Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
I barely held back from lunging at the damn thing. I unlocked the screen and opened the message from an unknown number.
It’s Jade. Was wondering if you wanted to hang out.
I was quick to text back, saying I was free, and asking if she wanted me to come over.
Actually, I’d rather come to you. Unless you’re busy. Could use to get out of the apartment for a bit.
I never sent someone my address so fast in my life.
“Jade is heading over,” I told Eddie, getting a knowing smile out of the man.
“You sure there are no science experiments going on in your room?” he asked.
It was an old joke the guys all still shot at me. Even though it had been a long time since I was that big of a slob.
“My room is fine,” I insisted. “But I might go change my sheets,” I decided.
And pick up the clothes that hadn’t made it into the laundry basket. Do a quick dust.
“Go on then. Spruce the place up. I got this from here.”
With that, I did. Getting the place as neat as possible, checking that there were condoms in the nightstand, then doing a quick change of clothes while I was at it.
I made it down the stairs just as there were headlights pulling into the driveway, creeping up the line of bikes, then parking.
I tried to keep myself inside, to not seem too eager. But, fuck it. I was eager.
I met her halfway to the door, but stiffened as soon as I got a look at her.
“Doll, the fuck?” I asked, reaching out toward her face.
She flinched back. It was a quick gesture that she quickly tried to shake off.
But I saw that shit.
And the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.
“What happened to your face?” I asked, trying to keep my tone calm.
But there was a nasty cut on her cheek, her nose was swollen with some dried blood still in her nostrils, and there was a nice shiner starting under her right eye.
“I slammed face-first into the wall trying to get into the building tonight,” she said, rolling her eyes to play it off. But there was a false note in her voice. “Then I went and got myself looked at,” she added, trying to move the conversation away from the ‘walked into the wall’ bullshit. “And then I decided I just wanted to get out for a while. So here I am,” she said, forcing a really fake smile.
This was uncharted territory for me.
On the one hand, I wanted to force her to tell me what really happened.
On the other, I didn’t want to piss her off or push her away if she didn’t want to tell me.
Maybe the best way to play this was to just let her have her way. For the moment. Get her comfortable and calm. Then ask again. Maybe when she was all snuggly after a few orgasms.
But I was gonna get some fucking answers, damnit.
“Well, I’m glad you thought to come see me,” I said, sliding my hand up her jaw, then tilting her head up, so I could lean down and press a light kiss to her lips.
I didn’t want to accidentally bump her nose if it was broken. I knew that pain pretty well.
But the second I tried to pull away, Jade’s hands snaked up my chest to grab my cut, pulling me close by it, and dragging the kiss out.
My arms went around her, pulling her close as I let her take the lead, take what she clearly needed from me right then.
“Is something cooking?” she asked as she pulled away.
“Eddie is cooking,” I told her.
“At this hour?”
“He likes to cook when the guys have company. Or, well, anytime anyone is hanging out around here. There’s burritos right now. And there will be roasted chicken and veggies in about forty minutes.”
“God, that sounds good,” she said, her hand going to her stomach like she hadn’t eaten in ages.
“Long day?” I asked.
“Yeah, I guess. Haven’t been sleeping well. Then I went to an art gallery tonight. Hence the extra effort,” she said, waving down at herself.
She was dressed more subdued than usual in a little black dress. There were some colorful flowers embroidered on the hem, but otherwise, it was very bland and dark for her usual style. Even her hair was different, pulled up into a fancy updo instead of long and loose.
“You look nice,” I said. “But I think I like you in color more.”
“Me too,” she said, smiling. “But this was one of those fancy galleries. They wouldn’t have let me in wearing a crop top and floral skirt.”
“Then they would be missing out,” I said, moving to stand beside her and hooking an arm around her hips. “Ready to meet the rest of my brothers?” I asked.