Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 76953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
“Ow,” I grumbled as I tried to roll over onto my side. “Ow ow ow.”
When did the barracks bed get so hard?
Then it came flooding back.
Stealing one of Croft’s tees before heading down into the basement to change and get some sleep.
Luna and Violet were out cold in moments.
While I just lay there staring at the mattress above me, unable to sleep, my mind consumed with the idea that Perish was up in the glass room. Alone.
I didn’t even consciously remember making the decision to get out of bed and make my way to the ladder.
Once I was through the trap door, well, there was no going back.
Memories flooded back.
My cheeks bloomed with heat at the memory of climbing onto his lap, of initiating that kiss.
It wasn’t regret I felt, per se. Just embarrassment for how bold I’d been.
I’d never really been the one to initiate things with a man before.
Something about Perish made it feel, I don’t know, safe to do so.
From there, well, things just got a little out of control. I mean, I’d dry-humped him like we were teenagers.
“That’s it,” his voice had said in my ear. “Come for me.”
Even the memory had heat blooming through my core.
But things hadn’t progressed past there.
I would have been willing.
Enthusiastic.
Overjoyed, even.
But then he’d shifted me and held me.
And the rest…
I slitted my eyes open, taking in the small glass room. It was empty, save for me.
At some point, Perish had propped a pillow under my head and covered me with a blanket before leaving.
Why?
Because he’d regretted it?
Or had someone come looking for him?
Oh, God.
Was he in trouble?
Ignoring the stabbing in my lower back as I sat upright, I quickly made my way to the trap door and down the ladder, ready to defend him, to lie if necessary, so he didn’t get kicked out of the club.
There was no proof, after all, that he’d put his hands on me. Hell, he barely had. I’d been doing most of the inappropriate things.
I couldn’t let him suffer for that.
“Well, well, well,” Layna’s voice met me as I landed in the basement once again.
She was on the bunk I’d abandoned the night before, wearing what looked like Spike’s shirt.
“Morning,” I said, trying to infuse some pep into my voice.
“Funniest thing,” Layna said, making my belly twist and flip.
“Hm?”
“I saw Perish coming out of the basement last night. He’d been up in the glass room.”
“Yeah?” I asked, walking over to grab my dress and quickly changed back into it. “He must have come down before I went up.”
“Well, yeah, he must have…”
She didn’t know.
She couldn’t know.
But she clearly had her suspicions.
I couldn’t let her keep poking around the edges of my lie. She would find out the truth eventually.
“Did Vi and Willa leave already?”
“You know them. Early risers these days. Besides, Dezi showed up with donuts a while ago. They grabbed them and coffee and headed home.”
“Were you waiting for me to go home?” I asked.
“I haven’t been to bed yet,” she told me, shrugging. “I’m going to crash for a few hours before heading back to your place to pack up.”
“You’re really leaving already?”
“I have some money burning a hole in my pocket. Going to take it to Vegas for a week or two. Then I have a tournament.”
“You really don’t ever get sick of all the craziness?” I asked, digging around in my purse until I found a hair tie and messily put my strands into a bun.
“Not yet. And it is my bread and butter.”
We both knew that Layna had earned plenty of money over the years to retire and live a cushy life.
“Besides, when I’m here for too long, everyone starts asking me things. Like when I’m going to settle down.”
“Oh, come on. The aunts are more progressive than that. They never asked me when I was going to get married. They were happy to just encourage my career.”
“Alright, fine. Maybe they ask when I’m going to stop couch-surfing like an unemployed college student.”
“Yeah, that sounds more like them. The aunts just want to make sure you’re settled. Asking you if you are getting a place of your own is the easiest way for them to express that.”
“It’ll happen. Eventually. I’m just not in a rush to do the whole… getting married, settling down sort of thing.”
At some point in the coming weeks, the two of us would play back this very conversation. With a mix of amusement (on my part) and shock and frustration (on hers).
But right then, I said I would see her at home before making my way upstairs.
I’m not proud to admit the way my gaze moved around immediately, looking for Perish. Or the way disappointment sloshed around in my belly when I didn’t see him anywhere.
“Heya, sweetheart,” a newly familiar voice called, making me turn to see Cain making his way out into the hallway, still dragging a shirt on. Which meant I got a full view of all his etched muscles. And, nope, it did nothing for me. So it wasn’t just Perish’s frame that had pulled me in. It was… something else.