Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
“What happened to your parents?” Kelly asks quietly, and I decide to throw caution to the wind and stretch out on the bed beside her.
She’s still tucked under the blankets while I’m lying on top, so that makes this totally not sexual. At least that’s what I’m telling myself.
“My birth mom died right after I was born, and I went into the system. My bio dad was in and out of jail until he died a few years back. Nothing special.”
“Sounds familiar.” She turns on her side to face me, and we stare at each other for a long moment. “Will you tell me who you had to call earlier?”
“My foster brother Maxim. He did some data work for me in the past, and I asked him for help. He made it look like the transaction took place. I wasn’t going to give your father the money, but he made it look like I did. It gives you some breathing room.”
As if on cue, she lets out a deep sigh. “Thank you. For all of this.”
“I also called Bruce and Katherine. I told them the truth about you and Paul.”
“Oh no, Luke, you—”
“It needed to happen,” I tell her and reach out to take her hand. I can see the worry in her eyes, but I rub my thumb over her wrist, and she relaxes. “They need to be able to protect themselves from what Paul has gotten you into.”
“I know you’re right, I just hate for them to think badly of me. They were so kind, and all I did was lie to them.” She bites her bottom lip before her eyes meet mine. “Does that make me a terrible person?”
“No.” I pull her closer to me and cup her cheek. “You were doing what you needed to do to survive. You were protecting Marco and yourself and that’s never wrong.”
“You’re being too nice to me.”
I shake my head as I brush the soft skin along her jaw. “I have a feeling it’s been so long since someone cared for you that you’ve forgotten what it’s like.”
“Maybe so.” She looks into my eyes, and there’s something that passes between us. Something earth-shattering.
“If you let me, I’ll remind you.”
“Luke,” she whispers before I place my lips on hers.
This time when we kiss it’s so tender it feels like I’m sealing my words between us. It’s a vow I’m placing in her soul and one that I’ll honor every day of my life. I’m not sure how this happened so fast, but the second I saw her, I knew she was the one. No one before her has ever made me feel this way, and I already know that I’ll go the rest of my life only loving her. It’s too soon to say it out loud, but I can show her.
“Let me kiss you,” I say against her lips, and she smiles.
“Isn’t that what you’re doing?”
My lips trail down her neck as my hand slides to her bare thigh. “Let me kiss you everywhere.”
Chapter Eleven
KELLY
“Luke.” I whisper his name as he hooks his fingers into my panties. There’s a low hum from deep inside of me that starts to turn into a throb. My panties stick to my sex shamelessly, and I want to press my thighs together. I’m not sure if it’s to hide it or to help relieve some of the ache that’s quickly building.
“Need the words, sweetness.” The fingers he has inside of my panties slowly stroke back and forth, waiting for me to give myself over to him. “Give them to me.”
Can I? I want to so badly. He kisses my neck again, only this time he opens his mouth and sucks. His tongue teases me at the same time, and I’m done for.
“Yes!” He smiles against my neck. “Please, Luke.”
“Good girl.” Luke kisses the spot he latched on to, and I wonder if he left a mark. What does it mean if I hope he did? I don’t get much time to wonder as his big body slides down mine.
He tugs my panties off in the process and then goes for my shirt next. It’s not until I’m left completely naked in his bed within seconds that I realize what his intentions are.
My teeth sink into my bottom lip when Luke drops to his knees between my thighs. I’ve never been naked in front of someone else, and the way his eyes roam over me is like a physical touch. The way he’s looking at me with so much desire makes me relax.
Then his eyes shift, and his expression changes. Luke’s dark brow furrows, and then he tenses. He’s angry, but when I try to cover myself, his movements are quicker, and he stops me.
“Don’t.” He gently pulls my hands back, and as he does he turns his head to kiss the bruise on my forearm.