Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Seeing her sit across from me at the picnic table in front of Slim’s Shady Cones, I can’t help but notice how much she’s evolved into the woman she is today. Sure, there’s an innocence in her big amber eyes, but I don’t think that’ll go away with age. It’s just a part of her. One of the reasons I’m so drawn to protecting her—to protecting that innocence. Aside from not being eighteen yet and somewhat sheltered by her brother, Roux is very much a woman. And I’m not just talking physical appearances, though when I saw her the first time after three years at OHP, I was absolutely drawn to her womanly body.
Something about her calls to the male parts of me that crave to pull her to me and keep her there. She’s not a piece of ass to be used and tossed away. Roux owns so many bits of my heart that it may as well belong to her. What started as a bond between friends—albeit an age gap—has evolved into something deeper. Something physical. Romantic.
I feel like shit for thinking it, but Roux and I have been tumbling toward an “us” since I saw her for the first time in the flesh after my release. An instant chemistry. A connection that, threaded with our already unique bond, has become something fiery and unstoppable. I want to pin her down, strip her, and claim her as mine. It takes everything in me to hold back from doing just that.
“What?” Roux asks, one corner of her lips quirking up on one side. “Do I have something on my face?”
She absently darts her cherry-stained tongue out to lick across her bottom lip. I track the movement as curls of desire wind their way straight to my cock.
“Nope,” I grunt. “Everything looks perfect.”
Her cheeks blush and she smiles.
I’m craving to pull her over the table and into my lap when my phone rings, thwarting my nefarious agenda.
“Hello?”
“Hey, sweetie,” Samantha purrs into the phone. “What are you doing?”
I glance over at Roux and let out a sigh. “Nothing. What’s up?”
“I need to see you.”
“When?”
“Right now.” She lets out a breathy laugh.
“I can’t. I’m busy.” I zero in on the way Roux wraps her lips around the spoon. “Really busy.” Because I could watch this all damn day.
“Doing what?” Samantha huffs. “Don’t worry, I’ll meet you at your place.”
She hangs up and I pocket my phone, unease slicking over me like oil.
“Is everything okay? Who was that?” Roux asks as she finishes up her snow cone.
“My attorney, Samantha.”
“What did she want?”
“To see me.”
“About what?”
I shrug. “You ready to go?”
She frowns at my blowing her off but nods. We toss our trash and climb back into the Camaro. In ten minutes, we’re back at her apartment. I can tell she’s pissed because she bolts from the car, storming up the steps. I climb out and stalk after her. She’s barely made it inside the apartment and dumped her bag when I grab her from behind, pulling her to my chest.
“What’s wrong?” I demand, nuzzling my nose in her hair.
She shrugs, giving me a taste of my own medicine.
“Did it ever occur to you,” I murmur as I pull her hair off her shoulder and swoop it around to the other side so I can have access to her neck, “that I don’t tell you stuff because it’s better for you that way?”
“Did it ever occur to you that maybe I don’t want to be left out of the loop when it comes to you?” she bites back.
I press a kiss to her neck. My hands settle at her waist. “I just want to keep you safe.”
She swivels in my arms so that her perky tits are pressed to my chest. Her palms skim over my shoulders, up my neck, and into my hair where she threads her fingers.
“Maybe I don’t want to be safe. Maybe I just want to be with you and know all the dirty, ugly details.” She pulls my head down until we’re just inches apart. “I’m a big girl, Jordy. I can handle a helluva lot more than you think I can.”
Fuck, I want to kiss her.
So much.
My gaze skims over her wet, red lips, wondering how she would taste if I devoured her right now. Like cherries. “Roux…”
She stands on her toes, her lips brushing against mine for a ghost of a peck. I slide my fingers into her hair, angling her head to where I can finally claim her. It’s not smart. It’s really fucking stupid. But right now? I don’t care. Her lips part and I meet them with my own lips. I don’t have time to swipe my tongue across hers when someone bangs on the door.
Roux squeaks out, nearly jumping out of her skin. I let out a groan as I pull away from my girl to answer the door.