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)
“Good morning,” I managed.
Maci whipped around, her adorable face full of that heart-rending smile. “Auntie Em! You finally woke it up, you sleepyhead! I tried to wake you up when the sun was sayin’ hi ’cause I got all the way hungry, but you was sleepin’ in Mr. Kane’s bed wif him, and his eyes popped all the way open.”
She bugged out her eyes and spread her hands out extra wide beside them. “Dis big. And he said we had to be really extra quiet so you can get your rest.”
Redness streaked through me so hot and fast there was a chance I caught fire.
God, why hadn’t I gone back to my bed last night?
Kane only smirked. “Good thing I was able to derail this little munchkin from waking you up at the crack of dawn.”
“I like the dawn,” Maci said, so matter of fact.
Flustered, I cleared my throat and eased forward, trying to ignore the timidity that barreled through me. Unsure how to traverse whatever this was.
I slipped onto a stool opposite them, wavering with what to say or how to handle this. The last thing I wanted to do was confuse Maci more than she already was.
“Kane was really nice and let me sleep with him since I had a bad dream last night and he wanted to be able to check on me.” I forced the lie out around the landslide of rocks that sat heavy in the base of my throat.
“Well, of course he’s nice if he’s your very best friend,” Maci said.
“Right, of course, he is,” I mumbled quietly, my attention getting caught up in the trap that was Kane Asher.
Kane whose smirk had picked up a speed that had the power to barrel right through the center of me. “Next time, I’ll check on you even closer.” He tipped his head to the side. “Make sure you’re feeling extra good.”
“You really are a good friend, Mr. Kane,” Maci prattled, completely oblivious to the suggestion pouring out of him.
“That’s right, Angel Face, a really, really good friend.” He didn’t look away from me when he said it.
A mini explosion of fireworks went off inside me, and I squirmed on the stool.
Lust curled into his features, no doubt envisioning all the ways he was going to tear right through me.
And I wondered what that would be like—being completely consumed.
Kane chuckled before he ruffled Maci’s hair and swept her down onto her feet.
“All right, go wash your hands. Breakfast is almost ready.”
“On it!” she shouted, bouncing on her toes and scampering around the island and out the door toward the powder room down the hall.
Turning around, Kane grabbed a mug from the cupboard, and he filled it from the carafe, then he was rounding the island, his aura penetrating as he edged closer.
He set the cup onto the counter in front of me, and he dipped down, his mouth so close I thought he was going to run his lips along the angle of my jaw.
I shocked myself that I wanted him to.
Only he hovered right there, his breath teasing at the sensitive skin on my neck.
Spice and sex and man.
“Nothing better than waking up next to you. Hot body tucked up close to me, that morning glory scent invading my senses, my name tumbling off your tongue in your sleep. Were you dreaming about what it’s going to be like when I really send you soaring? What it’s going to be like when I fully possess this body? How good I’m going to make you feel when it’s my cock buried deep inside you? What it’s going to be like when you realize you’re mine?”
A haggard gasp ripped from my lungs as the flames leaped. Consumed by a greed I’d never felt.
My brain rampaged.
Quantifying the risk.
How painful it would be if I fully gave myself to him up against the pleasure I’d receive. If I opened myself up the way he was clearly asking me to. But the biggest problem would be if I fell.
If I toppled right over that cliff.
Where would I be then? I had no place left inside me to be hurt.
And I was so, so tired of the hurt.
A big palm suddenly settled on my cheek, so gentle that it stole my rasping breath. He leaned in so his cheek was pressed to mine on the other side, his warmth all around as he cradled my face between his cheek and his hand.
His words were low and emphatic when he murmured, “Know what it’s like to be afraid. To fucking run for your life from the pain. I’d been running and running until I crashed into you. And I don’t want to run anymore, Emery. I won’t hurt you. Not ever. Not when the only thing I want to do is cherish every single thing that you are.”