Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 107670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
With the exception of the wall of reflective glass at the rear of the lodge, which let in plenty of light, the interior seemed to be all wooden paneling and hardwood floors. Jesse headed straight to the open-plan kitchen and dining area.
“How did you know I was in California?” she asked him. “For that matter, how did you know where I worked and what car in the parking lot was mine?”
“I have my ways of finding things out.”
How delightfully vague. She watched as he moved around with ease, switched on the coffee machine, and grabbed two mugs . . . looking right at home, she thought with a frown. Realization dawned. “I thought I was staying in a guest lodge.”
“You’re not.”
“Is there a reason for that?”
Jesse backed her against the wall and placed a hand either side of her head, crowding her. “I don’t play games, Harley, so I’ll tell you straight. I want you. In my bed. In my life. Where you belong.”
Her heart slammed into her ribs and her cat stilled, feeling like a deer in headlights. The air began to charge with a sexual tension that threatened to suck every thought from Harley’s head. She gave herself a mental slap. “Where I belong?”
“You know you do. You knew it three years ago. But when I woke up, you were gone. Why?”
“I figured it would be less awkward that way.”
“Bullshit, baby. You ran.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “Mia told you my mate died, didn’t she? It’s true. Torrie and Mia were in the lake when they were eleven. Torrie smacked her head on a rock, fell unconscious, and drowned. I think it was what sent Mia spiraling out of control.”
Harley marveled over how he could talk of the tragedy so calmly, hiding what had to be a wealth of pain behind a blank expression. “I knew about it, yeah.”
“In that hotel, I told you I was keeping you. That scared you because you knew how overbearing I’d be. You knew that since I lost the female who would have been my mate, I was going to be hell in a relationship; I’d be controlling and possessive and hold you too tight. The shifter world let you down and you didn’t want to be dragged back in it, so you hightailed it out of there. But you had to know I’d only let you run for so long.”
She frowned, shaking her head. “I didn’t think you really meant it. I thought it was just said in the heat of the moment.” Her cat was just as taken aback by what he was saying.
“The heat of the moment?” he echoed, incredulous.
“Well, yeah.” They had too many things going against them. They lived in different worlds, neither of their families would ever give their blessing, and fate had paired him with a submissive female because that was what he needed. Harley was dominant and proud of it, and she had no intention of squashing that part of herself for anyone. Besides, she wasn’t anything special. She was just . . . little ol’ her.
“Hmm.”
Hmm? What did “hmm” mean?
“You honestly thought I would say something like that if I didn’t mean it?” he rumbled.
“Emotions were running high that night. People say stuff they don’t mean when they’re emotional. Anyway, don’t get pissy with me. If you had really meant what you said, you would have found a way to contact me.”
He moved his face closer to hers. “I would have hunted your sweet ass down three years ago if I thought you were ready for what I wanted from you.” Now she had no choice but to be ready, because he wasn’t going to let her walk out on him a second time.
She swallowed. “What do you want?”
“I want what belongs to me. You.”
Harley had no idea why that dominant, nonnegotiable tone revved her engines, but she didn’t like her body’s response at all. His eyes blazed with pure masculine possession as they roamed over every inch of her face. He looked at her as if he owned her, as if he’d always owned her. It made her stomach clench. It also made her bristle.
“You know,” she began, “I would have thought that someone who’d tragically lost the chance at spending their life with their true mate wouldn’t take that chance from someone else.” She’d meant to offend him, but a slow smile curved his mouth.
“That right there is why you’re perfect for me, Harley. You take no shit.”
“So you admit this is shit?”
“You won’t push me away. You’re mine.” Since she was fourteen, though she may not know it, he’d looked out for her, protected her, watched over her, and aided her—he’d say that gave him as much of a claim to her as a hypothetical mate she may or may not find.