Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
CHAPTER TEN
Duke
I help Ryan into his bedroom, hold his arm, and lower him into bed. He stares up at me drunkenly, his eyes wide and red. “Dad,” he moans. “Dad, I’m sorry.”
I stand up, the anger starting to settle down now. I’ve been in countless fights, but it’s different when guns are involved. I’ve only ever held one at the range, and it’s not like I do that often.
“We’re getting you some help,” I tell him. “First thing in the morning. I’m going to need to get some cash ready, too. If those jackals come calling, I’ll need to pay off your debt. I don’t want any issues with them.”
“Was it true?” Ryan asks. “Did you kill your dad?”
I bite down, remembering the bar. I threw it out there viciously to let them know I was serious. I would’ve pulled that trigger to keep my woman safe. I would’ve executed every man in there to save her. It’s my primary responsibility in life.
“Go to sleep,” I tell him. When he rolls onto his back, eyes closing, I reach forward, take his shoulder, and softly maneuver him so he’s on his side. “Stay like this. I’ll check on you to make sure you’re okay.”
“Dad…” Ryan opens his eyes with effort, staring at me. “Do you know who she is?”
“Do I know who who is?” I ask.
“Molly.”
I’m not sure how to respond to this. She’s the woman of my dreams. She’s the future mother of my children. She’s mine. That’s who she is and who she always will be—just mine, always mine. Nobody else touches her. Nobody threatens her. Nobody ever gets to hurt her.
“She’s my date,” I tell him. “The one I told you about.”
Ryan laughs, but there’s sadness in it. “She’s my ex, Dad. My ex-girlfriend. The one who broke up with me yesterday.”
Ryan told me he broke up with her, which was clearly just to protect himself. At first, I’m unsure if I’ve heard him right, but I don’t ask him to repeat it. I let the words settle in my mind, settle in my chest, deep in my belly.
She’s his ex. They’ve kissed and been intimate. They’ve been together. The woman I want, need to spend the rest of my life with. The woman who’s going to give Ryan brothers and sisters one day. Oh, dammit, the woman who will be his stepmom one day.
Stumbling backward, my head spinning, I know I have to make sure I heard him correctly. Maybe this is some vicious trick, but Ryan seems sad and defeated, not like he’s trying to get some weird dig in. “Molly is your ex-girlfriend.”
“Yeah, Dad.” Ryan lets his eyes close. “I don’t know why she’d date you, but yeah, I’m sorry.”
I walk from the bedroom, leaving the door cracked. As I descend the stairs, I realize I’m taking them slowly, as if I can put this off. I’ll have to ask her, or I can pretend I didn’t hear what Ryan said.
Molly is standing at the living room window, peering around the curtain. I pause in the doorway, studying her. My adrenaline turns into white-hot desire as I drink in her wide hips, thick, perfect legs, and curviness. Despite the standoff, despite Ryan’s revelation, my manhood is still getting hard. My dick is still pushing against my pants.
She turns, her cheeks flushed red. “Is he okay?” she asks quietly.
I wonder if that’s concern in her voice. I wonder if the only reason she’s with me is because she wants to be closer to Ryan. But at the bar, did she know?
“He’s sleeping,” I say, walking over to her and taking her hands. I can’t help it. The physical contact is too addictive with Molly. “I…”
I need to know why you agreed to go on a date with me. Did you know I was Ryan’s dad?
I know when I say this, I’ll shatter the moment. She doesn’t seem surprised to see Ryan. Maybe he was lying. Or perhaps I just wish he was.
“Duke?” she whispers.
I let go of her hands and take hold of her hips. I don’t have to think when I sink my touch passionately into her body. She makes the cutest moaning noise. It’s like I can hear the relief in it. We don’t have to be scared. We don’t even have to think. We can just be together. I’m sure that’s what’s going through her head, too, as fiercely as it goes through mine.
Pressing my lips against hers, I indulge in her hips. Every moment, a sick thought tries to come between us. Ryan has kissed this woman, my woman. My own son has kissed my future wife. Goddamn, this is messed up, but she feels too good. There’s too much relief in us both, the sheer fact we’re alive. We made it.
Now, it’s like my body is roaring at me to pump her full of seed as quickly as possible, flood her young body with my come. It’s a primal impulse. We don’t know when we’ll be safe again. We have to do it now. Our bodies hunger for it.