Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 47165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
“I… I was laid off today. Before I even saw what happened to you,” she finally gasps.
“I have a bad feeling I’m not gonna see my holiday pay due to me, is all. The company’s gone broke and is laying everyone off.” She sniffs helplessly, fighting to be strong for me when I hold her face in my hand.
“We’re a team now, remember?” I tell her with a half-smile.
Wanting to lean in and kiss her, but needing to see her understand what I mean first.
Because I do mean it.
Not just a team. But if she is unattached?
We just became very much attached, and I’m already crazy with the ways forming in my mind just how much more attached we should become.
I feel my grip loosen to something more sensual than possessive, but it’s still tight on her as her whole body sags under her emotions.
“You’re just being kind,” she mumbles.
“Once you find out who you are, where you belong, I mean, you’ll be outta here and forget me once everything comes back to you…,” she muses softly to herself, trailing off.
She doesn’t mind me gripping her wrist, but I can feel a part of her shrinking inside.
The part that has the flames of passion I’d like to stoke for her.
With her.
“Holly.” I hear myself start to say in a low tone, spelling something out. “If I say we’re a team, I mean it. What you did for me today, and how you risked everything for me? That’s a reward I can never repay. But I can make one promise,” I tell her firmly.
“Promises were made to be broken,” she finally sniffs, collecting her strength again as she takes her hand back, staring up at me in defiance I know is meant for everyone who’s wronged her in this life.
“I’m not the person who fired you. I’m not your landlord or your boss, Holly. But I swear to you, on my life, that I’m gonna help you in ways that’ll begin to repay you for what you did today.
“You don’t have to help me,” she snaps, making me smile again.
“I don’t need charity,” she says harder.
“But you might need a friend?” I suggest relaxing now because I know I’m a white knight. Apart from having at least one sword in my pocket, I have a check that would solve a hundred problems.
“You’re impossible!” she huffs, folding her arms and tapping her foot.
“You’re mine,” I announce boldly. “Teammates, remember?”
I reach out and grip her wrist again. I can feel the tension in her body leave as my mouth presses hard over hers.
I can’t wait a single second to stake my claim on what I know is mine. And I’ll be damned if I’m gonna waste time trying to find out more about myself when there’s obviously something she needs way more.
CHAPTER SIX
Holly
It’s the last thing I expect, but instantly I know it’s what I need.
What I want.
Who wouldn’t want to be held by this guy and have his tongue down their throat?
The thing is, I’m no kisser. And apart from being taken a little off guard, it’s clear when I nervously bite his lip by accident that I’m no expert.
Rank amateur is one phrase that springs to mind.
But he doesn’t skip a beat. He only growls deeper and pulls me closer until we can taste the iron richness of the little nick in his lip, courtesy of my nervous teeth.
I'm not sure if this rush of blood to my chest is the thrill of it all or becoming a vampire, the sounds of my low moan joins his before we both need to come up for air.
“I bit you,” I pout. Looking up at him, suddenly unsure of myself for the first time in a long time before today.
And for more reasons than still knowing I have his wallet in my handbag.
“I can taste it,” he rasps, running his tongue over his lips and reveling in his second injury for the day.
“I don’t mind,” he adds with a sly grin, keeping me so close that I can feel his heart pounding under his thick ribs into my body through my jacket. All the way through my heavy sweater.
“Guess I’m not much of a kisser,” I murmur, feeling awkward again but also still amazed what even just happened actually happened.
“I think we both want more than just kisses,” he observes, making me jump when he pulls me so close I can feel an unbelievable hardness from him pressing into me, making me gasp suddenly but not unexpectedly.
The sensation of the thrill dropping from my heart down to my belly as panic sets in.
I guess there’s something else I should tell him. And not just about his wallet either….
His mouth over mine again makes me forget everything, though. It makes me forget who I am, and best of all, it makes me forget all my problems.