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)
“Have those guys bothered you any?” I ask, changing the subject.
Her expression turns to stone. I watch with a mix of fascination and annoyance as Penny erects her famous wall. “What guys?”
I nearly roll my eyes, because she knows exactly what guys I’m referring to. “Eli. Grayson. Paxton. The other dipshit who was at that party.”
“Aaron.”
“Yeah, him.”
“Eli transferred schools,” she says, unable to meet my stare.
“Why?”
“I…heard…he was suicidal.”
I heard the same thing. Everyone was whispering about it at basketball practice. How his parents were trying to keep it hush-hush, but they were trying to get him help.
“Hmm.” I study her for a moment. “Did Cal help?”
She gapes at me. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Jace?”
Her eyes flash, giving me my answer. Leaning forward, I grip her jaw in my hand, pulling her closer to me. My lips press to hers for a soft kiss.
“Your eyes don’t lie, Penny.” I implore her with my eyes to tell me what happened. If we’re going to move forward and be something, I need the truth from her.
She surprises me by climbing into my lap and straddling me. Her touch is delicate as she skates her fingers over my scars. “Just practicing for when I’m a cop one day. All we did was give him a taste of his own medicine.” She kisses my lips before pulling away. “Jace punched him in the face. While he was knocked out, I wrote terrible things about him. Then, I took pictures, sending them to everyone in his contact list. I made it seem like he felt guilty for what he did and considered taking his life.” She frowns. “Please don’t be mad.”
I grip her ass, squeezing it hard, to draw her close to me. “All I ever ask is for the truth, Penny. That wall you put up can be for everyone else, but not me. You want us to be together? Then I need this from you. Your truths don’t hurt. It’s the lies that do. That fucker deserved what he got and bringing Jace as backup was smart.” I grin at her. “I told you that you were a Hoodlum. Charlotte’s gonna have to make you your very own shirt and—”
“Stop talking,” she says before her lips cover mine.
The kiss starts out sweet and a bit playful, but the more I taste her sweetness that I’ve craved for the past couple of months, the more ravenous I am for her. My tongue dominates hers, tasting every part of her and devouring each of her soft moans. I’m seconds from ripping off her shirt when she pulls away.
“Terrence, listen to me,” she says, her words firm and unyielding. “I told you I’m not good at relationships. Or people for that matter. I’ll mess up sometimes. It’s my personality. But don’t think for one second it’s ever because I want to hurt you. That will never be a reason.”
“Baby—”
“I’m not done,” she whispers. “We had a fight. It happens. I messed up and I’m sorry, but please don’t do that to me ever again. I can’t take it.”
I hate that the few times I’ve seen her cry have been related to me. Gently, I swipe away the tear from her cheek.
“We make the choice to be together, Penny, and I’m all in. I’m not the man I was before that car accident. Every second in this life matters.” I kiss her wet cheek. “There’s no time for grudges or anger. My life has had a big chunk missing since we broke up. I’m sorry it took me so long to wrap my head around what you did, but I did. And now you’re here. We’re together. I’ll do better next time.”
“I will too,” she assures me. “Promise me you won’t give up on me, because I sure as hell will never give up on you.”
“I promise,” I say and mean it. Now that she’s in my arms again, everything feels right. Better than right. It feels perfect. “Goddam, I missed you, woman.”
Our mouths fuse together once more. This kiss is frantic, mixed with emotion, apologies, and heat. Tonight I’ll make her mine. It’s been a long time coming.
“Spend the night in my bed with me.” It’s less of a question and more of a plea.
Her lips curl into a sweet smile that’s so rare, all I can do is admire it with awe. “I plan to. And any other nights you’ll have me.”
“What if I want all of them?”
“They’re yours.”
“Penny…” My voice is hoarse as I run my palms up the outside of her arms to her neck and then to cradle her head. “The reason I was so pissed and hurt…” I draw her to me, resting her forehead to mine. “It’s because I love you. I fell for you the second you drew me into that bathroom and forced me to face what the accident had done to me. You made me laugh, baby. You dragged me out of my own personal hell. I felt attached to you then in ways I couldn’t understand, but now I do. It’s because I knew you were mine. I loved you and didn’t even understand what that meant.”