Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 72090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Everything in my body told me to go back to the woods. Back to my everyday life.
But my body refused to listen to my mind.
She opened the door, her eyes widening in surprise to see me standing on her front porch.
“Locke? What are you doing here? Is everything okay?” She stepped outside, closing the door behind her, and leaned against it, facing me. “What’s wrong?”
I looked into her eyes, my heart racing in my chest.
What was wrong with me? I had never been nervous around a woman.
But there was something about Storee that made me feel so fucking nervous.
I studied her face, noticing the way the moonlight reflected off her skin, the way her eyes sparkled in the darkness. I was captivated by the sight of her.
I turned to face the sea, shimmering beneath the moon. “Promise me you won’t work for the Godwins again.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see a slight smile tug at her lips. Her eyes narrowed and she shook her head. “It’s a job. A paycheck. We’ve had this talk over and over.”
I took a step closer, my eyes locked on hers. I could demand. I could threaten. But I wasn’t going to. “Promise me.”
Her lips slightly parted as she sighed. “You can’t control everything, Locke. I’m not the innocent little girl you think I am. You have to trust that I can take care of myself. The Godwins are harmless. Besides, I’m just catering for them. Not like my dad.”
I moved closer. “I need you to promise you’ll keep your distance from that family.”
“Why?”
“I haven’t asked you for anything, but I am now.”
She looked down and took a step closer, placing her hand on my chest, her fingers gently digging into my skin. “It’s just a job.”
“If you need money—”
“I need to earn money,” she interrupted. “But I do promise you that I’ll be careful. I am careful. You have to trust me on that.”
I studied her face, her eyes, searching for any hint of her caving and giving in to my wants, but she looked so strong and steadfast. It was a lost cause, unless I wanted to throw out my dominance card, and I wasn’t up for that fight tonight.
She looked back up at me, her eyes glowing in the moonlight. “I’m not my father.”
“I know.”
“So trust that I can make better decisions than him.”
“I don’t like it.”
She gave me a soft smile. “I know. And I thank you for always watching over me, but—”
Nodding in understanding, I said, “I get it.”
I could feel the heat from her body as I stood close to her, I could see the way her chest rose and fell as she breathed.
Her breath touched my lips as I stared into her eyes. A gust of wind blew her hair across her chest. The smell of lavender and sage surrounded me.
I needed to get out of here. I wasn’t strong enough to resist her another second. I was too weak, too hungry.
One taste of her lips was all I needed.
I needed to pull her close to me and run my fingers through her hair.
I needed her.
But I couldn’t have her.
She was off limits.
Forbidden.
Leave her alone.
Walk away.
I struggled to fight the urge to kiss her, to pull her into my arms, to run my tongue across her lips. The flames of desire licked at my body, heat filled every cell, every nerve. I had to have her.
My body was frozen in place, every muscle tense, my nerves on high alert.
I finally broke our gaze, staring off into the woods. “I have to go.”
Storee stepped forward, reaching up to place her hand on mine. “Are you sure?” She glanced over her shoulder at her door. “It’s not much inside, and not really clean, but uh… you’re welcome to come in and—”
Her touch burned through me, my pulse racing as her fingertips scraped over my skin.
I clenched my jaw as my eyes met hers. I stepped away, breaking her touch, my heart racing. I couldn’t do this, not tonight, not ever.
“It’s late, and I have a lot of work to do still.” I forced a smile, pretending to be calm. Inside, I was dying. “Goodnight, Storee. I’ll see you tomorrow for lunch.”
I turned and walked away, taking a deep breath as I put the trees between us.
I’d made the right choice.
I’d done the right thing.
Staying away was the right choice because she was getting under my skin.
I had to fight the hunger, the need to feel her lips on mine, the burning desire to feel her body in my arms.
Stay away.
I turned and looked at her window as I had done when this night began.
Watching.
My cock was throbbing, my heart hammered in my chest. My mouth was dry, and all I could think about was her naked body, her soft lips, her smooth skin.