Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 99766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
White noise.
I keep it at a pleasant, soft volume before setting it back down on the table. With one last glance at her, I turn off the light. Once we’re bathed in darkness, I reach over and find her hand. Her fingers thread with mine.
“I’m sorry about what happened,” I murmur. “If you want to—”
“Stop talking.” Her words are barely whispered.
“Yeah, babe. Okay.”
The bed moves as she curls herself around me, her palm splaying out over my bare abs. I hug her to me, kissing her wet hair. I’m convinced she’s asleep until I feel the bed move.
A slight tremble.
The softest, most heart-breaking sob I’ve ever heard.
Hot teardrops pool on my chest where her head is resting.
Those fuckers will pay for making the tough, unbreakable Penny English cry. I will hurt them so fucking bad for this.
“Go to sleep, lil’ slugger.”
She sniffles and then does another rare Penny thing.
Laughs.
It’s then I remember that no matter what anyone does to Penny, she’ll come out swinging. They might have made her cry, but they did not destroy this girl.
No one on this planet has that power.
She’s going to be okay because she’s Penny fucking English.
Penny
Noises.
I hate them.
Breathing. Coughing. Sneezing.
Tapping. Snapping. Crunching. Chewing.
But, when it comes to Terrence, I don’t hate his noises at all. The soft, steady sound of his breath filling his lungs and then quietly exhaling is more soothing than the white noise he put on for me.
Something about that small act of turning on my calming sounds has me wanting to hold onto him and never let him go.
I never really thought of myself as someone who relied on another person until Terrence showed up tonight. The moment I saw him, I felt immediate relief and gratitude. I felt safe and protected and cared for. I was terrified and infuriated, but as soon as he pulled me in his arms, I let go of everything. Just handed my troubles to him and let him take care of them.
I’d never understood Hollis and Roan or Charlotte and Cal. I thought my siblings were strange for wanting to tie themselves to someone and stay there. To me, everyone is basically annoying to some degree.
Not Terrence.
Sure, he teases me and pushes at my buttons, but it’s in a way I like.
I finally get my brother and sister now. Because the way they need their men is the same way I need this man.
It scares the crap out of me because I’ve never wanted anyone. Not like this. I found people attractive, but not enough to want to kiss or date them. Terrence is more than a good-looking guy who’s been through physical hell and back. He’s caring and gentle and funny. And I like his kisses and touches.
I’m not sure how much time has passed, but I’m starting to get antsy. I want to tell Terrence that he’s mine too. Surely if he’s allowed to claim me, I can claim him back. I know I don’t express myself well and he probably thinks I’m a bitch, but I do want him.
Since he’s asleep, I take a moment to explore his muscular chest with my fingertips. Each rounded curve or dip between muscles. The smattering of chest hair between his pecs. Hard nipples. My fingers stray lower, marveling over his abs that seem like they’re cut from stone. His naval gets attention too, and then I tease my finger along the trail of hair that leads into his shorts.
My palm ghosts over him, lower, barely caressing his cock. I’m fascinated how the softest of my touch has him hardening. His cock seems giant, though I don’t have anything to compare it to. He lets out a curse when I wrap my hand around it over his shorts.
“Penny,” he grinds out. “Whatcha doing, baby?”
“Feeling you.”
“You’ve been through a lot tonight…”
Anger shoots up my spine, making my ears burn. “You think because those assholes touched me that I don’t want to be touched by you? If anything, Terrence, I’d much rather distract myself with good things with you than let the nightmares of what-ifs consume me.”
“Penny—”
“Stop talking.” I grip his dick harder. “Did you know I have the words ‘virgin slut’ and ‘ice cunt’ and ‘Charlotte’s whore sister’ written in Sharpie on my fucking boobs?”
“Those motherfuckers—”
“I said stop talking,” I snap. “They touched me. I know they did. There’s a drawing of a fucking crab on my thigh.” Tears burn at my eyes, but I refuse to let them spring out. “They took my bra. My panties were gone. I don’t know if they had their fingers in me or on me. It’s maddening to not know. So excuse the fuck out of me if I want to be touched in a way that feels good. In a way I can control. Something I want.”
Silence fills the room.