Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 86238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
She left me before I could.
Before I can assure her no one has stained the sheets but me, she asks, “Where is my father going?”
“Not far. I just need to keep him hidden until the heat dies down.” I scrub at my chin before scooting up so my back rests against the headboard. I, of course, take Ana with me. “I paid what he owed, but they want more.”
“Me?” Ana guesses.
“Yes.” My annoyance is heard in my tone. “But I assured them in no uncertain terms you were not his to barter with. A handful of men took my word for it.” I shrug like killing is my aphrodisiac. “Some didn’t.” I tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear before saying, “But until I am confident they got my point, you can’t leave my side, драгоценный. Not for a second.” Goose bumps rise against her skin when I drag my finger under her chin to lift her eyes to mine. “Not even to sleep.”
Forever stubborn, she murmurs, “Then I guess I should pretend I’ve already showered.”
“You could.” I rock my hips upward so she can feel the effect just having her lay on top of me causes. “But then I’d have to come up with an excuse to make you dirty again.”
There’s a challenge in her eyes I want to conquer, but before I can, I need to make sure my foolishness hasn’t been exposed to anyone but her. “Who was there?”
Ana’s eyes dance between mine before she clues onto what I’m asking. “Just Yev.” When I sigh in relief, she asks, “You still haven’t told him, have you?”
I shake my head. No one but her knows about the condition that resulted in my being moved to a boys’ home. I keep it hidden like Ghost wishes he could the scars on his face. I’m not ashamed of it. I just don’t want to give anyone the belief they can use it to overcome my protectiveness of Anastasia.
I’ll let my brain explode before I will ever let anyone hurt her.
Ana immediately shakes her head when I ask, “Did you tell him?”
“No. It isn’t my story to tell.” She sucks in a big breath before murmuring, “But I wish you would. What will happen if you black out when I’m not there?”
“That’s only happened once before,” I assure her before adding with a smirk. “And I don’t need to worry about that since you’re never going to leave my side.”
She can fight it all she wants, but I see the need in her eyes and smell it on her skin. She likes my idiotic act as much as I love seeing her in my space. This compound became my home when she left, but it’s never felt like home until now.
“How about I get cleaned up and order you some breakfast before I act like you need nothing but my body to keep you gorged.” My cock isn’t fucking happy when I slide out from beneath her before standing on a pair of wobbly legs. “Anything in particular you feel like? I can ring an order through to Vera.”
With a hungry lick of her lips, Ana drags her eyes down my body before shaking her head.
“I’ll see what she’s got on offer.” I tug on a shirt and a pair of sweatpants before heading for the bathroom to wash the sleep from my eyes. I only just make it into the bathroom before I stumble into the wall. My head is still fucking pounding, and it is affecting my motor skills, but I can’t let Anastasia know that.
She already had one douche let her down this week.
I refuse to be the second.
I’ve only just splashed my face with water when I detect I am being watched. Ana has her shoulder propped on the doorjamb, her stellar legs are crossed, and a worried expression is fanned across her face. “You’re still in pain, aren’t you?”
“No.” I try to back up my lie with a headshake. Big mistake. It doubles the chances of me folding in two and hurling my guts up.
“Alek…” She looks set for World War III before she thinks better of it. “Back in bed.” I barely attempt a protest when she cocks her brow and asks, “Did I sound like I was making a suggestion?”
“Nah. You sound like fucking Ghost.”
“Good. Because I’m sure if he was here, and he knew how much pain you’re in, he’d be kicking your ass all the way to your bed as well.” She moves forward like she knows the possibility of me walking back to bed is virtually impossible. “Can you take more medication yet?”
When I recall how long she said I slept, I gingerly shake my head. “I just need to harden the fuck up.”
Ana glowers at me from underneath my arm before she assists me back into my room. When my backside plonks onto the mattress, I take her with me. Her closeness was always the cure for my thumping head. Her sass mainly the cause.