Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Someone had been here. I didn’t believe for a moment it was just a burglar or someone with no connection to Lisa. What had the man been planning to do? Had he seen me in the window or heard me? What had caused him to leave?
My pulse sped up. Corey. Surely he was okay if no one had entered the house, but I needed confirmation.
I listened carefully. The night was still and silent as it should be. Hopefully, Corey was soundly asleep. There’s no way someone had gotten him out of his room and I hadn’t heard, but I still needed to see for myself.
The elevator door slid open, and I took the slow ride to the second floor. When I stepped into the hall, I paused. No sounds. The sense of unease I felt before was gone, but I wasn’t going back to bed without seeing Corey safe and sound. It would be a miracle if someone had gotten to him without me knowing, but worse things had happened before.
Like surviving Lisa’s attempt to kill me.
I moved down the hall as quietly as I could. I was holding my cane, not wanting it to thump against the floor. I didn’t want to wake Corey. If I did, I’d have to talk to him. I only wanted reassurance that he was safe. As I reached his door, I realized it wasn’t just obligation making me check on him. Corey deserved to be safe. He deserved a life filled with goodness.
I reached for the doorknob and turned it slowly. The door resisted. It wasn’t locked—that would’ve required a key, which I hadn’t given him—but something was in front of it.
I shoved harder, more determined than ever to get in the room. A chair crashed to the floor. Had he placed it against the door?
Corey jumped out of bed. Holy shit, he was naked. One hundred percent naked. My gaze drifted slowly down his muscular chest, and then further, to his dick, which was soft but still rather impressive. Next, I focused on his thick thighs—he definitely didn’t skip leg day. Finally my gaze dropped all the way to his bare feet.
I had to force myself to look back up and meet his eyes. He was grinning. “You needed to see me?”
“Why was there a chair in front of the door?” I tried my best to focus on my annoyance rather than his nakedness. Why should it matter? I’d been around plenty of other men when they were undressed, but not one of them had ever made me feel this weird fluttering in my stomach. I didn’t want to look at Corey anymore, but I couldn’t stop myself.
“I was nervous,” Corey said. “I watched a…a movie, and it scared me.”
Oh, fuck. Why was he so innocent, and why was that fucking adorable? Since when did I think being nervous after watching a scary movie was cute? I’d lived a scary movie for most of my life.
“Don’t do that again. I need to be able to get to you if something goes wrong.”
He frowned. “Is something wrong now?”
I hesitated. If he’d been scared by a movie, how would he feel when he realized someone had been outside? But he deserved to know. I already worried he didn’t realize how serious the situation was.
“I heard something outside and went to investigate. There’s no one there now, but there were footprints. Someone was wandering around in the courtyard.”
“Shit. And you don’t know who?”
“No, but they’re gone. You’re safe.”
He frowned, still making no move to cover himself. “Then why did you come to check on me?”
I wondered the same thing. What the hell was I doing in here? I’d known he was fine. “I had to verify that you were here and safe. That no one had….” I didn’t think I needed to spell out what could have happened.
He held up a hand. “I get it.”
We were silent for a moment. Slowly, his unnerved expression changed to a smile. “Thank you for making sure.”
I nodded. “You’re welcome.”
“You know—” he shifted position, sitting down on the edge of the bed. “If you wanted to be absolutely certain I was safe, you could always stay here tonight.” His smile turned lascivious.
My throat went dry. I couldn’t say anything. Was he really offering…? Was I actually interested? No fucking way, yet I couldn’t stop staring at him. I needed to turn around and walk back to my room, but I felt rooted to that spot.
“That’s not necessary,” I finally said. “I’ll know if something’s going on.”
“Okay, but it won’t be as fun.”
“This isn’t a game.” Finally, my legs began to work again. I turned and walked away, closing the door behind me.
When I was back in my room, I closed the door and leaned against it, taking deep breaths and wishing away the headache that was building behind my eyes. I’d pushed myself too hard today. I really needed sleep. I longed to take a sleeping pill, but I couldn’t risk it, not when someone had been here.