Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“You’re going to die right here, right now.” I stare down at him as I keep the unforgiving pressure on his throat. “You should’ve never touched my songbird, never come for her, never even looked at her.”
He claws at my hands, but he gets nowhere.
“She’s too good for men like us. But at least I’m going to do everything in my power to be worthy.” I give a harder squeeze. “You would’ve hurt her, eventually killed her. I can’t let that happen.”
“Diego?” Aurora’s soft voice is behind me, and I feel her hand on my shoulder.
I ease up, but I don’t release him. My songbird shouldn’t be here. She’s too sweet, too kind, too full of mercy. She’ll no doubt ask me to spare this asshole’s li—
“Don’t stop.” She leans over and looks down at Kent. “You’ve hurt so many people. So many women. Not just me. I know what you’ve done. Forcing yourself on us. And when you can’t have us, you stage an overdose. Daphne told me she has a file an inch thick on the women you’ve hurt and killed.”
Rage thumps through my veins. First that he tried to hurt my Aurora, and second for the other girls that didn’t have anyone to protect them.
Her lips feather against my ear. “Do it for me, Diego.”
“With pleasure.” I increase the pressure until I feel something crack and see the life leave Kent’s eyes.
When it’s done, I rise and pull Aurora into my arms.
“Thank you.” Her eyes water. “Thank you for saving me.”
I kiss her and taste her salty tears and sweet lips. “I will always save you, songbird.” I hold her in my arms, safe and protected. “Always.”
“I love you, Diego.” She smiles against my lips as I carry her out of the room, out of the house, and all the way back to the lodge. Home. Our home. Forever.
17
AURORA
I snuggle more into Diego's side. He’s holding me close and keeps kissing the top of my head as we enter the lodge. We don’t stop to linger and talk to anyone. We pass by Clover on the way.
She gives me a wink, but I’m sure her man Charles is pissed about Daphne and me giving him the slip. I’m not sure if we made the situation worse or better, to be honest. At least Kent is dead. I no longer have to worry about him.
We barely make it into our room and Diego is on me. He lifts me into his arms, kissing me deeply. I give as good as I get while wrapping my body around him.
“You are never to leave here without me,” he gets out before his mouth is back on mine again. I moan my agreement. Hopefully there won’t be any reason to have to sneak out. “You’re going to stay here,” he gets out before his mouth goes to my neck. I let out a moan. I never knew how good it felt to be kissed on the neck.
“Yes,” I answer as I tilt my head to the side. There is no other place I want to be.
“You’ll be my wife,” he adds in when he stops to pull my sweater off. My bra hits the floor a second later. My man's hands are skilled. He could easily kill with them to protect me but also caress me with them in the gentlest of ways. “Say it,” he demands.
He cups my breast, his thumb grazing back and forth across my nipple. His other hand is now in my hair, grabbing a handful of it so he can tilt my head back to look up into his eyes. Even the pull on my hair is gentle.
“I didn't think it required an answer.”
“You’ll take my name.” Another order. I nod in agreement.
“Aurora Langston has a nice ring to it.” I learned his name one night when we’d been playing the question game. We’d learned a lot of things about each other that night.
“Damn right it does.” He goes for my pants next, pulling my boots off so I’m naked in front of him.
“I’m not sure I want to be Aurora Davenport at all anymore.” His eyebrows furrow together.
I don’t want to do concerts and music deals. “You could build me a studio.”
I keep going. “Then whenever I want to have a new song out I’ll release it on my own.” I have no doubt that Clover could help me with all of that. I know that she’ll definitely be staying since we’ve both gone and fell in love while we were here.
Diego stares at me for a long moment before he speaks again. “I’ll build you anything you want, but you know I wouldn't stop you right?” He lifts his hand to my cheek, cupping it. I lean in, loving the feel of his skin on mine. “I’d have to go with you but—” I cut him off.