Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
“I know you’re tired, baby girl.” He ran a finger down her good cheek.
Yeah. Then there was the fact that she wasn’t just broken emotionally but physically too.
“I can see it in your face,” he murmured. “Been running on empty for far too long. That’s why I’m here. You need me to take over, I’m here. Say the word.”
“It’s not fair on you.”
He snorted. “Not fair on me? Nothing I like more than looking after someone special. Having control is very important to me. Especially now.”
“Since May died.”
“Yes. I’m afraid I’m going to be very protective of you.”
“You mean . . . more than you have been?” She gaped at him.
“I’m afraid so.”
“Sheesh. I didn’t think that was possible. She was the love of your life, Hayes.”
“Who says I only get to have one? I might be a bossy, grouchy bastard, but it doesn’t mean that I’m an unlucky one. To have two women in my life that could be mine. I should probably tell you to make me work for you, but I’m not going to. Because I’m a selfish bastard who won’t let you go. No matter what.”
Her mind was whirling.
No matter what.
“Loving you doesn’t mean that I love May any less. Loving May doesn’t mean I love you any less. It just means that I love you both. At different times. In equal ways. I’m fucking this up, aren’t I?”
“No. No, you’re not messing this up at all. If anything, you’re . . . you’re saying something I never thought I would hear. God, I love you so much. I’m not sure when I fell in love with you, if I’m honest. This feels like a dream. One I really don’t want to wake up from.”
“You never have to wake up from it, baby.”
“Can I ask you something? About May?” she asked hesitantly.
“You can ask me anything. Never be afraid of me.”
She hoped he meant that. “Why are there no photos of her here?”
“Ahh.” Pain filled his face. “I guess because I couldn’t bear to look at them. I stored them away in the cabin.”
“This cabin?”
“No. May’s cabin. It was her favorite place, where she spent most of her time.”
“You still own it?”
“I can’t sell it. I also can’t make myself go there. I have someone take care of it. But it just holds too many memories.”
“I understand. But if you ever want to go there, I’ll go with you.”
“Thank you, baby.” He took her chin in his hand and dropped his lips to hers.
Then he moved them against her mouth.
Oh God. Was she really that stupid? How had she missed the signs?
Idiot.
Hayes wasn’t the sort of guy to take just anyone into his home, to protect them like this. He wouldn’t allow just anyone into his bed.
He wouldn’t be a Daddy to just anyone. The way he took care of her . . .
“You love me. You really do.”
“Yeah, baby. I really do.” He stood with her in his arms and then he carried her into the bedroom.
“What are you doing?” she cried.
“Taking you to bed.”
“But I don’t want a nap.”
“Who said anything about napping?”
43
The time for treading lightly was gone. It wasn’t really his thing anyway. He was more of an action sort of guy. And right now, he wanted to make certain that she knew she was his. That she knew she was beautiful.
Laying her on the bed, he stared down at her.
She was dressed in a pair of pajamas he’d bought for her that had squirrels all over. She looked adorable.
But she’d look even better naked.
However, there was a slightly panicked look on her face as though she didn’t know what was going to happen next.
Last thing he wanted was for her to be scared.
She should never be afraid when she was with him. So he stepped back and grabbed the bottom of his shirt, pulling it up over his head.
He knew she loved his chest. He’d seen her staring at him after he got out of the shower. Yeah, he might parade around the cabin half-naked more than he needed to make her look at him like that.
“I’m a dumbass, aren’t I?” she said. “I had no idea that you wanted me. That you could . . . could love me.” It was said with wonder.
She’d get used to the fact that he loved her. She let out a small noise as he reached for his boxers.
Too soon?
He dropped his hands away from his boxers.
“Don’t stop,” she said, sitting up.
“Don’t stop? You’re sure?”
“I want . . . I want to see you, if you want to show me.”
“What do you say?”
“Please. Please show me.”
“Such a good girl to beg for my cock, aren’t you?” he murmured as he pushed his boxers down, taking them fully off, then standing there. His dick was already hard and he wondered if she’d be scared.