Total pages in book: 218
Estimated words: 215412 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1077(@200wpm)___ 862(@250wpm)___ 718(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 215412 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1077(@200wpm)___ 862(@250wpm)___ 718(@300wpm)
My mouth falls open. Until she vanishes beyond the top step.
I blink. Once. Twice. Reality snaps back.
“Those aren’t the only knives in the house!” I shout.
“Wash your dick and clean the mess on the floor! We’re expecting company!”
Right.
My family’s on their way.
To congratulate me on losing my virginity.
Of all the torture in Alaska, this is next-level.
I’d rather run upstairs and spend the rest of the night making love to my woman.
But murder first.
I wash up in the guest bathroom and run a towel over the sticky floor. Then, with the blanket tight around my shoulders, I storm to the front door and kick it open.
Leo’s smart enough to stay clear of my raging path as I charge out, nostrils flaring.
Standing a safe distance away, he eyes my blanket cape. “Are you armed under that?”
“With my fists.”
“If you mess up my pretty face, Frankie won’t forgive you.”
“She won’t see the bruises beneath your beard jungle.”
“Listen, Wolf. You’re the smartest guy I know.”
“You only know three guys.”
“If you don’t want a compliment…”
“Continue.”
“You’re genius smart, but all that intellect evaporated the second you got your dick wet.”
“That’s your compliment? Why don’t you come a little closer and say it again?”
“No, thanks.” He chuckles. “I shouldn’t have riled you, but fuck. I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment. I mean, the timing…” He flashes his teeth. “I couldn’t resist. You deserve some payback for all the hell you’ve given me.”
I hate it, but he’s not wrong. How many times have I seen Frankie naked? I’m lucky they haven’t clawed out my eyes. Strakh men are viciously territorial, but I didn’t really understand what that meant until now.
I won’t be as gracious with them as they’ve been with me.
My mind spins through impending scenarios, imagining Dove bending over an engine at the garage or sipping a drink at Kody’s bar. If I even think about another man’s eyes on her, my whole body changes. It’s not subtle. Not civilized. Not anything remotely human.
It’s instinct. Animal-deep.
My vision narrows until all I see is her body and the imaginary bastard looking at it. Veins stand out along my arms. Tendons strain in my neck, and my pulse spikes so fast it feels like my heart is breaking my ribs.
“I remember those feelings the first time I had sex with Frankie.” Leo lets out a low whistle, his mismatched eyes studying me. “Immediately afterward, I felt different. Irrationally territorial and uncontrollably dangerous.” He ambles toward me, stepping onto the porch. “I didn’t want you or Kody near her. Didn’t matter that you’re my brothers. I was a hair trigger away from feeding you to the wolves if you so much as looked in Frankie’s direction.”
“Look at you now. Seventy percent less murder-happy, thirty percent titty baby, only mildly unstable, and still not housebroken. When was the last time you spent the night in the Sitka jail?”
“It’s been a minute.” He smirks, leaning against the door beside me. “Doesn’t mean the urge to kill everyone who looks at Frankie is gone. Just means I learned how to control the murderous impulses.”
“I don’t know how you do it.”
“What?”
“Share her. The thought of sharing Dove makes me feel unhinged.”
“Because it’s Monty and Kody. I trust them with my life and with hers.” He lifts a shoulder. “It doesn’t feel like sharing. It feels like the most natural thing in the world. Like breathing. It’s that easy.”
“Not at first.”
“No.” He laughs, shaking his head. “I had to sort out my ego. That took some time.”
All this happened while I was locked in Dr. Pain’s cage in Whittier, with everyone thinking I was dead. But I remember what Leo was like when Frankie arrived in Hoss. He postured like he was two breaths from snapping his own neck.
“Speaking of cavemen…” His eyes sparkle as he turns his attention toward the main house.
Kody’s silhouette emerges on the path. Broad shoulders, slow stride, arms full of stacked boxes like he robbed a post office. Monty strolls behind him, balancing bags in each hand with that rich-man grace that makes everything look like a business deal. Frankie saunters beside them with a smaller load, red hair bright in the warm light.
Behind the trio, Carl and Jasper lumber along under the weight of even more boxes.
“Christmas in July.” I clap my hands and usher everyone in. “My very first Christmas!”
Dove waits in the living room, looking freshly fucked in her jean shorts and tee, her feet bare and arms overflowing with things for me.
One look at her and I’m undone. Every scar and quiet place inside me rouse like my body knows she’s the one it’s been waiting for.
“What’s all that?” She nods at the chaos of boxes pouring in.
“I did a little online shopping while you were reading the journals.”
“A little?”
“It’s all for you, my love.” I kiss her mouth. “My dove.” Another kiss. “My beautiful one.”