Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 36999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
My heart skips a beat before pounding against my ribcage. Lord have mercy. What have I gotten myself into?
"How was your first day?" Gemma cries, bounding through the front door with Bronx following behind her. They've been inseparable since she visited the club the other night. "Did you have fun?"
"I'm quitting."
She stumbles to a stop, gaping at me.
"I have to quit. It's the only solution."
"To what?"
I glance from her to Bronx and then back, grimacing. No offense to him. I'm sure he's great, but I can't exactly talk about his little brother in front of him. Especially when the conversation involves orgasms and the fact that his brother gave me one with my brother right down the hall.
To Bronx's credit, he gets the hint without needing it spelled out.
"I think you're needed here tonight, Dilemma," he murmurs to Gemma, his tone gentle. It's strange. Every time I've ever seen Bronx, he's been a total grouch. But there's a softness to him when he looks at my best friend that's brand new. He doesn't treat her like glass. I think he knows she's a badass despite how sweet she looks. But he treats her like she matters to him.
I love him for that. Gemma deserves someone who can love her with his whole heart and protect hers with the same fierce devotion she'll put into protecting his. If Bronx can be that man for her, he has my stamp of approval. But if he ever breaks her heart, hell will not even compare.
He's been good to her, though. She hasn't stopped smiling since she came home from the club the other night. I don't know if she realizes it yet, but I think she's falling in love with him. Judging by the way he looks at her, I think he's on the same exact page.
"Why don't we reschedule our plans for tomorrow?" he suggests, reeling Gemma in for a quick kiss.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. You and Elodie should catch up tonight." He kisses her again, being ridiculously soft and sweet with her. "I'll plan something for tomorrow."
"Something fun?" Gemma questions.
"You'll just have to wait and see." He taps her on the nose. "Behave, Dilemma."
"Never."
He grins, shaking his head. "For some reason, I think you mean that."
"Oh, I absolutely do," she says, giggling.
I smile despite myself. At least one of us is happy. Lord knows, Gemma deserves it. She's always pretended to be the obedient good girl everyone expects just to keep everyone happy, but it never made her happy.
She's been miserable for a long time. But she never did anything about it out of some misguided desire to repay her sisters for keeping her alive when they were kids. I don't think she fully understands yet that her sisters will love her regardless. All she has to do is find the courage to tell them what she really wants out of life.
It may take a while for them to adjust to the fact that she's not the sweet, innocent little thing they've always thought. But given the opportunity, they'll love the badass parts of her just as fiercely as I do.
I mean, holy crap. She actually waltzed into a BDSM club with a stolen invitation, and then convinced Bronx to explore with her. She's a freaking ninja.
I wish I were that brave.
"See ya, Elodie," Bronx says, giving me a little wave.
"Bye, Bronx." I clear my throat. "Um, sorry about the invitation."
"It's all good, sweetheart." He grins at me on his way to the door. "I got her out of it. You won't hear me complaining."
I shoot him a grateful smile, relieved at least one Kaiser brother isn't going to make my life difficult.
Gemma kisses him again at the door and then locks it behind him before spinning to face me. "Spill it," she demands. "What do you mean you're quitting?"
"Coby confronted me about the invitation today."
"Oh." She cringes. "How bad was it?"
"He kissed me, said really dirty things to me, and then made me come before Keegan walked in on us," I blurt.
Gemma's eyes nearly pop out of her head. "Whoa."
"I know!" I cry, plopping down on the sofa.
"How dirty are we talking here?"
"Dirty, dirty."
"High five for Coby," she mutters.
"Gemma!"
She shrugs, unrepentant. "It's about freaking time the man cracked, Elodie. You've been trying to break him for two months."
"No, I haven't."
"Oh, really?" She crosses her arms, smirking at me. "What did you wear to work today? Was it the aqua wiggle dress with the asymmetrical slit? The one that makes your boobs look amazing?"
"What? No," I lie.
"Mmhmm. Well, I already saw your feed, and your OOTD post has determined that is a lie," she says like this is an episode of Maury and she's reading the results of the paternity test.
"Fine." I crack a smile. "Maybe I did wear the aqua wiggle dress. But I wore it for me."