Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 14546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 73(@200wpm)___ 58(@250wpm)___ 48(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 73(@200wpm)___ 58(@250wpm)___ 48(@300wpm)
All right, Maddy. It’s now or never.
I stand up and smooth the skirt down my legs, and as he gets closer, I position myself in front of him. I’m sure my dad’s inside, but all I can do is hope he isn’t looking out the window. I know he won’t interfere. Not today. There’s no doubt he knows how I feel about Joshua Pierce, and even if Iron is a little rough around the edges, my dad likes him, respects him.
I put my hand on Iron’s hard chest as he’s about to pass me, and I look up at his face. He doesn’t show any reaction except for the slight tightening of his jaw.
“Hey, Josh, I mean Iron,” I tell him, still not used to calling him that.
He pulls his sunglasses off and slides them on top of his head. His eyes crinkle. “I told you that you can call me Josh when it’s just us.”
I nod my head. Suddenly my tongue feels very thick, and getting the words out of what I want to say is harder than I ever thought.
He cocks his head to the side questioningly. “You okay?”
I nod my head, clear my throat, curl my fingers into his chest, and try again. “So I’ve been thinking…”
2
Iron
I’m late leaving the shop because of Honey. She’s a stripper at the club and she’d already stopped me this morning when I was leaving the club, but I guess she thought stopping by the shop at lunch time at my work is allowed.
“I thought we finished this conversation this morning, Honey. I’m not interested in whatever you’re offering.” I keep walking to my bike, but as soon as I sit down she’s leaning toward me, her hands on my handlebars.
Why can’t this fuckin’ woman take a hint?
I’ve been interested in a sweet butt. I’m only interested in one woman and she’s off limits.
Honey takes a step toward me and I hold my hand up at her. “Stop. It’s not happening.”
She glares at me with cold eyes. Her show of emotion is just that, though: a show. Honey doesn’t love me or care about me. She cares about the status it would give her to be on the arm of an Exiled Guardian member. Hell, I don’t even know her real name, only her stripper name.
She smirks at me, putting her hand on her hip. “I’m gonna fuck every guy at the club, Iron. You’re nothing special.”
I laugh. “I thought you already fucked them all.” And I’m pretty sure she has, except me and the other guys with ol’ ladies. “Look, be mad if you want, but I’m not interested.”
She grabs for me and I jerk away, not wanting her to touch me. But that doesn’t sway her. “Let’s just have some fun, huh?”
“As I said, I’m not interested. Take care.” I shrug her off and pull out of the lot toward town. I go faster than normal trying to get there for our lunch, but I know the real reason I’m in a hurry. I want to see Maddy. Any time I come into town I make a point to stop in the hardware store for something. I may not be able to have her, but I can at least keep my eye on her.
As luck would have it, when I pull onto Main Street, Maddy is sitting on the bench in front of her dad’s store. I park in front, and even though I’m totally aware of her, I still try to keep my poker face. Luckily, I have my sunglasses on, and she won’t be able to see what I’m thinking.
The closer I get, I notice what she’s wearing and today she’s all dressed up. She has on a short skirt that shows off her shapely thighs and a v-neck shirt, and even though I’m not close enough, I’m already imagining her rounded breasts and the deep v of her cleavage. She’s a curvy woman, and just looking at her is painful, I want her so bad. Instantly, my heart drops into my stomach and I take a deep breath. I knew this day would come. I knew that no matter how many people I told she was hands off, someone would eventually get balls enough to go against me. She’s innocence and sunshine. There’s not a man alive that would look at her and not want her.
I park my bike, clench my fists, and start walking down the street. I want to ask her what she’s doing, but I know what I’m feeling right now is not going to be able to be contained. With intentions to say hi and keep going, I’m surprised when she stands up and moves in front of me.
Her hand goes to my chest, and I suck in a deep breath. Fuck me. Her touch is hot and it feels like she’s branding me.