Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
I hurt him.
“I’m sorry.” I whisper against his lips as I drown in his touch, taste, and feel.
Knowing he needs that little bit of pain to send him over the edge, I dig my nails into his arms and drag them down over his flesh, leaving deep scratches on his skin.
“Elyse.” He groans my name a moment before he shatters.
I feel the warmth of his seed coating my insides, filling me, and I can’t say I’m bothered by it. It’s almost comforting. Exhausted, I collapse against his chest and he wraps both of his arms around me, cradling me closely.
I’m safe, protected, secure.
The thud of his quickening heartbeat fills my ear as both of us return to normal breathing.
"I don’t want to control you, Elyse. You’re my equal. I just need you to listen to me. I want to protect you. It's my damn job, and I’ve failed in so many ways. I can’t focus on everything trying to tear us apart if I’m scared for you. Scared you’ll try to bait me into hurting you, and if that doesn’t work, doing it yourself. I’m your man, you’re my woman, and my entire existence is devoted to keeping you safe now..”
I tilt my head to look up at his jaw. "Protect me from who? Yanov is dead. He can’t get me now, and you already said there is nothing my father can do, right?”
He slowly runs a hand down my hair, his touch soothing. “There are bigger fish out there than your father, and there are always enemies lurking in the dark waiting for the perfect moment to attack. I can’t bear the thought of anything else happening to you. Let me keep you safe. Let me do what I should’ve done to begin with.”
“Okay,” I reply softly, focusing on the awareness that for the first time in days there’s nothing but blessed silence in my head.
Everything is going to be okay.
CHAPTER 12
SEBASTIAN
Ican't take my eyes off of her, not even for a moment. I’m afraid I’ll wake up, and this whole thing will have been a dream. I stare at her for as long as I can, memorizing every detail, each freckle, every twitch of her nose and wrinkle of her forehead.
There she lays in our bed, her small body curled into the pillow.
It's late in the morning, but I don't want to wake her. Not yet. I know the second her big doe eyes open, I’m going to want to fuck her back into submission until she begs me to stop.
I ease off the side of the bed, careful not to jostle her awake. It takes a second of watching her to make sure she stays blissfully unaware of me. Then I cross the room to the closet and get ready for the day. There are a few things I need to take care of that I want done before she wakes so I can be here for her. She needs me, needs my support.
And in turn I need her, but in a different way. I need to be inside her, claiming her.
I resist the urge to beat off while I shower and make quick work of washing my body and hair. Once clean, I dry and dress quickly before slipping out of the room, still dark thanks to the blackout curtains. I walk down the hall feeling a little lighter, descend the stairs, and step into the kitchen.
As soon as I reach the entrance I stop in my tracks.
Why the fuck are they here?
Drew, Bel, Aries, and Lee are all sitting at my kitchen counter, eating cereal, drinking coffee, and talking quietly. Have they been here all night?
"Did I miss something? Are we having breakfast but no one invited me? I thought I told you guys to leave?” I try to keep my tone level. I'm not unhappy to see them, exactly, but every person here is one more obstacle standing in my way of fucking Elyse across every surface in this house.
Bel leans over, snags a bowl, and slides it toward me along with the cereal and milk.
"I don't eat breakfast," I say, ignoring the cereal. "Plus, I need to take care of something."
Drew plops his spoon into his bowl. "I think you’ve taken care of enough shit. I had to clean up your mess with the PI you almost pummeled to death. Paid him for his time and trauma and also apologized on your behalf. You’re welcome.”
I grit my teeth against the tone of his voice. "I wasn't planning to apologize to him, and I won’t be thanking you for shit. I wanted whatever information he had gathered even if it wasn’t complete. He was already paid for his time.”
Drew reaches into the pocket of his flannel sleep pants and sets a thumb drive on the counter. "Information like this?"