Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
“Drop it, Redwood!”
“He’s gonna strangle him to death, French!” This was the guy trying to pull Bear off the guy they called Redwood.
“If he does, Wood deserved it.” French grunted as he managed to get the knife away from Redwood. In the process, my arm got in the way and the knife laid a fiery gash along the underside of my forearm.
I gave one sharp cry, backing away. Then I clamped my mouth shut and slapped a hand over the wound. Bear immediately turned to me, dropping his gaze to where blood seeped between my fingers and dripped to the floor.
“Fuckin’ Christ.” He let go of Redwood, not bothering to look at the man. “What the fuck did you mean to do, girl? Fight off a man twice your size -- with a knife -- using only your bare hands?” He snagged my arm, putting his own huge hand over the wound as he moved us to the sink. “Banjo, get that bastard out of my sight. Tell Rocket or Lemon what happened. Let them deal with the little prick.” He refused to turn toward the men, instead pulling out a dish towel from a drawer and wrapping it around the cut to stop the bleeding.
“Consider it done, Bear,” Banjo pushed Redwood toward the door.
“You tell ‘em everything. Not just that I busted his ass. You tell ‘em why. You tell every fuckin’ horny-ass prospect in this fuckin’ compound. ‘Cause this ain’t fuckin’ over.” Bear did turn to look at the other men then. “Best make your peace with whatever God you believe in, you son of a bitch.”
“I swear I didn’t know she was yours, Bear,” Redwood pleaded, his eyes wide. “I’d never have said that if I’d known she was your old lady.”
“She’s in my fuckin’ house, isn’t she?” Bear was livid. That much was certain. This was a side of the man I never wanted focused on me. “Be very fuckin’ glad I’m not the one to decide what happens to you. Not only did you disrespect my woman, but you pulled a fuckin’ knife on me.”
“It was reflex, Bear. I swear I wasn’t gonna use it!”
“Don’t care. Get the fuck out.”
“Come on, Wood.” Banjo took hold of his arm and led the man outside. French took the knife and laid it on a table by the couch. He glanced up at Bear before the three of them left. Banjo snagged the trash bag on his way out.
Bear carefully removed the dish towel from my arm. The cut wasn’t deep, but it was long. It still oozed blood, but it wasn’t bad. He wrapped it tight around my arm again before picking up his phone and shooting off a text.
“Gonna get Bullet to come look at this. At the very least you’ll need a tetanus shot.”
“Why would you care?” I was trying very hard to keep from breaking down. My heart pounded, and my arm was starting to sting like a motherfucker.
“You heard me claim you, Liv. That means you’re mine to protect. That means I beat a fuckin’ prospect for being disrespectful, that’s what I do. You hurt yourself? I get you a doctor. Which brings up my first question. What the fuck were you doing?”
“I was trying to keep you from getting stabbed,” I snapped. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes. The adrenaline was leaving my body, and I was shaky and nauseous. I tried to turn around to wash my hands, but my knees chose that moment to buckle and I thought I was going to hit the floor. Instead, Bear’s strong arms came around me, pulling me solidly against his muscled body.
“Careful, honey.”
My hands landed on his chest as I looked up into his eyes. Instead of the feral look of a few minutes ago when he was strangling the man who’d made a crude comment to me, he now wore an expression of concern.
“Bear?” My breathing quickened and I moistened my lips.
“Christ, woman,” he growled in a husky voice. “Don’t do that unless you want me to kiss you. Because I can’t think of doing anything else.”
A little whimper escaped me just before Bear lowered his lips to mine and took my mouth in a tender but firm kiss.
Warmth swept through my body, a heat from within as I surrendered to Bear’s kiss.
Bear’s lips were rough and demanding but gentle as they moved against mine, claiming and possessing. There was a wild, woodsy taste to him, strong and intoxicating. I permitted him access when he gently nudged my lips apart with his tongue, exploring every inch of my mouth. I moaned softly into the kiss, my hand fisting in his shirt. His free hand moved up my back to cradle the back of my head, holding me closer to him as if he was afraid I might slip away.