Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 354(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 354(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
There’s nothing hotter than a man willing to kill to protect me and no stopping my heart from caring about him.
He climbs into the SUV and places a bag with snacks and sodas on my lap.
A smile trembles around my lips as I look at him. He starts the engine, then pauses to place a hand on the side of my neck.
For a moment, he stares deep into my eyes. “You okay?”
I nod, my smile widening. “Thank you for the comfort food.”
“You’re welcome, Cami.”
I love when he calls me Cami.
He lets go of me and puts the vehicle in drive.
During the two-hour trip, I eat one packet of chips after the other, and by the time we pull into the small town, I’m finding it hard to keep my eyes open and drift off to sleep
I stir awake when Max turns off the engine, and prying my eyes open, I only see darkness around us.
“Where are we?” I ask, my voice hoarse with sleep.
“A cabin in Forȇt d’Orient nature reserve.”
He gets out of the SUV and comes around the front of the vehicle to open my door. I pull the duffle bag from the floor and hand it to him before cautiously picking up the machine gun. I hand the weapon over to him, then quickly gather all the empty chip packets and wrappers.
I move my feet to climb out, but Max says, “Wait, you’re barefoot. Give me a second.”
I watch him walk into the darkness, and a minute later, lights go in the cabin, breaking the darkness around us. The structure is small, with large trees at the back of it. I can’t make out much more of our surroundings.
Max comes back to the SUV, and before I know what’s happening, he slips an arm behind my back and another beneath my knees. I’m lifted bridal style out of the car and quickly wrap my arms around his neck.
He kicks the vehicle’s door shut, and every powerful step he takes vibrates through my body.
Never before has a man carried me like this.
Yeah, I’m not going to lie. I’m liking this a little too much.
Once we enter the cabin, he carefully places me on my feet, and I glance around. The space is small but cozy. A single couch is positioned against a wall. There’s no TV.
“It’s not much, but it will have to do,” he murmurs as he watches my reaction to his safe house.
There’s a tiny kitchen, and from where I’m standing, I can see the bedroom and bathroom.
“As long as it has running water, I’m good to go.” I smile at Max. “Thank you for bringing me here.”
His eyes rest on me for a while, then he asks, “How are you holding up?”
I shrug and walk toward the bedroom, where a double bed and worn desk occupy most of the space. “I’m just tired.” I glance at the couch again. “Do you have an extra blanket?”
He shakes his head. “This place only has the bare necessities. I’ll go into town tomorrow to get supplies.” He walks closer to me. “You take the bedroom. I’ll sleep on the couch.”
There’s no way his body is going to fit on the couch.
Feeling awkward as hell, I say, “Or we can both get a good night’s rest on the bed. It’s big enough.”
Max doesn’t say anything for a few seconds, and I shift on my feet.
“Will you be okay with that?” he asks.
I nod, then force a smile to my face. “We’re just going to sleep.”
His eyes drift over me. “Right.”
He turns around and shuts the front door before locking it. I walk into the small bedroom and throw the covers back.
“Sleep next to the wall,” he orders.
I crawl across the mattress and lie down. Then my eyes land on Max, who’s unbuttoning his shirt.
Holy shit.
I force myself to stare at the ceiling, but a second later, I turn onto my side, and my gaze drinks in the sight of him as he shrugs the fabric off.
The muscles of his chest are defined, and the man has abs for days.
Jesus. Of course, he’d have a body to go with his intense eyes and perfect face.
There’s a name tattooed on his side. Anja.
When he turns to place the folded shirt on a worn desk, I get a view of his muscled back and broad shoulders.
“The strong win. The weak die,” I read the words inked above a tattoo of a tree with leaves blowing up toward his shoulder and roots creeping across his lower back to his hips. “What does the tree symbolize?”
Max starts to unbuckle his belt, and my eyebrow flies up. The corner of his mouth lifts, then he says, “I’m not sleeping in suit pants.”
Reluctantly, I turn onto my other side and face the wall so he’ll have some privacy. It takes every ounce of strength I have not to take a peek.