Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
"Need this," I tell him, grabbing the spray bottle off the counter.
"What is this for?"
"Helps with tangles and stuff in my hair."
"Show me so I know."
"So you know?" I laugh, simply spraying it on my hair.
"Yes, I should know the things I need to do to make sure you’re taken care of properly. Every single detail matters.”
"Why?" I peer up at him through my lashes.
"For next time."
"You're pretty sure of yourself.” I one thousand percent want there to be a next time. But I gotta keep him on his toes.
“I know a good thing when I see it. I’m keeping you.”
“Keeping me?”
“Keeping you safe.” He gives me a small nod. “Mine.”
“What if I don’t want that?” Who am I kidding? I’ve been stalking him. Not that I’ll ever admit that out loud.
“Give me time.”
“Ro.” I grab his wrist, stopping him from brushing my hair. “What’s happening?”
“You needed me here. I’m here. Even if you won’t ask. I'm still here.”
He shakes my very foundation with those words. I can’t fully place why they have so many emotions swirling through me.
“Why?”
“Because you need me.” Ronan, the giant man who I think kills people for a living, then kisses me on the forehead. “And I need you.”
Chapter Eleven
RONAN
Every few seconds Ellie will peek over at me from the corner of her eyes. She's about as subtle as a sledgehammer, which is fucking endearing. Does she think I’m going to disappear? That’s her MO, not mine.
I’m not going anywhere, and soon that will sink in for her. It might take time, but I can be patient when it comes to getting what I want, and what I want is Ellie. There is no doubt in my mind of that.
I have always been rather black and white when it comes to things. I’m in, or I’m fucking out. I don’t test the waters. I trust my instinct and my ability to read people. I knew from the second I laid eyes on Ellie that she was special, different, mine. She stood out among the rest. I don’t think she’s a fan of that. Which I think is because of fear.
Ellie is always on the move, never staying in one place long. I’m honestly surprised she’s been here for as long as she has been.
"Are you just going to stare at me?"
"At this moment? Yes."
"You're strange." Ellie takes a bite of the steak I made her. She licks her lips, shifting in her seat.
"Is it wrong for me to stare?" Her fork pauses when it’s almost at those plump lips of hers. I know the women in the clubs and brothels my family deals with have always painted their lips to draw attention to them, but Ellie doesn’t need any makeup. Her lips are natural. Most women would kill to have them.
"Are you implying something?"
"No."
"Liar." She shoves the bite into her mouth.
"I'll give a white lie if it makes you happy."
“What would make me happy is if you stopped staring at me.”
“Now who’s the liar?” Her lips press together in a firm line.
I think Ellie more than enjoys my attention. In fact, she’s pissy because of the state my attention has left her in. That’s clear from how she’s wiggling around in her chair, pressing her thighs together. Her hard nipples are showing through the shirt I placed on her after washing her from head to toe in the shower.
It takes everything in me not to slip my hand up her shirt and cup one. Ellie’s tits are full and ripe. They leave your mouth watering and your balls aching. I know she’s feeling the same way. There’s an ache between her thighs she needs to relieve.
I might have done it intentionally while I washed her. I want her to crave my touch. To know how good it can feel for her.
“I lie all the time, so you should get used to it.”
“I appreciate the heads-up.” I lean back in my chair to keep watching her eat.
I didn’t know making a meal for a person and watching them consume it could be erotic and give you a sense of rightness. I never would have thought of myself as a caretaker, but there were a lot of things I hadn’t given a ton of thought to before Ellie.
“Most people don’t like liars.” Ellie's lies to me thus far are more about poking and part of her humor, which I enjoy. I figure it's our foreplay.
“I’d prefer you not to lie to me, but I’m good at reading people and knowing when they’re doing it.” Ellie stiffens. “Relax.”
“How can I relax when I know you’re reading me all the time?” Ellie pulls the hair band she has around her wrist off.
“Let me.” I take it from her.
“I was going to braid my hair.”
“I know.” I don’t want to tame her red wavy locks, but if it’s bothering her, then I want to fix it. I grab her hair and start to braid it for her. Ellie blinks a few times, caught off guard that I can braid.