Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 132(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 132(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
To get my ring back on her perfect little finger.
Because I’m a bastard. More specifically, I’m a bastard for her.
“Come on,” I say, taking her hand tightly in mine and leading her inside. There is no one in the bay upon us entering, but the sound of the door closing brings some of the men around the corner, peeking in from the kitchen.
“Yo,” McConnell laughs, coming out into the open. “I didn’t know the lieutenant was on shift tonight.”
“Nah, he’s probably home with that hot college girl he’s keeping stashed away,” Gardner shouts from the kitchen, before coming into view and stopping in his tracks, dropping the apple in his hand. “Sorry, Lieutenant. I didn’t realize you were actually here.”
I give him a look that promises consequences.
Oh, and I’ll deliver. Don’t worry.
“Everyone.” I clear the irritation from my throat. “This is my Mandy. You can wave,” I say quickly, when three other guys emerge into the bay, coming forward to get a better look at her or shake her hand, as if I’d allow them to touch her. “No need to come any closer.”
“Hi, everyone,” Mandy calls sweetly, pressing into my side. “Nice to meet you.”
I need to get her out of the bay fast, because my blood is already starting to turn hot, the extreme jealousy she inspires bubbling up and over. They’re looking her over appreciatively. Someone else might interpret their smiles and speculative looks as friendly, but I know better. I know how quickly she can inspire an obsession. If she’d belonged to another man when I found her, he would be at the bottom of Boston Harbor right now. I wouldn’t have let that stand in my way and I don’t take for granted that it would stand in anyone else’s.
“I’m going to give her a tour of the house.” I jerk my chin toward the kitchen, where most of them came from. “As you were.”
I don’t miss their amused looks as they file back into the other room, clearly primed to gossip about their lieutenant’s love life, now that he finally has one. Rolling my eyes, I guide Mandy to the rear of the house and up the stairs where the bunks and lockers are located.
“Which one is yours?” she asks, turning in a circle, visibly excited to take it all in.
“Far end, on the right. I don’t use it much. I’d rather wait until I’m home to sleep, but I might catch a few Z’s if I’m working back-to-back twenty-fours.”
She blinks. “But…you haven’t been sleeping when you come home, either.” Pink spots appear on her cheeks. “Or not much anyway.”
My dick was already stiff, but Mandy recalling how often we fucked before she left has me harder than iron. “I sleep when you sleep,” I say, going toward her and cupping the smooth side of her face. “You tend to pass out on top of me. I can’t really sleep without that now.”
“Oh.” Looking troubled, she chews her lip. “Actually, I’m not sleeping well, either.”
My heart leaps. “We can change that if you come back.”
“I…haven’t decided yet.” She nuzzles into my palm. “I miss you so much, but I’m worried we’re going to fall into the same patterns.”
That leap my heart took reverses directions, plummeting into my stomach. Still, I get down on my knees in front of her, bringing our mouths level with each other, kissing her softly, once, twice. “I’m not going anywhere. We’ll move forward only when you’re ready.”
“Thank you,” she whispers, eyes shining.
She’s so fucking beautiful, I start to feel guilty for the way I’m about to manipulate her, but Christ, does she really think I can go slow now? I had her. I had her living in my house, agreeing to be my wife. She met my family, satisfied my body in ways I never knew were possible…now I’m supposed to pump the brakes? I would have already married her if I could. I would have married her on night one. There is no slowing down.
I take her knees and tug her slowly to the very edge of my bunk’s mattress, pressing my body in between her open thighs, slanting my mouth over hers in a kiss I know is going to make her wet on the spot. It’s how I kiss her after she’s sucked my dick. It’s grateful and reverent and horny as a motherfucker. I wrap her hair around my fist, pull her head back and fuck her fucking mouth hard and fast, feeling her body come alive against mine. Her nipples poke me in the chest, legs restless, eager as she mewls with anticipation.
She breaks away panting, face flushed. “C-can you…can I have you in my mouth?”
“Have what, gorgeous? My cock?”
“Yes,” she says on a gasp, reaching for my zipper.
I catch her wrist in my hand, stopping her, though it’s painful. “No, Mandy.”