Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 103665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
She jolted slightly against him. “He doesn’t.”
“I can’t think of anybody else,” Christian said. If she tried to defend that jerk, he might lose his mind. “Why did you punch him last night?”
She shifted against him, both of her hands cupping the mug. “That’s, ah, personal.” At the statement, she ducked her head, as if she knew how stupid that sounded.
“I was inside you just a few hours ago, and you slept in my arms all night. We’ve gone way beyond personal.”
She sighed and took another sip. “I know, and last night doesn’t change anything. But I don’t regret a second.”
“Neither do I,” he growled before he could stop himself. “I know we can’t be, can’t have anything permanent, but no way am I allowing you to marry that jackass.”
“Allowing?” Her voice rose. “Sorry, buddy. One night of sex doesn’t give you a say in my life.”
Why not? Amka wasn’t a woman who slept with a guy and then moved on. She sure wasn’t someone who cheated on a man she loved. “You were tight as hell last night, and no way have you been sleeping with Jarod.”
She swallowed. “That’s inappropriate, so watch yourself. And again, that’s personal.”
“Tell me something’s personal one more time, and you’re going over my knee.” He would love to see his palm print on her ass. The mental image almost had him reaching for her.
She plunked her mug down on the rough wooden porch. “I’ve had enough of this. It’s time for me to go home.”
That was it. Just it. He gently put his mug next to him and hefted her onto his lap, cradling her. Twisting one hand in her hair, he pulled back her head until she had no choice but to meet his gaze. Oh, she fought him, but she didn’t have a chance. He let her struggle as long as she wanted, holding her there until she finally relented. “You done?”
The look she gave him might’ve shriveled another man’s balls. It just aroused him. Again. She then rolled her eyes. “Knock it off.” Yeah, she sounded a bit breathless, and it wasn’t just from the struggle.
He liked to explain things clearly when he could. “Here’s the deal. We’re not moving until you tell me what’s going on with Jarod. You don’t love him. I don’t even think you like him. There’s no way you want to marry him, which leads me to a couple of conclusions.”
Her jaw clenched and her chin firmed in a way that tempted him to take a bite right out of it. “Which are?” Now she sounded haughty.
Amusement mixed with the irritation inside him. “Either you’re afraid of him, or he has something on you. Either way, I’m going to handle it.” Yeah. Last night gave him that right. The least he could do was free her from Jarod.
“You’re wrong.” Her voice quivered just slightly, and her gaze dropped.
He tightened his hold on her hair and pulled. She gasped and those eyelids flew wide open. Damn, she had pretty eyes. Nearly black with depth and intrigue. “We’re not moving. Can stay here all day and into the night. At some point, you’re gonna want to go inside. We’re not.”
Pink spiraled through her cheekbones, and pure stubborn lit her expression.
Ah. All right. So it was a contest of wills. Apparently it was a lesson she needed to learn.
He kept her in place and continued scanning the area for threats.
She lasted an entire hour. Truth to shit, she impressed him. That was a stubborn to the soul woman. He liked that. After an outraged huff, she spoke. “Fine, but you have to promise not to do anything.”
“Nope.”
She gave a half-hearted struggle, no surprise flashing across her face when he didn’t let her move an inch. “You’re such a jerk.”
“Yep.”
Her sigh held a nice amount of feminine frustration. No doubt she was planning his demise. “Let me go. I need to use the bathroom.”
“Nope.”
She swung and slapped his chest but couldn’t get much momentum from her position.
“Careful, cutie. I hit back.”
She shifted her weight, her butt tightening as if she knew just what he meant. Good. It was nice being on the same page. “Fine,” she exploded. “I steadied Flossy while she shot Hank, and Jarod videoed the entire thing. He’s been blackmailing me. Said we just had to be engaged to give him respectability, but now he wants all of my money. And he says he wants to get married for real.”
Shock careened through Christian. Not in centuries would he have figured this one out. “You helped Flossy?” Flossy and Hank had been in love, and when the cancer became too painful, Hank had asked her to help him find relief. Christian had thought one of his brothers had helped and had been relieved when Flossy wasn’t charged. Hank had been a good guardian and a strong man. He wouldn’t have asked for help unless he really needed it.