Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 25255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 126(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 126(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
He hands me some tissues and I hold them to my bloody nose.
I want to die as he closes the door and hurries around the truck. My favorite dress got ruined. This whole night got ruined.
He climbs into the truck and takes the bloody tissues away, handing me fresh ones.
“Thank you,” I whisper as I wipe my chin with them. I think the bleeding has stopped. He’s turned in his seat, looking so concerned as he watches me look in the mirror on the visor.
“I think I have a wet nap somewhere,” he says as he opens the middle console and searches through it. He hands me two of them and I tear them open and wipe my face.
“I’m so sorry,” he says, the pain and anguish clear in his voice. “I never wanted you to get hurt.”
“You’re not the only one who’s tough,” I say with a grin as I close the mirror and turn to him. “It was just a bit of blood. I’m fine.”
Even though my nose is still hurting, I’m wanting him more than ever. He pushed down his violent urges for me. He stopped for me.
I’ve never met another man who would do that.
“I’ll take you home,” he says as he starts the engine.
I put my hand on his forearm and he looks at me.
“Take me to your place instead.”
Chapter Eight
Jane
Talk about embarrassing. Leave it to me to get a bloody nose in the coolest, trendiest place in the city. Well, my short stint at the cool kids’ table didn’t last long. I’m back to being the teacher’s pet, straight A nerd.
My face is clean now, but my go-to dress is ruined. I dripped blood all over the cute frills in the front.
I can’t imagine what I looked like on the dance floor. Watery eyes, blood dripping onto my lips. Oh crud. Every time Tucker is going to think of our first kiss, he’s going to see my bloody face and it’s going to ruin it. It’s too bad because it was an epic first kiss.
In a way, it fits. He was bloody when we first met, and I was bloody when we first kissed. Fate must be a masochist this week.
“I’m so sorry, Jane,” Tucker says as he squeezes the steering wheel with his big hands. We’re out of the city and pulling onto the quiet highway. He’s looked devastated the entire time.
“It’s not your fault,” I tell him.
“I never wanted you to get hurt,” he says, shaking his head. I can tell he’s cursing himself in his mind. “I hate myself that I hurt you.”
“I’m fine.”
“It’s something I would never do.”
“I know. I’m okay. Really.”
He doesn’t look convinced. I can feel the guilt and pain oozing off him. He feels horrible.
I feel bad for him, but it’s also kind of cute how worried he is.
“People get bumped into all the time, Tucker,” I say with a warm smile. “It was just a little blood, but I’m fine.”
He takes a few deep breaths as he stares out at the nearly empty highway.
“I don’t think we should be together,” he finally says.
My stomach sinks. It hits me how much I don’t want that to happen. How much I like him. How drawn to him I am.
“Don’t say that,” I whisper as I turn to him. “It was an accident.”
He won’t even look at me. “I hurt you. I’ll never forgive myself.”
He’s so sweet. I’ve never had someone so invested in my safety. I know I’ll be able to feel protected and secure with this man looking out for me. He would do anything to keep me safe, I can tell.
That thought draws me to him. It makes me breathless. My body begins craving him in a new way.
I loosen my seatbelt and shift in my seat so I’m facing him. He glances at me quickly and then keeps his eyes on the road.
My heated eyes roam up his large body as a fire sparks in my core. Those thick arms… His muscular thighs… That chest… God, I love that chest.
I start to picture him without clothes on and the fire grows in my belly.
“If I was hurt, could I do this?” I ask as I kneel on the seat and erase the distance between us. I kiss the side of his face softly, gently, letting my hair tickle his skin.
He sucks in a breath as I get closer to his mouth. He’s struggling to keep his resolve. I’m determined to break it.
I kiss the corner of his mouth and he lets out a low groan.
My lips move down to his thick neck. I kiss a trail along it.
He starts breathing heavily. He’s clenching and unclenching his hands around the steering wheel, his body stiff and tense as I try to loosen him up.
I slide my palm up his hard bicep, feeling the tremendous strength in it with a sense of awe.