Total pages in book: 188
Estimated words: 185811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 929(@200wpm)___ 743(@250wpm)___ 619(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 185811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 929(@200wpm)___ 743(@250wpm)___ 619(@300wpm)
“What the hell?” Noah grasped her arm, his touch shockingly gentle after his fight, and halted her near the car. Yeah, she’d known it was him behind her.
Raine’s truck roared out of the parking lot and drove in the opposite direction, leaving her alone with Noah. Just how angry was he after the fight?
She pulled away and tried to put some distance between them, her legs trembling. No way could she survive a fight with an angry Noah. Monte was half his size, at least it seemed like it, and she’d never even gotten a chance in a fight with him. Not once. “Um, I’m fine.”
“Abby.” Low and soothing, Noah’s tone wound through the pelting rain. “Look at me.”
She looked up, noting he hadn’t moved from his place near the back rear tire. Rain slashed down over the incredible angles of his hard face and molded his shirt to his broad chest. In the darkened street, with clouds high above, he looked like the most dangerous thing that could be anywhere near them. “What?” she breathed, her legs bunching to run.
“I won’t hurt you.” Blood slid down the side of his face along with rain. “No matter what you say, no matter what you do, I will not harm you.”
She couldn’t breathe. He seemed so sincere and calm, as if he’d stand in the rain forever and not move if she asked him. “I think you should go,” she said quietly. If he was telling her the truth, he’d do it instantly, and then she’d figure out what to do. There was no doubt he was dangerous, and he had anger issues, and he’d just been in a fight. But right now, his concentration was absolute, and it was right on her with the force of a sharp heat. “Just go,” she whispered.
Slowly, surely, he strode around the front of the car toward her. “I can’t leave you alone out here like this. Surely you understand that.”
If life was good or bad, real or fake, then she would’ve understood. But now life was the opposite of what she thought, and she didn’t trust him. Heck. She barely trusted herself, because she wanted nothing more than to let him handle the problem. And she barely knew him. “Leave me alone, Noah.”
Rain plastered his thick hair to his face, somehow making him look even more beautiful. How could a man, one with blood still on his cheek, look beautiful? “I’m not leaving you.”
Every emotion she’d ever had from fear to longing to shock combusted inside her in a second. She reacted, not thinking, just finally losing it. Her punch went right for his gut and hurt like hell. Her entire wrist buckled and pain ricocheted up to her elbow. Ignoring it, forgetting pain once again, she slapped his chest with both hands, sobbing with each hit, no longer even in this moment.
He stiffened and took the hits until she bent at the waist, crying so hard it hurt to breathe. The world was too much, and everything hurt inside her.
“Ah, baby.” He lifted her so suddenly she’d had no clue it was coming. Holding her to his chest, he strode though the rain, back to the parking area.
Warmth and safety and strength surrounded her, and she cried harder, knowing she couldn’t relax against him. Her body completely ignored her mind and surrendered, snuggling into the impossibly hard planes of his chest, her tears not impacting his already wet T-shirt.
They reached his truck, and he set her inside the driver’s seat, her legs still outside.
She wanted to cling to him, but she sat back, releasing his shirt. Her head hurt, her eyes ached, and her body felt like she was a thousand years old. She was spent. Done. Over. She looked down, focusing on his stomach. Were those solid abs through his cotton? Incredible.
One firm knuckle lifted her chin, and she fought him, but finally faced his dark eyes. God, she was exhausted. She’d fight again tomorrow. Tonight, she needed sleep.
His gaze searched her face. “The keys are in the ignition. Take the truck and go wherever you want. You can borrow it until I get your tires fixed.” He started to take a step back.
Going against all reason, she grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled him toward her. “I-I can’t take your truck.” What the heck was he talking about?
He sighed, his body rolling with the movement. “Listen. You’re cold and scared, and you need to get warm. You’re frightened of me, so I’m letting you take my truck to get to safety. Now go, and I’ll handle your tires.”
The words barely computed. She swallowed, looking up at his strong jawline. With the darkness behind him, he appeared even larger than usual, as if that were possible. He’d carried her through the storm, and now he was letting her go. He’d asked for nothing. So she levered up and kissed him.