Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
Should he . . . comfort her . . . fuck. How did he do that?
For the first time in his life, he asked himself a question that he never thought he would. One he never wished to ask himself again.
What would Duke do if this was Sunny?
He shuddered. That made him feel ill. Why would he want to think like that biker? Yet Sunny did seem enamored of him. So, the Fox guessed he was doing something right.
Sometimes.
Hug her. Put her in your lap.
Reaching out, feeling like he might get bitten or stung at any moment, he lifted her into his lap.
She turned her face into his chest.
Now what?
He’d expected that she would immediately calm down. Did he not make her feel safe? Instead of calming and listening to him, she kept crying.
This wasn’t right . . . perhaps he had done it wrong.
Or maybe it was his thinking that was wrong.
“It seems Duke has failed me. Typical.”
“What?” She drew back and stared up at him. She was a terrible crier. Her face was blotchy, she was sweating slightly, and strands of hair were sticking to her forehead.
But she was still so gorgeous.
“Daddy, you don’t look right.”
He didn’t look right? Ahh, because he was in disguise. But how did she know that this wasn’t his real look?
He ignored that. “You don’t need to be normal. You just need to be you.” Damn. That was good.
He gave himself an imaginary pat on the back. He was good at reading people. One of the best. Perhaps he could have gone into psychology or psychiatry.
He excelled at everything he did.
“That’s a nice thought,” she whispered. “But being me just drives people away.”
“What are you talking about? Who have you driven away?”
“Brody. He’s had enough of me.”
“He said that? I’m going to kill him.”
“You can’t kill him,” she wailed. “I need him.”
“He hurt you.”
Although he didn’t actually want to kill him.
That was just his default setting.
Maybe he’d tie him to his bed and edge him until he begged for mercy.
That could be fun.
“You still can’t kill him.”
“We’re not even living together yet, and already you think you get to tell me who I can and can’t kill. First the deputy mayor and his bitch, and now Brody. I shouldn’t allow it.”
She stared up at him through blurry eyes. Would she even remember this tomorrow? Maybe it was best that she didn’t.
He waited for her to say something about him killing people. Or about his arrogance. She frowned. “Live together? We’re gonna live together?”
“We are. I’m taking you home with me tonight.” He should have done it earlier. Then this wouldn’t have happened. But he’d been trying to be respectful of her mental health.
And look at what had nearly happened?
“W-what?” she asked, sounding scared. “I can’t do that, Daddy.”
“Yes, you can. Clearly, you can’t live by yourself.”
Her breathing started to come in sharp pants. Shit. Was she going to be ill? Was it the alcohol? Had she taken some of those pills?
“What is it? What is wrong? Do you feel ill?”
“C-can’t breathe.”
Panic attack. She was having a panic attack.
Fuck. What did he do?
“Bunny, breathe,” he commanded.
“I . . . I . . .”
On instinct, he took her cold hand in his, placing it on his chest. “With me. Slow in. Hold. Out. That’s it. Again.”
Gradually, her breathing calmed.
“I can’t . . . I can’t leave my house.”
That’s why she’d had a panic attack? Over the idea of him taking her to his den?
Fuck. She wasn’t ready. He knew that. But her health was at risk.
“You’ll be safer with me. I should just carry you out of here.”
“No. No, please. Can’t . . . can’t leave this house. Brody . . . what about Brody?”
“I don’t know where Brody is. But you tried to hurt yourself.”
“What? No. Just wanted to sleep.”
“Forever.”
“No, I’m not Sleeping Beauty. There’s no frog to kiss me awake.”
“A frog? A frog kissed Sleeping Beauty?”
“No, silly, it was a prince. Why would it be a frog?”
“I have no idea. I’ll have to take my belt to his ass, though.”
“What? You can’t do that to a poor froggy.”
“What? No, not the frog.”
“The prince? Yeah, he probably deserves it. Naughty prince.”
“I was talking about Brody.”
“Ooh, I’d pay good money to see that.”
He had to snort. She sounded so excited.
“It’s punishment, brat. Not fun.”
The smile dropped off her face and she sniffled. “It’s not Brody’s fault he doesn’t want me anymore.”
“Yes, it is.”
She shook her head. “I’m a lot of work.”
A lot of work? So what? Did he give up at the first obstacle?
“He’s had to go slow with me. We haven’t had sex. Or even some heavy petting. Though I wouldn’t mind that. I have a whole drawer of toys, but I only get turned on by him. Or you. Can’t have sex. Can’t give a blow job. Should have tried, though. Always too scared to try.”