Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“Swimming? I don’t think that’s actual swimwear.”
“I don’t think this is any kind of ‘wear.’ But I’m in it now, and it’s funny, so I’m going to make the most of it.”
“Okay, now I’m worried that all the stress you’re under has made you snap.”
“Why? Because your joke backfired and now you have to stare at me while I’m practically naked and I won’t let you have your way with me?” He pats my cheek. “Not yet anyway.”
“You know what? I’ve never hated you more.”
“Which is funny because I’ve never had this much fun with you before. Is this what it’s like to be you?”
I narrow my gaze. “Who are you, and what have you done with the serious Dylan Rodriguez I know?”
He licks his lips and loses some of the attitude. “I’m trying this thing where I don’t think about how messed up my life is and focus on maybe the best thing to come out of my situation.”
“It’s my cock, isn’t it?”
“Nope. Though, that’s worthy of an honorable mention, but now that I don’t hate you anymore, I don’t have to pretend I don’t want to do this.” Dylan stands on the tips of his toes and presses his lips to mine. It’s soft and chaste, but when he pulls back, I see the desperation in his eyes.
I cup his face. “I get it. Let me take care of you. Go float in the pool, I’ll organize some food, and then I’ll come join you.”
Dylan lets out a loud breath. “Thank you.” He grabs a towel and leaves me alone in a room we’ve somehow turned upside down already. Clothes are everywhere, and the bed is unmade.
I was going to bring up to him that this is a temporary place to stay, and we need to figure out where to go from here, but he’s obviously exhausted. I’ll let it go for the rest of today and then figure it all out in the morning after a proper night’s sleep.
We could go back to headquarters, but there’s a chance they’re watching the place. If any of those guys who swarmed the ranch made it out, Walker will know Dylan’s with me. I have other safe houses, but they all run a risk because they can all be tied back to my name.
And even if I checked in to a hotel under an alias, they have CCTV, and Walker could flash his badge and get all kinds of access.
I push it all to the back of my mind for now.
I order comfort food to be delivered—burgers, wings, slaw, and apple pie for dessert—and then go out to the pool to watch Dylan while we wait for it to come. Our all-nighter and sleeping until noon have thrown the whole day off. The sun is already setting, but I’m technically ordering lunch.
When I walk down the outer stairs to the pool below, Dylan’s got his back to me, his arms hanging over the side of the infinity pool while he looks out at the fading sunlight hitting the trees in the canyon just right.
He looks peaceful for the first time in days, so I don’t want to ruin that for him.
The ridiculous mankini straps that wrap over his shoulders only emphasize the muscles in his back.
I’m at war with two different parts of myself—the part that wants to be with Dylan and the other part that has been pushing him away for so long.
“You think you’re subtle, but you’re really not.” He turns.
“You looked like you were having a moment. I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“You could never disturb me.”
I already know the punchline that’s coming—he probably does too—but I can’t hold it back. “Because you’re already disturbed?”
“Exactly, but seriously, you’re kinda growing on me.”
I fist pump the air. “Yes. I’m slowly wearing you down.”
“Are you getting in here?” Dylan moves slowly through the water toward me.
“I’m waiting for the food to be delivered.”
He reaches the bottom of the steps and stands, exposing more of his golden skin. “You don’t want to come in while we wait?”
“You know I do.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
I level him with a look. “The problem is if I get in there now, we’ll be too busy to hear the delivery guy, and I’m starving.”
“Oh, I’m starving too. Just not for food. Priorities, Travis.”
I screw up my nose. “Eww, don’t call me Travis.”
“Mm, hello. Ammunition. How many times have I asked you over the years not to call me Rogue?”
“Excuse me, I have been with you for days. Days. And I’ve barely called you Rogue. I’m evolving.”
“Into a slightly tolerable human being?”
“Yep.”
“In that case, I will stop calling you Travis if you stop calling me Rogue.”
“Damn it,” I mutter under my breath.
Dylan smiles. “Now, what do I have to do to get you in here? I need some more Trav magic to distract me so I don’t think about all the things I’d rather be forgetting. I need you to fill my hole before you can fill your … mouth hole.” He frowns. “That sounded better in my head.”