Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 116263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
A pink blush kissed her cheeks, and she dipped her gaze before she turned it back on me, the softest smile playing on those lips.
So red they could drive a man to distraction.
“It would have been, had I never seen you again. But now . . .” She trailed off as she turned to select a razor before she tossed it into the cart. “Right now, I almost wish that I could. After what happened last night? I wish I could go someplace, go to sleep, and I’d be normal like everyone else. Even if it was only for one night.”
Shame filled her admission, like she should feel an ounce of guilt for wishing it didn’t have to be like this.
“And this is where you’d go . . . to a tropical island?” I wanted to ignite the dream. Her fantasy. Because this moment might be the only escape she could get.
“It seems like a good place. The warmth. The sun. The ocean breeze.”
“You’re going to need a bathing suit.”
I did my damned best not to imagine her in it.
She grinned at that. “I guess you’re going to need one, too.”
“Ah, you’d be taking me to this deserted island?” Playfulness ridged the question.
“Why would I want to go anywhere you’re not?” Her voice became a wisp. Severity curled through the connection and grappled to take hold.
I scraped a hand through my stark-white hair to break it up, and I glanced to the side, only to find a woman watching us from the corner of her eye. I didn’t feel any cruelness coming from her. No ill intent. No recognition like she was wondering where she’d seen us before, either.
It was just that uneasy awareness that we were different.
“We should move on,” I mumbled, and Aria peeked in that direction, sensing the woman, too.
But Aria seemed to do that with everyone we passed. Pausing for an undefinable moment. Held in their aura for a flash. Her spirit tangling with theirs for a beat. That power flowing and surging as she was subject to the voices in their heads.
She dipped her head in agreement.
We went to the pharmacy area, where we restocked on bandages and tape and medical supplies before going to the food section to toss in waters and snacks. We rounded up with the backside of the store to hit the clothing.
I was quick to grab a few things for myself before we headed into the women’s section.
“Is it warm where we’re going?” she asked.
“It’s no tropical island, Princess.” I sent her a smirk. She laughed under her breath. Low and throaty and so goddamn sweet.
“Dang, and here I had my hopes up,” she said as she started to hunt through the displays. She grabbed a few tees and bulky sweaters, three pairs of jeans, a pair of tennis shoes and socks, underwear and two bras.
I had to restrain the words from letting loose, tongue watering with the need to offer her my opinion on her selections. Because I was pretty sure black would look so damn good against her pale, milky skin, and I had to beat back my thoughts from spiraling that direction.
“You should get a jacket, too,” I told her.
I honestly didn’t know where we’d land or if we’d ever end up anywhere. How long this was going to last. The one thing I did know was sitting in one place for too long seemed like welcoming tragedy.
Pushing the cart, I followed her to the jackets and coats, and Aria peeled off her sweatshirt so she could try one on. She pushed her arms into it, pulling out her hair from the back as she turned to me.
“What do you think?”
It was black vegan leather and cropped, and she was just so perfect and right, her gaze open and unforgiving.
Vulnerable and unguarded.
Shy but wanting to be seen.
Because that cage had kept her from experiencing any of that.
Dating. Boyfriends. Kisses.
Pleasure, when we got so fucking little of it.
All while it made me fucking irate to think of someone else touching her.
There was no resisting rounding the cart, from taking each side of the jacket, bunching them in my hands and drawing them together at the chest. I tugged her toward me at the same second.
Our noses were close to touching, and the gasp she released was mine.
“What do I think, Aria?” My voice turned jagged. “I think you’re beautiful. And if I dreamed, I would dream of you.”
She exhaled a shattered breath, and I forced myself to step back. To let go. Knowing I was letting things fall from my mouth when I shouldn’t.
But how could I keep them from her?
“We should get out of here,” I said, returning to the cart. I started to wind it through the racks.
It took Aria a second to move, and she was peeling off the jacket and putting it into the cart when she caught up, her voice soft when she whispered, “I dream sometimes, Pax—and it’s always of you.”