Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
“Will you have… company?”
“No, Winter. The only woman I’ll have with me is you. You don’t feel like joining us now, that’s OK.”
Her lips parted on a little gasp. “I don’t… I don’t understand.” Her voice was so soft it was hard to make out her words. Her face flushed scarlet, and she brought her fingertips to her lips, then moved her palm to cover the worst scar over her cheek, which she’d tried to cover with heavy makeup.
“Then I’ll spell it out for you, baby.” I stepped back into her space, placing one arm beside her head on the door. “I’m not gonna be with a club girl or any other woman for any reason. I got my eye on you. I’m not a nice man, but I never go back on my word, and I never betray those I care about. I won’t betray you, Winter. Not with another woman. Not for any reason.”
“You don’t know me. I’m not even sure if I can…” She trailed off, swallowing nervously. “I have a past that’s not pretty.”
“We all have pasts, Winter. Yours might be uglier than some, but everyone has things that haunt them.”
“But mine might not let me carry things any further than we just went.”
“Then I’ll have a lot of showers in my future to take things in hand.” I leaned in and kissed her lips lightly. “You don’t want to take a chance, that’s your choice. But if you trust me, I swear I’ll never betray that trust.”
“You’ll stop if I say?”
“Honey, always. No matter when or why. I will never hurt you. Especially not like that.”
She nodded several times, still casting furtive glances at the club girl watching us intently. “I -- I’ll think about it.” With a glance up at me and a small smile, she took the plate back, entered her room and shut the door.
For the first time in my life, I felt a thrill of… something. Excitement? Nervousness? Peace… Seemed like an oxymoron, but there it was. I’d known I wanted her before, but this…
Winter was the woman I wanted for myself. She had scars. Both physical and emotional. She wouldn’t be easy, but I knew in my very soul she would be worth all the effort it would take to be with her. Winter… was mine. She seemed to have destroyed her demons, but they still haunted her. Anyone could see that just by looking at her. Tonight, when I’d kissed her? I think that was the first time she’d ever considered she might want something from a man. I could see her struggling but wanting to embrace the pleasure she’d found. With gentleness and a lot of coaxing, I thought I could give her what she needed. And make her crave so much more. The tentative nature she showed to me now was so at odds with the women who’d taken it to the club girls harassing her that it was oddly stimulating. I didn’t want a simpering female, and that wasn’t Winter. But she was vulnerable. Which meant I had to be careful.
I rested my palm against the door after she’d closed it. So help me God, if it was the last thing I did, I’d make that woman realize she was so much more than the sum of her scars.
* * *
Winter
I’d never felt so alive as I did when Roman had kissed me. I stood there with my back to the door, the plate of food for Serelda in my hands, and my heart raced. I wanted to run back out that door and straight into his arms. At the same time, I was terrified.
“Winter?” Serelda came from the bedroom. “What’s wrong? What happened?” Serelda looked alarmed and like she might dissolve into tears at any moment.
“Nothing. I’m fine. I swear.” I put my hand over my chest. My breasts ached, and I was sure my nipples were poking hard against the material of the sports bra I wore.
“You’re not fine!” Serelda took the plate and practically tossed it to the table before locking the door and propping a chair against it. I wanted to reassure her, but I could barely catch my breath.
“Really, Serelda. It’s good.” It was all I could manage.
She snagged my hand and drew me farther into our suite of rooms, away from the door. “What happened? I’ll call Rycks, and he’ll send Viper and Cain after us.”
“No! I swear, Serelda, everything is good.” I pulled my sister into my arms and hugged her. “I’m fine.”
“Tell me. Please. I don’t want to stay here. I want to go back home.” Tears did stream down Serelda’s cheeks now. Her whole body trembled, and she was pale as a sheet.
“Sit down and I’ll tell you. Come.” I moved to the window seat where she’d set up a nest of blankets and pillows. She’d liked to sit next to the window in our room at Black Reign and watch the ocean or read a book. It didn’t surprise me she’d claimed this place for herself.