Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 125037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
That earned her one of his brief faint smiles. She’d do just about anything to get his smile.
“And what’s with the comment about other men? I don’t believe for one minute you’re the jealous type. You’re too laid-back for that.” But he wasn’t. He was intense beneath that calm façade, and she knew it. She saw into him, into places no one else did. He kept those traits hidden from the rest of the world. She shouldn’t like knowing things about him that others didn’t, but she secretly reveled in her knowledge.
“Not going to discuss this with you until I’ve put a ring on your finger and you and Grace are living with me.” He sounded gruff.
His hands were magic. He might be targeting every sore muscle she had, but he was definitely easing the painful knots.
“Don’t look at me like that, Leila. You see inside me, whether you want to admit it or not. I’m no hero. I never will be. I have something dark and ugly in me, and you’re very aware of it.”
“You aren’t nearly as bad as you think you are.” But she knew he was capable of terrible things. Horrific things. Whatever genetic material had been used to enhance him, she knew it wasn’t brawn so much as cunning predator. A thinking predator. The way his mind worked, he was always hunting prey.
“Don’t kid yourself, Leila. You have to know what you’re getting. Who you’re getting. I would protect you and Grace with my life. But I don’t show mercy to my enemies. I hunt them down and make certain they can’t come at us again.”
“You aren’t making a very good case for yourself.”
“Turn over. Let’s get this done so you can go outside.”
His hands on her body, helping her roll over, were so gentle she melted inside. He might think he was a monster, but he was unfailingly gentle with her.
“I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. The truth is I’ve never wanted anything for myself. I never thought about having a wife and children. I figured I’d make certain Rubin was taken care of and happy, and then I’d end it. Rid the world of the darkness in me.”
His fingers found the knots in her neck and began to work them out. She forced herself to relax, to breathe through the pain.
“Diego.” She whispered his name on an exhale. On a protest.
“The minute I saw you, Leila, I knew you were the one. Every single thing about you appeals to me. I know I’m asking a lot. I know what you’ll have to live with. But I also know I would move heaven and earth to make you happy.”
“By your own admission, women chase after you.”
“But I don’t chase women. I would never disrespect you.”
He worked his way down her right arm, and it felt a little like heaven—or hell. She wondered if she decided to stay with him, if that would be her life—a mixture of heaven and hell. She was grateful she was on her stomach with her face turned away from him. He seemed to be able to read her every expression, and she wanted to be conflicted. She told herself she was. She had Grace to think about. But if she was honest with herself, she’d already made up her mind. As much as Diego seemed to want her, she wanted him.
“Having said that, Leila, I won’t tolerate that kind of disrespect from you. There won’t be any cheating. Not physically or emotionally. I’m not meeting your needs, you say so. You communicate that to me immediately. If I piss you off, don’t sit on it for days, letting the wound fester—tell me so I can make it right.”
“We’re going to have disagreements,” she pointed out.
“I don’t want a yes woman. I want my warrior woman. I respect your opinions. I have no idea how to have a decent relationship or how to parent. I do know we don’t need to hit our children or raise our voices to them.”
She couldn’t help turning her head to look at him. Her eyes met his. There was pain there. She’d known there would be. If his mother were still alive, Leila might consider doing her in. “I like that. I don’t know how that will work when they’re teenagers, but I’m okay with no hitting or yelling.”
“There will be consequences,” he said. He bent his head and brushed a kiss across her cheekbone. “I believe in consequences.”
She did as well, but she had the feeling she’d be tempering his disciplines when it came to consequences for their children. Diego wasn’t a man to let things slide. She let her lashes drift down as his hands moved across her back, finding every painful place.
“When you’re looking inside me—which is very cool, by the way—can you tell if I’m healing the way I’m supposed to?” She wanted to change the subject. The intensity of their conversation was draining. If she wanted to have energy to go outside and shoot at targets, she needed to relax.