Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
“You—”
“Fucking sorry that I gave you that threat, but I had to fight for her, too. But it’s not my goal or what I want. I have no intention of you not being a part of her life. Last thing I want to do is keep you or your mother from her. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to step aside and not become her father, either.”
I wanted to beat on his chest and call him a liar. Fight him. Hurt him the way it felt like his existence hurt me.
But I couldn’t get the sobs to stop raking from my spirit. Couldn’t do anything but give in to the crushing severity of them.
Cries came ceaselessly as he continued to mutter, “Let it out. Just let it out. Know you think you’re alone. That you’ve gotta be against me. But you don’t. Just let it out. I’m right here to stand for you while you can’t.”
I wanted to refuse it.
But I sagged against him.
“Why would you stand for me? You don’t even know me.”
The question lacked any anger. It was simply a plea.
“Because you’re my daughter’s family. Because you love her, and she loves you. Because she’s always going to need you, and that’s never going to change.”
His arms somehow wound tighter. “And even if we didn’t have Maci in common, I’d still want you right here, in my arms. Because it was you who sparked something inside me that’s been missing my entire life. You who made me care in a heartbeat. And I want to hold it for you, Emery. This horrible thing I can feel that has you chained.”
Tears blurred my eyes, and I squeezed them tight as he clung to me. My blunt nails barely scratched into the heated flesh of his chest. “No one has ever gotten that part of me, Kane.”
The fact that he’d gotten as much out of me as he had was a miracle. Or maybe a tragedy. Because there I was, being swayed in his arms, spirit urging me to give it to him.
But I knew there was no chance of that. We could never be.
“Maybe you just hadn’t met the right person yet.” There was almost a tease to it.
Lightness infiltrating his tone as he continued to rock me.
“Are you always so sure of yourself?”
Letting go of a smooth chuckle, he massaged his fingers into the back of my neck and up into my hair, once again, tipping my head back a fraction.
His mouth was still right there, his striking face hovering an inch away. The words went raw as he whispered them near my lips. “There are some things I’m very sure about, Emery. I can’t wait to show you what they are.”
A buzz of need tumbled through my belly, my inside throbbing with perverse, defiant want.
I didn’t know how I managed it, but I gathered myself, regaining steadiness on my feet as I carefully unwound myself from his hold.
From his hold and those eyes and that body that I couldn’t allow myself to get lost in.
I attempted to clear the roughness from my voice, and I fiddled with the hem of my tank that I was pretty sure would forever be saturated with his scent.
“We can’t go there,” I told him. “Not again.”
He edged back, and I swore that chain he had attached inside me tugged. The man a magnet my body wanted to follow. His mouth barely hitched at the side. “Well, guess you’ll just have to remain my very best friend, then.”
Yeah.
That’s not what this was.
We both knew it.
But I couldn’t.
I couldn’t.
I finally pried myself away, and I headed back for the hall so I could escape to the safety of my room.
Only I paused at the threshold, hand reaching out to hold onto the jamb as I peeked back his way.
The man stood there in the lapping shadows.
A dichotomy of nonchalance and vehemence.
A clash of calm and violence.
So striking I was afraid he’d already seared a piece of himself inside me.
“Maybe you’re not my enemy, Kane,” I whispered. “Maybe you are exactly what she needs.”
Maybe there was a reason for this. Maybe Maci really did need him in her life, and I just didn’t understand it yet.
Emotion crested in those unforgettable features. “I will give everything in my power to make sure I am exactly that…what she needs. Will protect her with my life. With everything I’ve got. I promise she will always be safe with me.”
My nod was juddering, and I had to force myself to turn from him and jog down the hall and up the stairs.
A total battle of wills since the only thing I wanted to do was run straight back for him.
TWENTY-FIVE
KANE
I didn’t release the breath I was holding until I heard the faint click of her door echo from upstairs. If I got another whiff of that morning glory scent I’d be done for.