Total pages in book: 192
Estimated words: 189782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 949(@200wpm)___ 759(@250wpm)___ 633(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 189782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 949(@200wpm)___ 759(@250wpm)___ 633(@300wpm)
Instead of words, he responds with his body, sliding his arms around me and kissing my lips.
“I’m not going anywhere.” I rake my fingers through his short beard and around to his nape. “I’ll be right here. Safe with my guards.”
“They don’t protect you from all the drooling males in scrubs.”
“Leo.” I lean back to stare at him. “How can we have a healthy relationship if you can’t trust me to work with men?”
He blinks, huffs a frustrated sound, and glances toward the hospital entrance. Turning back, he ensnares me with a look of such ferocious concentration that I take a step backward.
He stays with me.
The intimacy we share is so profound and overwhelming it robs me of breath. I see the same struggle in his gaze, the mutual desire and anguish.
“Frankie.” A breathless whisper. Then he kisses me with a fierce, desperate hunger.
Through it all, our eyes remain open and connected.
“I’ll try,” he breathes against my mouth. “I’ll do better.”
“Me, too.”
Reluctantly, he lets me go.
“Go help Kody at the distillery,” I say.
He inclines his head, and I return to work.
My attempt at normalcy is fucked. The whispers and curious glances from my colleagues sting, but I push them aside and focus on my job.
The rest of the day passes in a blur. I go through the motions, but my mind is elsewhere, replaying the scene over and over. By the time my shift ends, I’m exhausted, physically and emotionally.
The cool night air hits my flushed face as I step outside with the guards. Scanning the lot, I’m not surprised to find Leo waiting for me in the shadows.
“How long has he been here?” I ask Jasper behind me.
“He never left.”
I worked a twelve-hour shift, and he stood in the parking lot.
His devotion makes my chest hurt, deeply and sorrowfully.
He looks as haggard as I feel, leaning against his BMW motorcycle. I wonder how many women passed out when they saw him on that thing.
“Will you be riding to the harbor with Mr. Strakh?” Jasper asks.
“Yeah.”
“We’ll follow you there.”
“Give us a minute.” I stride toward my infuriating snow cabin boy, reminding myself he’s only been in the civilized world for four months.
We’ll have setbacks, and we’ll learn from them. It’s part of the process.
But that fresh crease of pain on his forehead is my doing, and it breaks my heart.
“Leo.” I sigh. “What are you doing?”
“I couldn’t stay away. You’re not safe here.” He reaches for my hand. “I need to protect you.”
“Protect me from working? We talked about this.” My voice rises, drawing the attention of passersby. “I can’t do my job under your constant surveillance.”
“Do you know what it’s like? This relentless, clawing fucking need to shackle you to my side and force you back to safety? It rides me, Frankie. Day and night, it rides me so fucking hard I can’t sleep, can’t think. I can’t breathe without you in my sight.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” I pull in a ragged breath. “But you can get help with this. You can see a therapist.”
He doesn’t argue. He just watches me with those strange, haunted eyes as if he’s losing me on a level that’s making him crazed.
I understand their reluctance to talk to someone. Their childhood abuse is so deep and painful. Reliving it again, exposing it, and dissecting it is terrifying and traumatic. They won’t even open up to me about it.
But until they confront it, their relationship with me will never be healthy.
“Let’s go.” He stuffs a helmet on my head and straddles the bike, firing it up.
I climb onto the seat and lock my arms around his muscled torso. The instant he takes off, I’m transported back to the hills. With the wind in my hair and his body vibrating between my legs, I’m on the snow machine again.
Despite my turmoil, I love it.
I love this man, with his untamed temper, his unconditional loyalty, and even his surly protectiveness.
But we need to find a balance.
Something has to give.
The days that follow are more of the same. I work back-to-back shifts, and Leo shows up at the start of every one, sometimes with Kody in tow.
Each time I step into the hospital, I brace myself for the inevitable confrontation. Leo’s eyes track my every movement. He never seems to sleep, his vigilance unyielding. Kody is quieter but no less present, his brooding figure a shadow in the background.
As I step out for a break during my third shift, I find Monty in the lobby, talking to the head of security.
His icy blue eyes meet mine, and I sag.
What now?
I stride over, my voice tight with exhaustion. “What are you doing here?”
“Just checking on things.” He clasps his hands behind him, his attire all business, from the crisp white shirt and suit jacket to the shiny expensive shoes. “Making sure everything’s secure.”