Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 148949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
“Never enough, mysh.” I kissed the top of her head, taking in the intoxicating scent of her hair. “You deserve the world.”
She let out a contented sigh. “As long as I have you and my babies, I have all I need.”
My heart swelled with love for this woman who had come to mean so much to me. “You have me, and you always will.”
As we lay entwined in each other’s arms, soft jazz played in the background.
A sense of peace washed over me.
How insane that peace and even love had eluded me for so long.
But then the Lion met the Mouse.
I yawned.
My eyelids grew heaver. “Mysh. . .”
“Yes, baby.”
Gentle jazz notes danced in the air.
“You calmed the beast in my heart.”
“Did I?”
I closed my eyes. “Yes. . .”
My last thoughts before slowly drifting into sleep were filled with gratitude for the life I now had and the woman who had made it all possible. In this moment, I knew I was no longer just the Lion—I was a man in love, and nothing would ever be the same again.
A click sounded off in the distance like my cell door was being closed.
Perhaps, David had come down to lock us in?
I rolled over as darkness swallowed me whole.
Chapter 37
Work Out
Emily
The next morning came too soon.
In the gym, sweat dripped down my face and coated my chest.
My head throbbed from all the vodka I had last night. My bones ached from all the dancing to Crucifix’s music.
It was a miracle that I had made it to the gym at all.
Granted, I woke up to my lion screaming out mysh over and over like a goddamn mad man. He had wanted me to sleep in his cell last night. One would have thought that we had not already argued this point many times yesterday.
Once I realized that he was asleep, I snuck away and locked myself into my cell.
Fuck you, Lunita. You will not have us kill anymore or fuck more strangers. I’m done with your bullshit.
But, the true question was if I could ever get Kaz on board with my plan.
Did he not fear Lunita and what she could do?
Either way, this morning, he yelled outside of my cell, let himself in, and proceeded to roar. I ignored his craziness and suggested that he help me train.
Thankfully, he obliged.
And now he’s in the gym kicking my ass.
I released an exhausted breath and raised my fisted hands in front of me.
My muscles burned, but I would push on.
You got this. Let’s get this body back in shape.
Kaz stood in front of me, still wearing a grumpy expression.
I tilted my head to the side. “Would you stop being mad?”
“You left me alone in that cell.”
“It is not a cell.” I winked. “It is a Lion’s Den.”
“I thought I fell asleep next to you.”
“Then, you thought wrong.” I charged for Kaz, delivering a kick to his chest.
He slapped it away with ease. “Too slow.”
I growled and lunged at him.
He sidestepped my attack, throwing a punch at my face that never connected. It was just to show me that he could knock me out if necessary. “You left that pretty face open.”
“Whatever.”
“Whatever?” He threw another punch my way.
I blocked it with one arm and answered back with a roundhouse kick.
Kaz dodged the attack. “Pitiful.”
I stumbled to the side. “You are quite the motivational coach this morning.”
“I woke up on the wrong side of the cell, alone and pissed.”
“Clearly.” I dove for his feet and sent him flying backward.
Yes!
Granted, we both fell to the ground, but I knew I had a better advantage down there. The corners of my mouth rose into a smirk. I reached for his neck, aiming to grab it, but he evaded the move, grabbed my legs, and flipped me around.
I shrieked.
“Mysh, did you really think that it would be so easy?” He charged me.
I expected that, rolled away, jumped back up, and spun around, trying to deliver a roundhouse kick to his jaw.
So fast, Kaz ducked, yet surprise hit his eyes. He rose from the ground. “That was unexpected.”
“Damn right it was.”
“But, still not good enough.” He charged me again.
I planted my feet firmly on the floor and waited for him to come closer, my eyes never leaving his face. When he was close enough, I grabbed his shoulders, lowered, and flipped him to the floor. My shoulders strained from the impossible effort.
Holy shit. I did it.
My arms ached.
Okay. How did I do that?
I replayed the moves in my head.
“That was simply luck.” He groaned in pain but refused to stay down for long. He rolled away and stood up again. “Unfortunately, you are still too slow.”
“Fuck you.” I lunged and threw my fist his way.
He dodged it. “Even slower.”
Fast, I punched him in the jaw.
For the first time that morning, it connected.