Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 167257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 558(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 167257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 558(@300wpm)
Late for my first day at my new job, I’d been rushing down the sidewalk when I heard the pain whimpers and followed them without thought to this moment…to him.
His breathtaking features—medium-brown skin, unusually bright eyes, thick eyebrows with a diagonal line purposely cut in each, full lips framed by a short-boxed beard, neat and intricate cornrows pulled back and secured at his crown while the sides and back of his fine grade hair were shaved into a hide fade—became distinct with each step that brought him closer until there was no doubt in my mind about who he was.
Rowdy Wray.
The third King.
The one who’d ignited my blood every time I studied that photo taken twenty years ago. Every time, I gave into the pull and let my eyes wander to him posing and brimming with arrogance.
I wasn’t brave enough to reach for it now, but I knew his face by now like I knew my own.
Tall.
He’d been the tallest of them even then.
Taller than he should have been at fifteen or sixteen.
Unlike the others, he’d already filled out the white and red Chicago Bulls jersey he’d worn that night. His style had been simple yet, somehow, outshone them all. I told myself it was his height that fascinated me so, but how did that explain the trance I fell into every time?
He hadn’t been smiling so much as smirking. Could it be that even twenty years in the past and frozen in time, he was aware of my unhealthy fascination?
Of course not.
Maybe.
Fuck me, I hope not.
There was no question that this man would ruin me if I let him.
I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but no words came. It didn’t matter, though. He beat me to it.
“What the fuck are you looking at?” It would have been less jarring if he’d slapped me. “You deaf?” he barked when I remained silent. “The fuck you looking at, little girl?”
So that was how it was going to be then.
“Not sure.” I squinted my eyes like I was trying to take a closer look. “The new bitch in cell block D?”
Rowdy gave me a blank look, so I rolled my eyes and turned before taking a few steps away so I could watch the street and put some distance between us.
A moment later, I heard the creak of the pedestrian gate opening and slamming closed behind me.
Roc had given me explicit instructions to wait for him outside for whatever reason. I wanted to make a good impression on my first day, so I agreed to his strange request.
Unfortunately, it was cold, and my jacket was thin, so I said fuck it after only a few seconds and spun on my heel to go inside the warm building to wait.
What was the worst that could happen?
The answer came when I collided with a wall made of hot flesh and hard muscle and smelled like mouthwatering cologne mixed with motor oil.
I blinked. “Oh, my God.” I groaned when I saw it was Rowdy. “You’re still here?” Standing this close, I had to tilt my head back until my skull damn near touched my spine. I wasn’t even short. He was just that tall.
“Aye, you’re rude as fuck.” His slashed brows bunched as he frowned down at me.
“Me?” I pointed at my chest as my lips parted at his audacity. He had some nerve when he was still trying to intimidate me.
“Yeah.” He stepped closer. “You.” Somehow, we ended up in a staring contest that ended when he sighed. “Look, if you’re not here to get your car fixed, then you need to move on. This is a place of business, and loiterers will be shot on sight.”
I followed his blood and oil-stained finger to the bright yellow sign with actual bullet holes in it that read exactly that. I pursed my lips. “I’m pretty sure that’s illegal.”
“Does it look like I give a fuck?”
“Funny. I was about to ask you the same.” I gave him my back again.
“You got a lot of mouth, little girl.” I’d lost my virginity years ago, but I was still too slow to recognize the sensuous drop in his tone before it was too late, before he grabbed my hips in a punishing grip and yanked me to him. “I might just stick my dick in it.”
I felt my nipples harden just before I tore myself away and turned to face him.
All that got me was my chest pressed against his abs when he grabbed me again and forced me right back against his body. This time, I stayed put and wondered if his cologne also worked as some kind of sedative. He smelled divine. At least, I assumed it had to be his cologne since I didn’t think a body wash existed that could overpower the smell of motor oil and exhaust fumes.