Total pages in book: 331
Estimated words: 315585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1578(@200wpm)___ 1262(@250wpm)___ 1052(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 315585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1578(@200wpm)___ 1262(@250wpm)___ 1052(@300wpm)
Meeting my stare once more, she whispers, “You make me feel good.”
I lean in and gently kiss her lips, unable to stop myself. She surprises me by kissing me back.
“Come on. You need to rest.” I’ve got a big day planned for her tomorrow.
She closes her eyes, and I crawl in next to her, letting mine wander her body as she sleeps on her side, facing me. I run the pad of my fingers gently over her upper arm, caressing the bruises the belts left.
Her eyes flutter open before they fall closed once more and she yawns.
“Get some sleep, angel. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
“Why?” she asks sleepily, her dark lashes fanning her cheeks.
“To take care of you,” I say simply.
“I can take care of myself,” she mumbles. “I’d rather you just fuck me.”
I smirk at that and promise, “I’ll do that too. Just not tonight.”
Moments later, her breathing evens out and her body relaxes into the mattress. She’s sound asleep.
I get up, find the remote, and turn her TV on, making sure to put the volume on low so it doesn’t wake her. Then I get undressed and climb back into bed, pull her body flush with mine and close my eyes.
It feels good to be needed. For someone to depend on me. It’s been a long time since I took care of someone.
EVERETT
I wake up with a groan. Rolling over onto my side, I open my eyes to look around and see I’m alone.
Finally. A little peace and quiet.
My head is pounding, and my body hurts. The guy I killed last night put up a fight.
“Fucking bitch.” He scowls, grabs my hair, and yanks my head back. “I’m on to you.”
As he shoves my face into the dirty comforter, his voice is muffled from the blood rushing in my ears.
When he pulls my head up, I twist my body around, feeling his hand tighten in my hair in the process, and I slam my fist into his throat. “Bastard,” I growl.
Coughing and sputtering, he lets go and stumbles back. I take the opportunity and jump off the bed, barreling into him, and the momentum pushes him back so he hits the glass wall, and it shatters before we fall to the floor.
I get up on my hands and knees, crawling to my bag, but he grabs my ankle and yanks me back. “Not this time.”
I slam my free foot into his face over and over until he lets go of my ankle. I’m gasping for breath as I reach into my bag and pull out my knife. He jumps on me as I spin around and stab him, splattering myself with his blood.
“Fuck,” I growl, shoving his dead weight off me, trying to catch my breath.
I ended up stabbing him in the chest twice. I made sure he was dead before I left him there.
Entering my bathroom, I use the restroom, wash my hands, and then splash my face with cold water to wake up. I need some Advil, a drink, and a nap. In that order.
I’m naked, so I grab an oversized T-shirt and slide the soft fabric over my head before placing my hair up in a messy bun to get it out of my face. I swear I’m losing hair from all the men who fist it.
Why is it the first thing any man grabs a hold of when they are trying to rape or kill you?
Deciding I can’t do anything else with myself, I make my way to the kitchen but come to a stop when I see the back of a man. “I knew it was too good to be true,” I mumble.
Kashton turns around and gives me a smile. “Good morning, angel. How did you sleep?”
I don’t answer because I was hoping today would be better than yesterday. It won’t be.
The doorbell rings and he smiles. “Perfect timing.”
Walking over to my front door, he opens it for who I assume to be Adam, but it’s Gavin. They greet one another and then Kashton points him to me for my follow-up appointment.
Fuck this day.
“Here.” Kashton walks over to me in the living room, grabs my hand, and helps me sit at the dining room table as if I’m incapable of doing so on my own.
Did he not hear Gavin? I’m fine. Passed whatever test he gave me with flying colors. I, of course, didn’t tell him about my headache or the fact that I’m feeling a little dizzy. I’ve been through this before. It’ll pass. Just has to run its course.
“What are you doing, Kash?” I place my head in my hands, rubbing my throbbing temples.
“Making you breakfast. You don’t have much food here,” he accuses. “But I was able to make some pancakes. I hope that’s okay. If not, I can order whatever you’d like.” His blue eyes look at me expectantly.