Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
“Um, yep.”
“What did you eat?”
“Uh, I don’t know.” What had she eaten? She couldn’t remember. “I think I had a few bites of a cupcake and maybe some brownie.”
“That isn’t a proper meal,” he said chidingly. “You need to take breaks and eat.”
“Like I said, my thighs won’t complain from a few missed meals.”
“And like I said,” he spoke in a voice that had delicious chills working their way up her spine, “you won’t be saying things like that. Not without consequences.”
“What sort of consequences?” she whispered.
Please let them be the most delicious kind.
But he drew back again. Damn, it was like one step forward, two steps back with him.
“You especially need to eat if you’re taking painkillers, or you’ll feel ill.”
“Right. I guess. I think there’s a protein bar around here somewhere.”
He blew out a breath, then shook his head. “Are you finished here?”
“Hmm? Yeah, pretty much.”
“What about your earnings for the day? It’s been secured?”
“Mostly. I’ve just got a little bit of change left in the till to deal with.”
“Go do that, then lock up and meet me outside.” He lifted her down, then walked off. What were they doing?
5
This was such a stupid idea.
He studied his surroundings while he thought about how close he’d come to kissing Gracen’s full, pink lips.
What he wouldn’t give to see those lips wrapped around his cock as she knelt in front of him, trying to swallow him down. Her lips stretched, hums of pleasure coming from her as he fucked her mouth.
Shut it down.
She wasn’t someone he could just fuck and get out of his system. Hell, he hadn’t been with a woman in . . . in years. It was easier to use his hand than it was to worry about hurting a woman, about being too rough.
So, he’d closed off any thoughts or dreams of having someone.
Until he spotted her. And now all he could think about was all the ways he wanted to have her, take care of her, fuck her.
Own her.
It was torture. Watching her from afar was enough of a risk, being up close to her was just stupid.
So fucking stupid.
Yet, he wasn’t walking away. He couldn’t.
He’d make sure she ate some proper food and get her safely home.
Then he’d try to figure out how the hell to stay away from the one good thing in his fucked-up life.
“I’m ready.”
He turned, studying her. He hated the bruises on her face. Her swollen eye. She winced as though the sunlight was hurting her.
“Your head still hurts,” he stated.
“I’m all right. It will go away soon.” She tried to give him a smile.
The desire to kidnap her and hide her away somewhere safe where no one would ever find her rode him hard. Fuck. He’d never wanted something more and he wasn’t used to denying himself.
The restraint he was showing was award-winning.
“I was going to take you out for something to eat, but if you’re too tired or sore, you could go home and I’ll send for something.”
“I’d really like to go out to eat something. If that’s good with you.”
Getting to spend more time with her was always all right with him. Even if it was a bad idea.
He nodded, then opened the passenger side of his truck. She got her foot up on the running board, then attempted to pull herself up, without much success.
“How high is this?” she grumbled.
Not that high. But then he was a big guy.
Wrapping his hands around her waist, he lifted her up and into the seat. She let out a small gasp as he settled her in, then pulled back quickly.
He walked around the front of the vehicle and climbed in. She was sitting stiffly, she hadn’t even put on her belt. She looked like a small child who was too scared to touch anything for fear she’d get told off.
“You all right, little bit?” he asked.
“I feel underdressed for this car.”
He frowned. He didn’t want her to ever feel unsure. Or like she wasn’t good enough. Because she was a queen and the whole world should bow down to her.
“Gracen? Look at me.”
“Yes?” She turned to gaze up at him.
“It’s just a fucking car.”
She stared at him for a moment. Then she broke into a gorgeous smile. “It’s just a fucking car?”
He winced. “Sorry.”
“For what? For saying fucking? I don’t care if you swear. I can swear like a sailor. Argghhh, me fucking hearties.”
“Are you trying to be a sailor or a pirate?” he asked.
She giggled, and he felt like he was floating. Which was an odd feeling when all he’d ever done was sink.
“Obviously, I need to work on my pirate speak.” She shook her head. “So, was that your way of saying I can touch what I like?”
“Yep.”
“But what if I break it? I can’t exactly afford to replace it. I can’t even replace anything in my car and it’s probably worth the same amount as one of your tires.”