, I saw that Everleigh had also changed out my bedding and was getting ready to load the dirty sheets into the washing machine. I stepped up behind her, and she nearly jumped out of her skin when I said, “That can wait until tomorrow.”
“Sorry,” she panted. “You startled me.”
“No reason to be scared. You’re safe here.”
“I really want to believe that, but after what just happened, I’m not so sure.”
I reached over and placed my hand on her shoulder. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you, Everleigh. You have my word on that.”
“Okay.”
“Now, go get some sleep. We’ll talk about things tomorrow after we’ve both gotten some rest.”
She nodded, then turned and walked back across the hall to her room. Before she closed the door, she looked at me and said, “Thank you, Billy. Thank you for everything.”
Before I could respond, she closed the door and went to bed. I was still pretty wired, but knowing a long day was ahead, I turned out the lights and crawled into bed. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was back at the house, and I was holding my knife against that guy’s throat. My heart was pounding, and I could feel my blood run cold the second I ran my knife against his throat.
As much as I didn’t want to kill him, I knew he was there for Everleigh, and there was no way in hell I was going to let him hurt her. I didn’t want to admit it—not to anyone, especially myself—but she’d come to mean something to me. Hell, she invaded my every thought, haunted my dreams, and made me want things, long for things I’d given up on wanting years ago.
I wanted to hold her, touch her, feel her body pressed against mine, and it was driving me crazy that she was right there, just a few feet away. And instead of doing anything about it, I just laid there, staring up at the fucking ceiling as I imagined all the things I wanted to do to her:
Bruise her full, pouty lips with a kiss that would have her knees trembling.
Taste her warm, wet heat as I teased her with my tongue.
Make her come undone with a simple curl of my finger.
Fuck her, deep and hard, until our pasts were all but forgotten.
Damn. It was enough to drive a man insane.
I would’ve spent the entire night just lying there with all those wicked thoughts racing through my mind if I hadn’t heard a knock at the door.
I got up and opened it to find Everleigh standing in the hall. She was wearing a pair of my old sleep pants and a tank top, and her arms wrapped tightly around her as she stood there shivering. Her voice trembled as she whispered, “I couldn’t sleep.”
“Wasn’t doing much sleeping myself.”
“Oh?”
“Got a lot on my mind.”
“Yeah, me too.” Her entire body was trembling as she whispered, “He’s not going to let me go, Billy. He will keep coming for me, and it’s all my fault.”
“None of this is your fault, Everleigh.” I slipped my arm around her waist and pulled her close. “None of it.”
“I’m just so tired of being afraid.”
“It won’t be forever, Everleigh. You’ll see.”
“I just don’t get it.” She looked up at me with a soul-searching stare as she whispered, “Why is it that the only time I’m not afraid is when I’m with you?”
“Probably the same reason why the only time I feel anything at all is when I’m with you.”
“Oh, Billy.”
“I’ve tried, Everleigh. I’ve tried so damn hard to resist you for so many reasons. I’m too old for you—much too old, and my line of work is dangerous for those around me. I don’t want to put you at risk, and yet, I can’t keep fighting this.” I brought my hand up and rested my palm on her cheek. “Resisting you is just too fucking hard.”
She slipped her arms around my neck as she pulled me close and whispered, “Then stop resisting.”
Without saying anything more, her lips met mine in an explosive kiss, so eager and full of hunger, and every touch of her tongue only made my need grow more intense. It felt fucking incredible. Hell, it was all I could do to keep myself from taking her right there in the doorway.
Having her so close set me on fire, making every nerve in my body burn with need. Feeling the heat surge through me as I deepened the kiss, our tongues twisted, tasting each other as we let ourselves forget about the danger we’d just been in. I was quickly losing control, and I liked it. I liked it more than I thought possible.
I wound my hand around the nape of her neck and tangled my fist in her hair, letting out a low growl as I gave it a firm tug. Everleigh’s lips opened in a small gasp, giving me even better access to her mouth, and I delved deeper, letting all the passion I’d been holding back come pouring out.