Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 70323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.
When he finished trying to straighten out his hair, he was glaring.
“We had a SWAT call last week where a little old lady called in because she needed help ousting a tenant. A tenant that got really pissy when he refused to leave and then pulled a gun on the little old lady’s husband. After the SWAT call was over, she had every single one of us sign her calendar. But since it was only half of us there, she came up to the station and brought us cookies and muffins, and then had everyone else sign it.” He paused as he reached for the bar of soap. “But she made special cookies for me because I ‘wasn’t very festive’ in my calendar photo. She was hoping that the Santa-shaped cookies would bring me more ‘holiday cheer.’ Now everyone likes to give me little Christmas gifts as a ‘cheer up’ present.”
That was actually kind of funny.
I allowed my hand to trail down the length of his side, stopping when I couldn’t get any farther due to the press of our bodies.
He tensed as I stroked the left side of the V on his lower body.
“What are you doing?” He tried to step back.
All that did was allow me to get to the thing that I most wanted.
“I want to do something,” I said.
“Do what?” He looked at me worriedly, backing up a step and encountering the toilet.
“I’ll be quick…” I said, dropping down to my knees.
Saint’s eyes were as wide as saucers. “I can’t do this here. There’s… oh, holy shit.”
In all honesty, Saint lost a bit of control there for a moment.
Long seconds after he was finished, his chest heaving, he looked down at me still on the ground between his splayed thighs.
“I… shit. Your father’s never going to say yes now.” He covered his face with his hands. “I just defiled his daughter under his own roof.”
I rolled my eyes and stood up, walking to my sink where I brushed my teeth and washed my face.
“Get dressed. It took you all of like, two seconds. We’re not going to be caught.”
He grumbled something under his breath but nonetheless started to do what I said.
“How do you feel about going to visit my father?” he asked softly. “I don’t want to go alone.”
I studied his tired eyes.
His glasses had smudges on them.
I pulled them off his face and cleaned his glasses on my shirt. When I felt they were clean enough, I replaced them on his face.
“I’d go anywhere with you. Even to meet the former president.”
CHAPTER 20
Santa saw your photos on Instagram. You’re getting a Bible for Christmas.
-Coffee Cup
SAINT
I wasn’t really sure about Christmas.
Never really had been, either.
But I was sure that I’d enjoy spending it with Carolina.
After her assault—or more like care?—in the bathroom, she left, taking Smoke with her. I got dressed and pocketed my phone before heading out to find them.
They were all sitting out by the Christmas tree in the living room.
All of my presents for Carolina—and a few for her parents, one for each of her brothers—were now under their tree.
I grinned and went to the one and only seat left. The recliner next to the fire.
The fire that was burning hot and melting off skin the moment I sat down—which was likely why no one was sitting there.
I got up and moved it closer to Carolina, who looked amused.
“Everyone ready?” Nikki asked.
Carolina clapped her hands. “Do you have mine under there?”
Nikki rolled her eyes. “Yes. They’re at the back, though, so your brothers couldn’t see them.”
Nikki started to hand out presents then, and before long, Carolina’s pile looked massive compared to everyone else’s.
“What are you trying to prove, Nicholson?” Connor asked. “She’ll like you even when you don’t buy her presents.”
I shrugged. “I’ve never bought presents for anyone before. It was… fun. I couldn’t stop myself once I’d started.”
“Who the hell wrapped those?” Michael asked.
“I had the people I purchased them from do it. They’re fancy, right?” I asked as I stopped one of Carolina’s presents from toppling over the whole stack.
“I think we should all watch her open her presents,” Clayton suggested. “I’m interested in how one is able to get presents while in quarantine.”
I snorted. “I did all my shopping online. I had a buddy collect the boxes and put them in my house.”
“Speaking of house,” Michael said. “I went over to Cop Row earlier and saw a black behemoth of a cat go into your house via a cat door. Did you know you have cats going in and out of there?”
I nodded. “I rescued a bunch of cats from an op about five or six months ago. I was going to find them homes, but I ended up keeping all five of the cats. They run wild now. Come and go as they please. They’re all spayed and neutered, though. The rest of Cop Row like them because they keep all the field mice at bay.”