Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
I'm reaching a second climax. He thrusts. My head hits the bed, his mouth meets mine, and I shatter into brilliant shards of bliss at the same time he does. Time loses meaning. I can't breathe. Pleasure floods me so thoroughly I didn't know my body could hold so much at once. Above me, his blazing eyes meet mine. This time, we don't need words.
He holds me while I fall into the blissful aftermath, still riding the shocks of orgasm. My body tingles, warm and so thoroughly satisfied, I feel as if I could sleep for days and not wake up, as if I need nothing else at all.
I lazily trace circles along his shoulders.
"I imagined this, you know,” he murmurs. I entwine my fingers in his in the dark room. I relish the feel of his skin against mine.
"With me?" I ask, even though I already know the answer to this question.
I need to know.
"Starla," he says, framing my face in his much larger hands. "Of course you. It was always you. Don’t you know it’s always been you?”
Our kiss is salty, laced with the tears I’ve shed. I’ve wanted this for so long, and it’s so much sweeter than I imagined.
Because I know the truth now. It’s only ever been you.
We fall into a deep sleep, wrapped in each other until early the next morning.
This time, the crash that we hear is definitely not a stack of boxes.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Timeo
It was only a matter of time, and we both knew it. Snow doesn't last forever.
Does anything?
I’m dressed in seconds and so is she. We’re both armed in unison. I give her a look of approval.
Good girl.
I’m not pussyfooting around. I throw open the door and head to the main floor. But the people who crashed our party aren’t hiding.
She has her gun in one hand. I have mine as well.
We enter the main floor of the club on high alert, looking for anything out of place. Fortunately, there’s no one or nothing hiding. My brothers are standing right out in the open.
I don't know why it surprises me to see my brothers. And by brothers, I don’t mean one or two but all of them. Fucking all of them.
Sergio, dressed in ski gear like he's about to hit the slopes. Ricco, snow clinging to his beard, wearing a ski jacket and carrying a shovel. Adriano, Quinn's husband, our Tuscan brother we recruited a few years back.
And damn near everyone else.
“You two alright?” Sergio asks, staring right at me.
I don't give a fuck what they think we did. I'm not hiding anymore.
Starla’s mine.
“We’re fine. Lost power, had to dig around for food, spotty fucking cell service. How did you guys get here?"
Starla gasps, fully ignoring Sergio’s punitive stare.
"Oh, my God! There's like an emergency plow thing with all sorts of lights on it outside. Like the kind of stuff you’d use to dig someone out of a snowy ditch after they broke their leg on a ski slope.”
Of course there is. Like my brothers will give up easily.
“Tried to get in touch with you," Sergio says.
“Cell service has been in and out.”
“You sure about that?” Adriano asks.
Seriously, brother? Here? Now?
I glare at him.
He’s the most loyal member of our club. Loyal to the brotherhood…to a fault.
We're the only family he's ever known and sometimes he lets his loyalty color everything.
Does he know something? Fuck. If I could only explain —
None of them know the choices I've had to make. None.
"Don't be an asshole, Adriano,” Starla says, her eyes flashing at him. She's never put up with any of his bullshit.
God, I fucking love her.
Adriano narrows his eyes at her. "You had fun?"
Sergio opens his mouth but Starla dives right into it.
"I haven't brushed my teeth or shaved my legs in days," she says, directing her beautiful eyes right back at him. "But did I get to visit with Timeo? After missing him for months? Of course I did." Sergio flinches but she plows ahead. “And before you get any ideas, we happen to be in the confines of my brother-in-law’s sex club. Ew.”
Nicely played, baby.
Sergio clears his throat, but Ricco smirks.
"We were nervous," Sergio says. "When we couldn't reach you. I didn't know if you had heat, food, whatever the hell.”
“Starla’s a survivor. She knows how to make coffee with grounds and water, for Christ’s sake. Yeah,” I say. “We’re fine.”
Starla’s cheeks flush pink but she holds her head up high.
“Good,” Sergio says. “We’re opening up the club tonight. First.” He looks up at Starla. “Show me how to make that coffee?”
Fifteen minutes later, we’re sitting around the kitchen. I’m still wondering what the fuck crawled up Adriano’s ass. He’s given Ricco shit before, when Ricco was dating his now-wife Daniella. Adriano’s old school and believes arranged marriages in our line of business are the best way to go.