Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
“Jesus Christ, baby.” He yanks me back to his warmth. “What did she say to you?”
“She loves you. You were high school sweethearts that planned a life together, got engaged, and Koby’s death set you on a downward spiral.”
He tenses and I brace, scared I’ve said too much.
“Conniving fucking cunt,” he repeats with revulsion, and an icy chill skitters across my skin.
“Let’s go back inside. You’re freezing.”
“I’m not cold, I’m baffled.”
He removes his jacket and drapes it over my shoulders. His scent envelops me, easing some of the tension.
“What are you confused about?”
“That woman inside, her being here, your reaction. Not exactly what I’d expect from a man who loved a woman enough to want to spend his life with her.”
“I didn’t know if I wanted to spend my life with her. She was pushing. But it didn’t feel right.”
“But she said—”
“Conniving is her middle name. She is a devious, selfish bitch.”
“Are you going to explain this or let my mind wonder with all the possibilities?”
“I’ll explain it all tonight when we get back to my house.”
I want to press further, but my conscience knows now is not the time to get into such a serious conversation. It’s not fair to him or his parents. “Okay, but can I assume her being here wasn’t a coincidence?”
“This was by design. She arranged this. Her family’s been nosing around for a few weeks now. I should have had my guard up, been more suspicious of the timing. No one in my family has been in contact with the Strausses since the night we buried Koby.”
My heart aches at the grief filtering in his tone.
“She ambushed you on purpose. No fucking clue why, but it won’t happen again.”
“Jewls, are you out here?” Harley rushes around the corner with Ace at her side. When she sees me, her face fills with relief. “Are you okay?”
I peek up at Major, who has the same question in his features. “Yes. Had a moment of weakness, but it’s passed.”
He yanks me back to his chest, kissing my head.
“Brother, we got her out of here, but not before she slinked over to Jim and Cindy.”
“You should get back inside.” I attempt to wiggle out of his hold.
“We’ll be there in a minute. Can you handle it?” He poses the question to Ace.
“Got you, man. Take your time.”
They leave us alone and Major cups my chin, lifting my face to his. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“Nothing. Like I said, a moment of weakness.”
“You’re a terrible liar.”
“Really.”
“She surprised me.”
“Darla has always been full of surprises. None of them good.”
“We need to get back to the party.”
“Fuck the party. We will stay out here all night if that’s what it takes.”
“Takes for what?”
“For you to tell me the truth. You can paste on that fake smile, but you’re not fooling me. Did she say something else?”
“Something else besides coming face to face with the woman who shared your bed and owned your heart?” To my horror, my voice cracks, and tears spring to my eyes.
“She owned nothing.”
“How can you say that? You were close to committing to her forever. We haven’t exactly had time to share all our history, but that’s huge. After the last few weeks, and this weekend, it hurt me. The pain came from hearing you have a deep romantic history with another woman.”
“Jewls, don’t—”
“No, stop.” I break away enough to get some space. “You wanted to know, here it is. I’m mad at myself. Mad at myself for falling for a man who I stupidly believed was going through the same emotions for the first time! Only to meet the bombshell that looks like she belongs at your side.” I snap my mouth shut, embarrassed by the emotions that came spilling out.
His face goes hard, and he instantly has me back in his grasp. “You’re wrong on many levels. What I feel for you is far beyond what anyone has ever gotten from me. Darla didn’t own my heart or my love. She was my high school girlfriend that used her pussy to manipulate me. When I discovered the truth, I walked and never looked back.”
If he wasn’t squeezing me so tight, I’d wilt under the rage and conviction in his tone.
“Before this night is over, you’ll know the truth. Can you trust me enough to believe that?”
The answer is immediate. “Of course.”
He blows out a breath, then lays his lips on mine. “You are the best thing to come into my life. That woman is not fucking this up for me.”
A bloom of hope grows inside my chest, and I swallow down a sob. My hand threads through his hair, and I kiss him slowly, needing the closeness. For the first time, he gives me control, curling his tongue with mine and following my lead. The last thirty minutes fade from my mind, and the familiar lust takes over. I press my chest to his, loving the deep rumble from his throat.