Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 138683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
“It was nothing.” Another faked smile.
Bullshit.
This wasn’t the girl I knew. Not even close.
“Little Dove.” I said it soft and urging because shit, I knew she needed someone right then.
A supporter.
A friend.
“Let me take you home.”
She cracked at that, and she turned her head away and looked into the distance like it could cover her distress, though I could tell she was tripping toward a breakdown.
Her shoulders hitched and shook as she tried to keep the sobs silent that wracked through her being.
Possession wound me tight, this sense that I needed to gather her up and hold her. Promise her it would be okay.
Such a goddamn fool, but still, I slowly erased the rest of the space, trying to discount the way the air sizzled as I got closer.
Reaching out, I took her by the chin and prodded her to look at me.
Bad move.
Fire flamed and lapped, and those eyes were staring at me, where I towered over her like I might be someone I was not.
“Tell me, Tessa. He did this?”
He had.
Of course, he had.
Karl was a piece of shit. I just needed her to confirm it, and I’d be glad to take care of the rest.
She sucked in a shattered breath. “I’ve put up with so much crap from him, Milo, but tonight, he actually hit me, and that was it. It’s over. It’s over, and I have no idea what I’m going to do.”
Thank fuck.
Somehow, I managed not to shout it toward the heavens.
The moon lit the angles of her face. Her nose and jaw were sharp, but her lips were soft and trembling. “I was so tired, Milo. So tired of him treating me the way he did. So tired of his demands. So tired of his control. I couldn’t take it any longer. I couldn’t.”
“That’s good, Little Dove.”
“No, it’s not.” A sob hitched in her throat, and her gaze seemed disoriented, as if whatever had gone down tonight had just caught up to her. “I have no idea what I’m going to do.”
“You’re going to be free, that’s what.”
Pain echoed through her features.
“How could I just let him down like that? How could I be so selfish?”
The words were slurred, and she swayed a bit to the side. Clearly, the effects of the martinis she’d been sucking back earlier tonight still glided through her bloodstream.
My hands went to her waist so I could hoist her from the rock and onto her feet.
It brought her too close.
Energy sparked through the connection. I ground my teeth to tame it and angled my head down closer to hers, trying to break through the disorder that had her trapped in a storm.
“Let him down? You don’t owe Karl anything, Tessa.”
Tears streamed fast down her cheeks, and guilt contorted her face. “Not Karl. I hate him. I hate him,” she stammered. “He hit me. I can’t believe he hit me. That was it, Milo. I cracked. I couldn’t do it anymore.”
It was like she was apologizing to the world, and there was nothing I could do but sweep her into my arms, holding her tiny body against my chest.
I was slammed with her presence. With her scent. Strawberries and cream and something far too sweet.
“It’s okay.” It was a gruff promise.
“It’s not,” she whimpered. “How could I be so selfish, Milo? How could I do this to him? How could I do it? After everything?”
I had no idea who he was, though it was clear she wasn’t talking about Karl. Clear whatever she was going through held a profound pain.
I understood that kind of pain far too well.
This went so much deeper than being about the asshole I wanted to pound into the ground until he no longer existed. A thousand questions burned through my mind, but the girl was in no shape to be answering them then.
“Going to take you home,” I rumbled at the side of her head.
It was a horrible idea, but I couldn’t force myself to come to an alternate one.
She buried her face up under my beard. “I don’t have a home.”
I tightened my hold. “My home, Tessa.”
Trying to keep my cool, I carried her in the direction of my truck.
“Don’t worry about me, Milo. You don’t have to take me to your place. I’ve got this.” I felt her resolute nod against the panging in my chest.
I held her so tight in my giant arms I was afraid I might crush her. “You do have this, Little Dove. Know you do. But let me help you tonight, okay?”
Curling in deeper, she whispered, “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I’m sure.”
“That’s what friends are for, right?” she hiccupped, her heart beating so hard I could feel it thrumming against mine.
“That’s right. That’s what friends are for.”
I carried her to the passenger side and settled her onto the seat, holding my breath because I kept getting assaulted by her scent as I leaned in to help her get buckled.