Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 142764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
I’m left even more confused by his riddles, but he finds a way to pull me back in, dragging me down into the dark waters of lust. He’s both the life vest that’s trying to save me and the wave that’s trying to pull me under. His hand snakes around to the back of my head, and I feel his fingers there, tracking the scar that’s now forming.
"I never meant for this to happen. I didn’t know you were going to fall, and even though I can’t go back in time, I’ll spend every day making sure you know how much I care about you.”
Slowly things start to make sense to me. Remorse, guilt. He’s sorry, and this is his way of saying it. I won’t lie, it makes me feel cherished and cared for that he’s apologizing and trying to own up to his mistakes.
"Shhh, it’s okay. I know you want to keep me safe and that you didn't mean for any of those things to happen. I understand that, but for it to be me and you against the world, you must trust me. You have to let me in. We aren’t a team if you’re trying to fight everything on your own.” Some of the sensual haze recedes, and I can look into his beautiful green eyes. "You get that right? Telling me nothing and that it's for my own good does nothing to help me. Worst of all, it does nothing to prepare me for the real threats."
"It's my job to stand between you and threats. Let me fix things, please," His voice is a whisper now as he searches my eyes for something that I can’t quite pinpoint. "Let me show you what you mean to me. I can't lose you, Bel. Not after losing everything else. Not after..." He breaks off, and I wait but he doesn't fill in the blanks. "Let me make it up to you. Let me show you what you mean to me."
Those sinfully rough hands of his roam my body, stopping when they reach my ass, which he grips through my sleep shorts.
"Is that your plan then? Death by orgasm and I will follow you willingly into the dark."
He chuckles. "If that's what it takes then I'll do it. It'll be a hardship but I'll take one for the team."
Sobering, I meet his eyes. "I have to know we are in this together. When you hurt me, I lost my mother, my best friend, everything that means anything to me, and I needed you."
He drops his eyes to my mouth, then lower. "I know. Fuck do I know. I'm sorry, Bel. I never wanted to hurt you. Not ever. It was all to keep you safe. It doesn’t make it right, and I hate that I wasn’t there for you, but I am now. I’m here now. Forever."
I lean up to press my forehead to his. "I need to know we are in this together. That you aren't going to push me away again for my own good."
He shakes his head, rolling his forehead into mine. "I'm done running. If we can fix this, I'm done running. I can't think of anyone but you, always you."
He nips my lips with his teeth, and my lips part on their own admission. His tongue caresses mine, stroking it, and soon he’s owning me, deepening the kiss until I'm dizzy and breathless when he lifts his lips.
I’m damn near panting when he pulls away. Dammit. I'm so fucked right now. I can't say no to him especially when he's like this, so sweet and present with me.
"Tell me that you believe me?"
I blink up at him. "Believe you?"
"Yes, do you believe me when I say that I can't lose you. That I’m in this with you till the end.”
I nod against the raw need in his tone. If this is what he needs and will help him and bring us closer together, I’ll do anything.
"Fuck, Flower, you're so perfect. I don't deserve you. I know that but I’m too selfish of an asshole to give you up. I’ll never give you up, never again.”
His touch, his words, they cut me open, making me want to give into the temptation and throw caution to the wind, because when it comes to Drew I’m helpless.
"What do you want?" I whisper.
"You," he says against my lips. "Only you."
His lips sare on mine again, and I feel his fingers dig into my cheeks, guiding me, bending me to his will. There’s an urgency to his touch, a desperation that we both feel. I’m consumed by his kiss, and I let him ravage me, own me.
Home. Drew is my home. My solace, my escape. At least, I think I want him to be. I curl my hands up and thread them through his dark hair. The nape of his neck is damp with sweat but I don't care. I just need him close, as close as possible.