Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
“Hi,” she muttered.
His hands flexed on her, sending more impulses of electricity through her to pool at her core. He didn’t speak right away, just stared. The intensity such she nearly squirmed from the power.
“You.”
His voice was deep and rasped, remnants of his being sick and probably just because he was graced with a sexy as sin voice, created for getting the panties off women.
“Me.” She blinked. Wasn’t sure he did. “Since we’ve established that, who are you?”
At her back one of the dogs shifted and she was content she was safe. Safer then she probably realized because he didn’t strike her as the man who would hurt her. Not with how protective he’d sounded earlier when he had asked if she was in danger.
“John.”
She cocked a brow. “Please don’t tell me your last name is Smith.”
A quirk of his bow shaped lips was his only reaction. “No. Mattheson.” He inched closer, a minute distance really but given her visceral response to him, it was monumental.
“Okay then, John Mattheson, what the fuck were you doing in that river and why are you naked?”
Those eyes of his turned to molten steel. “Usually if I’m naked in bed with a woman, she’s well aware as to why I’m naked.”
“Slow down there, cowboy, I don’t think you’re well enough to ride this. I was talking about you being naked in that freezing water. And the burn marks and other wounds I took care of for you.”
A change came over him, like the memories were streaming in without a damn to slow them. His gaze hardened and she saw how capable of a fighter he would be.
* * *
αβ
* * *
John racked his brain as he tried to make sense of it all. He recalled the torture, the beatings, the questioning. He even remembered this woman dragging him from the river. Somewhat even a large dog gripping his shoulder. Part of him wanting her to leave him, another grateful, yet mostly distrustful. Was this yet another plan to get him to lower his guard?
He didn’t believe so. Something about her made him trust her. A large head looked at him over her shoulder. And those big ass damn dogs.
Still, none of this explained how he’d managed to get in bed with her and have his hands under her shirt, touching her soft-as-silk, tempting-as-hell skin. Lord knew he didn’t want to let go. Not in any capacity. Hell, it would be just fine with him if they got closer yet. She could lose her clothing and he could…
His cock jerked to life and he froze, hoping she wasn’t offended by it pressing into her. Her brown eyes widened slightly but she didn’t pull away. Maybe she’s as attracted to me as I am her.
Not well enough to ride this. Maybe not, but he was sure game to give it a try.
“Who are you exactly?” His throat was sore and his voice on the far side of recognizable.
“Leena Parsons.”
Nope, the name didn’t ring a bell to him. Good, bad, or otherwise.
“Where are we?”
“Six hours, give or take a bit, from the rest area where I found you. Or rather where Argo found you.”
God, her lips were distracting. He wanted to taste them, see if they were as sweet as they appeared. Plump and full of some drugging intoxication.
“Argo?”
“GSD sitting over there watching you.”
He turned his head and found the dog staring steadfastly at him. John glanced back to her. “Him I remember.” She didn’t look all that upset he remembered the dog but not her. In fact, those desirable lips curved up in a smile.
“He’s a hard one to forget once you meet him. Are you feeling okay? You’ve had a fever for the past week.” She yawned and shifted.
He dug his fingers into the flesh of her waist, keeping her close. He didn’t want to let her up. Nor did he want to leave her there.
“I’ve had a fever?”
“Yes. Which explains perfectly why I’m in bed with you.”
“Does it now?” He flexed his fingers along her waist. God, I want to explore her. Curves like this should be outlawed.
“Perfectly.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Care to share?”
“After a week of taking care of you, I came in to check once more and you tugged me down onto the bed. I was so exhausted, I crashed. See—” she licked her lips—“perfectly explained.”
“I’ve been out for a week.”
“Eight days.”
He tried to clear his thoughts and make sense of everything. Unfortunately, his fever had wiped some of the memories. At least the ones that could help him make sense of what had happened.
Tiny pieces began to click together. His energy was nil, although he was up for following through with the woman lying in bed with him.
“I should get going, have some other things to catch up on.”
Her words were slightly breathless, and he shifted closer to her. “Are you saying, I’m keeping you from getting things done?”