Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
You have no idea how much that means to me, she replies.
It’s the truth. You’ll see. I’ll be home soon. I’m going to call my cop buddy on the way, so you can give your statements.
And then it will be time to tell me the crazy thing, right?
I bite down, wondering how I’m going to do this.
We’ve progressed so much in such a short time.
She has.
Yes. And I’ve just thought of the best thing to call you.
Oh yeah? she replies.
You’re a princess and an angel, both of them to me, and so much more. But most of all, Mia, you’re a butterfly. I think you’re finally done with the cocoon.
Is it bad that it brought tears to my eyes?
No, it’s cute as hell, my perfect butterfly.
Starting the engine, I pull out of the parking lot, exchanging a glance with Speeder in the rearview mirror.
I can tell he approves.
CHAPTER 19
Mia
I have to take a moment after talking to the cops, sitting at Killian’s desk chair, a few feet from his bed, the room filled with warm lamplight. The two officers were the first people I’ve spoken to vocally, except for Killian and Mom.
In years.
But even as my heart thudded and my body poured sweat, I did it.
Mom’s already set up in the guest room. After she spoke to the cops she wanted to lie down again.
She’s taking small steps, but not that long ago, being in this new environment would’ve shattered her.
Pride whelms in me. For the first time in a long time, I think about the possibility of us being normal, whatever that means.
Being just like the regular people who go about their lives and don’t worry about shattering every few seconds.
There’s a heavy knock at the door.
“Hello?”
“It’s me.”
I smile at the sound of his husky voice, though nerves still try to tangle me up. After dropping Speeder off, Killian drove to our apartment to pick up our things.
I need my laptop for work.
Whatever else is true, I can’t just assume Killian’s going to help me financially.
I’m probably already in trouble for not logging on for my evening shift.
“You don’t have to knock. It’s your room.”
He pushes the door open with a smirk on his face. He’s wearing a light gray hoodie, matching the silver in his hair, his body pressing through the material. He’s holding a large duffle bag casually in one hand.
“I spoke to your landlord,” he says.
I’m achingly aware of the door closing behind him.
“I agreed to pay for a new door, and he’s going to get you a fresh set of keys soon. But honestly, butterfly….”
He glances at me as he places the bag down, his eyes glimmering.
I’m not sure what to do. I want to be in his arms again, to taste his lips, but it’s all so much easier over text, when I can hide behind words.
I find myself looking down as if to avoid his steady, powerful gaze.
“I love that nickname,” I murmur. “And thank you so much.”
“You’re staying here.” He walks across the room, takes my hands, and firmly pulls me to my feet. “There’s no other place for you. I can’t think about you in that old apartment by yourself. Even thinking about you driving that beat-up old piece of junk here makes me feel like crap.”
He wraps his arms around me, his touch firm, palms pressing firmly against my back and then guiding us closer together. The heat of his muscular body burns through his clothes into me, a gasp escaping me.
“You deserve the best,” he snarls, leaning down so his lips are close to mine. I can feel his breath. “You deserve a new car, a decent apartment, the freedom to pursue your career so you don’t have to work as a customer-support anything.”
I moan as he kisses me.
That feeling is as if his words are wrapping a security blanket around me, but it’s much more intense than last time.
Then earlier today.
It seems impossible such a short amount of time has passed, but my soul and my core don’t care about that, only the contact with my man, the closeness.
Our mouths open, and our tongues find each other by instinct. No urge to run grips me as he squeezes onto my hips with powerful hands, his manhood pushing against my belly like he’s trying to get the quickest access to our future.
To pregnancy.
He growls through the kiss as his hands slide from my hips to my ass, massaging. Nerves tingle over my skin, so much hotter than they were when we were texting, the realness of them making my panties rub raw against my sex, pleasure burning.
“What about the crazy thing?” I whisper when the kiss naturally breaks off.
But our bodies remain close. My arms are wrapped around Killian’s shoulders, feeling the power of his body, the security of it.