Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 25131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 126(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 126(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
“No problem,” Whiskey said gruffly. “Glad you’re okay. You need anything—”
“She’ll come to me,” I snapped, cutting him off.
Whiskey and Storm looked at me in surprise, but while Whiskey’s expression turned amused, Storm’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.
I thought about clarifying that I meant she could come to me as a doctor, but what the hell. It would be very clear, sooner rather than later, that Elise belonged to me.
“Understood,” Whiskey murmured before raising his chin in farewell and leaving.
Storm had been leaning against the wall, but he shoved his body away from it and stalked over to stand beside his sister. “Off-limits, Blade,” he gritted through clenched teeth. “Stay the hell away from my sister.”
3
ELISE
“Pardon me?” I huffed, crossing my arms against my chest. “Did you seriously just warn your friend off me? As though you have any say in who I may or may not want to date?”
Gideon thrust his chin out. “Damn straight, I did. And I do.”
Planting my fists on my hips, I glared up at him. “Just because you’re covering the rest of my tuition doesn’t make you the boss of me.”
“Maybe not,” he conceded. “But being your big brother does.”
I shook my head. “Nope.”
“Yup.”
“Nuh-uh.”
“Uh-huh.”
Rolling my eyes, I sighed. “What are you, twelve?”
He quirked a brow and chuckled. “What are you, a teenager?”
“Yes, but barely, which you very well know,” I huffed.
The sexy biker who’d examined me leaned his hip against the counter lining the wall opposite the exam table I sat on, his gaze darting between us as my brother and I bickered like we were little kids. The ten years between us didn’t stop the normal rivalry between siblings. Gideon was a great big brother, but that never stopped me from pushing his buttons. And he’d never had a problem with poking me right back, even when I was a toddler.
Acutely aware of the man who seemed to be enjoying the show Gideon and I were putting on, I decided to end it. The last thing I needed was for the first guy to spark my libido to see me as a little kid because I tended to act like one when I was around my brother.
“But seriously, I’ve been on my own for years with very little supervision from our parents. I’ve practically raised myself ever since you left home. You weren’t around to complain about any boys I might’ve dated up until now, so I find it incredibly hypocritical of you to think you have a say now.”
Blade’s eyes narrowed toward the end of my tirade, and I briefly wondered if he wasn’t happy about me mentioning my dating life. My nonexistent one since there hadn’t been time for me to worry about boys when I was studying my butt off to make sure my grades were good enough to get into college with a decent scholarship while also working part-time so I’d have some cash to help pay for living expenses while I was at school. Not to mention that I hadn’t met a guy tempting enough to sway me from my goals.
Until now.
With his light brown hair and intense gray eyes, Blade was beyond handsome. Add in the scruff on his cheeks, his tall, muscular body, and his dangerous air, and you had an irresistible combination that had my panties almost spontaneously combusting each time he’d put his hands on me during his examination.
I’d never felt anything like my reaction to him, which only made my brother’s warning even more frustrating.
“No interfering with my dating life.”
“Fine,” Gideon conceded. “I’ll back off for now, but I still reserve the right to kick anyone’s ass who hurts you.”
“Nah, I’ll do it myself, using the skills you made sure I had.” I crossed my ankles, barely holding back a wince at the twinge of pain that shot up my leg. “You know that I kept up with those self-defense lessons because you’re the one who paid for them.”
“You heard your sister. She can take care of herself.” Blade flashed my brother a smug grin, and I returned my attention to the hot biker who’d examined me.
I turned my ire on him. “Don’t think you’re getting off scot-free. I saw that look you aimed at Whiskey. It was completely uncalled for, especially since I owe him my life.”
Gideon’s head tilted to the side as he echoed, “Saved your life? Don’t you think you’re laying it on a little thick there, sis? Blade just said your injuries from the car accident weren’t that bad.”
“Because they’re not.” The Iron Rogues doctor’s eyes narrowed. “Definitely nowhere near life-threatening, or we wouldn’t be sitting here talking like this. I’d have already hauled her ass to the hospital to make sure she survived.”
“Then why the hell are you talking like Whiskey rode in like your white knight to save you when you were just in a car accident, El?” Gideon asked.