Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 32618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 163(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 163(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
David gave her one last lingering look before turning and facing Gerald again. “Get your sorry fucking ass up.”
Gerald complied right away but not without groans. “If you so much as breathe in Gillian’s direction, I’ll hunt you down and slit your throat.” David took a menacing step toward Gerald, and the other man took one back. “I’ll fucking kill you and bury your body where no one will ever find you.” David took another step toward him. “Now, get the fuck out of here, and don’t you even think about looking at Gillian on your way out.”
Gerald hauled ass out of there, kept his head low, and didn’t look at her.
David turned and faced Gillian, and slowly, she watched the anger melt away.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice deep, low. All she could do was stand there, emotions coursing through her body, her hands shaking from the aftermath. He’d come to her rescue again, saved her from God knew what, and she didn’t know what to say.
Gillian should have felt fear consuming her, just like it had all those years ago. But right now, she didn’t feel that paralysis. She only felt the love she had for David, and the fact she didn’t want him to leave.
“Are you okay, sweetheart?” he asked and moved a step toward her but stopped, as if worried she might reject him, maybe? He was looking her over, but it wasn’t heated or sexual. He was making sure she was okay.
“I’m okay,” she whispered, and before she knew what she was doing, she threw herself in his arms, needing his strength and love.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, and all she could feel was this ever-present warmth in her, the need to just forget about anything and everything that didn’t have to do with them.
“I could have killed him for touching you, Gillian. I could have broken every bone in his body.”
“You just about did,” she whispered, shaken up, but thankful David was here.
“I wanted to do so much more, baby.” He lifted his hand, about to touch her cheek, but curled his fingers into his palm and stopped himself from touching her.
“Thank you for being here. You’re always saving me, David.”
He uncurled his hand and finally did touch her cheek then. “You never have to thank me.” He smoothed his thumb along her cheek, wiping away the tear she hadn’t even known she’d shed. No matter what had happened between them, she loved David, knew he’d always be there for her.
Some things just needed to be worked out.
Gillian couldn’t have a life without David in it.
Chapter
Twenty-One
He sat across from Gillian at her kitchen table, wanting to say a hell of a lot, but wanting to hold her, comfort her even more. It had been hours since all that shit with Gerald had gone down.
Although he was pretty fucking sure that asshole would never show his face around her again, not if he wanted to live, David wouldn’t leave her alone.
What she didn’t know, might never know, was how much power she actually held over him. He was a territorial and possessive bastard when it came to Gillian, but for her, he’d fall to his knees and worship the ground she walked on.
For her, he’d kill without even a second thought.
“I can leave if you want?” he asked, more for her benefit than an actual guarantee he would. He wanted her to have the space she needed, but he was a protective fucker when it concerned her.
Thank fuck she shook her head.
“I don’t want that. Even after what just happened, I want to talk about it all.”
He knew what she meant.
“You want to talk about the fact I followed you for this whole time.”
She nodded and looked down at her hands. “I think I now understand why you did what you did, even if it wasn’t right.”
“It wasn’t right, Gillian.” She looked up at him after he spoke. It may have been pretty insane, but David didn’t regret what he’d done. “But I can’t say I’d change any of it.” She didn’t change her expression, so he pressed on. “After Brian attacked you, something changed in me. I became obsessed with the fact I needed you safe, and it was that obsession that had my love for you growing, had this possessive side rising up so strongly I couldn’t stop it. I didn’t want to.” He saw her throat work as she swallowed. “In my head, me following you was going to ensure you were safe and that another Brian asshole wouldn’t hurt you.” He reached out and took her hand, hoping she didn’t shy away. His heart beat faster when she let him touch her.
“I won’t lie and say what you did wasn’t wrong, David.”
He nodded. He couldn’t deny that.
“And you should have been honest with me.”