Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 103141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
“Christ. Why didn’t you tell me?” He pushes to his feet.
“Because I assumed it was you or your pack of willing killers! You’ve threatened me enough!”
He winces, then sits beside me. “My life would be a whole lot easier if I could hurt you.” He shakes his head. “But I can’t do it, and I’m sure as shit not going to let anyone else hurt you either.”
His words rip any response from my lungs. I know I should say something, but that’s about as far as my brain is able to go—at least right now. Rian just admitted that he doesn’t think he can hurt me…that he plans to protect me.
Rian reaches for me, cupping my face once more. I can’t stop myself from nuzzling into his palm, feeling like home. “You’re mine, pretty thing. There’s nothing I won’t do to protect you. Come on. Let’s pack some things.”
His. Rian says I’m his, and damned if I don’t want that more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my whole life.
“Where are we going?” Because clearly, I’m going to go with him. Hell, I probably would have even before he’d been open with me and told me the truth. I want to be with Rian, despite all the reasons I shouldn’t. The loneliness I’ve felt all of my life is even heavier since I lost him, so heavy that I don’t know if I can keep carrying it…and if he wants me, if I can be with him, and shed that hurt, I’m going to find a way to do it.
“To my house.” Rian doesn’t give me a chance to answer before he moves toward my closet again. He comes out with a suitcase just seconds later.
To his house. The one I know he raised his son in, the one he lived with his wife in. Rian is taking me there.
“Okay.” As far as answers go, it’s not the most intelligent response I’ve ever given, but it works.
I’m not sure what it is about this moment that makes the truth of everything he’s saying slam into me.
Someone tried to have me killed…?
If Rian hadn’t been there that morning, maybe they would have succeeded, and we never would have met. There’s a wrongness in that, one I feel deep in my gut—like the world would be tilted off its axis—this thing that should be wrong, but feels like the rightest thing I’ve ever done. Dizziness sweeps me up, making me unsteady on my feet, my thoughts wreaking havoc with my whole body.
Rian’s arms wrap around me, this dangerous man pulling me close.
“I’m fine,” I say, face feeling flush, whether from embarrassment, the emotions of the moment, or both, I’m not sure.
“I’ll take care of you, Abbott. I promise. I’ll protect you with my life. No one will hurt you.”
I smile, not doubting him for a second. I don’t understand why my feelings for him are so strong, so intense that it feels like nothing in my life would be right without him. “I know, but that’s not what I was thinking.”
“What, then?” he asks.
“How wrong it would have felt if they’d killed me that day because I never would have met you.”
His pupils flare, just before a curse falls from his lips, and his mouth sears mine in a hard, possessive kiss.
This is the second time I’ve been with this man after he’s hurt someone, and I don’t care. What is wrong with me that I don’t care?
Rian’s tongue pushes into my mouth. My arms encircle him, hands sliding up his strong back, our bodies pressed so close together—kissing hard and hungry one second, and the next, he jerks away.
“What?” I ask, trying to find the words to finish my question.
“I don’t want to touch you like this, not after what I did tonight. Not with the stench of their blood still on me.”
Shit. He’s right. I’d lost myself. Rian O’Shea makes me lose myself, and I would have thought I would hate that, but I don’t. I think part of me needs it.
“Yeah, yeah, okay. Let’s just get going. I feel…I don’t know. Uncomfortable here now.”
He nods. I quickly get dressed, gather clothes, toiletries, and a few personal items before we head to the door. I pull the suitcase behind me, as Rian tugs his gun out, making me falter.
“I don’t think anyone is out there, Doc. They’ve had plenty of chances to come back after you since you’ve been home. I’m not sure why they haven’t yet, but I’ll figure it out. The gun is just a precaution.”
He’s right. Why haven’t they tried to kill me again? Are they just…watching me? Are they watching us now?
I nod, trusting him to do the right thing. I’ve just never been super comfortable around guns, but I am comfortable around Rian.
“Walk right behind me. Stay close.”