Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
I’m stunned and thoroughly amused. “Vito, was that…? Did you just…? Was that flirting?”
He says quietly, “That depends.”
Confused again. “On what?”
He mutters huskily, “Depends on if you liked it, babe.”
Having to think about this, I mumble, “Well, it was my first time, but yeah, it was nice.”
Vito sounds shocked. “No one’s ever flirted with you before?”
“Nope.” I pop the p.
I can hear the smile in his voice. “It’s a crime, baby.”
Just then, the door to the bathroom opens and in walks Nox, wearing nothing but a towel.
My brain smiles like the cat that got the cream. Seeing Nox like this is nothing unusual now. Modesty is a thing of the past.
Nox narrows his eyes at the two-way in my hand and I roll my eyes at him. Pressing the button, I say, “Listen, I gotta go. Señor Anger just got out the shower. You need him?”
Vito chuckles, “Nope. Not unless he needs anything.”
Still in bed, I look up at Nox and ask, “Need anything from the store?”
Stepping into a pair of gunmetal-grey boxers, he pulls them up under his towel and replies, “Oatmeal. Apples. Eggs.”
Still holding the button on the two-way, I ask, “You get that, Vito?”
“Got it. Have a nice day, sweet, sweet Lily.” He overdoes it with the huskiness, and I chuckle before putting on a breathy voice, “Bye, baby.”
Still chuckling, I put the two-way back on the nightstand and watch Nox dress.
I love this part of the morning. He acts like I don’t exist and I act like he can’t see me. Today is a little different for me, though. I can’t seem to wipe the smile off my face. It doesn’t bother me that he doesn’t know what today is. It doesn’t bother me that no one knows what today is. I’m just happy that I made it to another birthday safe and well and surrounded by friends.
The hot guy in my bed?
Total bonus.
Chapter Twelve
The hair of the dog that bit ya
Three days later…
Nox
I punch the bag. Hard.
Once more. Harder.
The feeling of pain shooting through my lightly wrapped knuckles, up my arm, then disappearing into my body feels good.
Pain is good.
Pain is an indication that you’re alive. Well, living, at the very least.
Pain is also a good way to play games with your mind. A distraction method taught to me in the early stages of training.
And I need a fucking distraction.
Waking up with yet another hard-on pressed into Lily’s ass is enough to put anyone in a bad mood.
Yeah. That’s right. Bad mood.
Why bad?
Because I feel like I’m getting my prick teased every fucking day with no relief! Sure I could jerk off, but that would leave me feeling like a creep. Jerking off in the bathroom next to our room is just…wrong.
Fuck me.
Did I just say our room?
I punch the bag repeatedly while growling through gritted teeth.
This is bad. Very bad.
Nope. I don’t like it.
Three weeks.
Three fucking weeks of sleeping next to that girl.
That girl. She’s just a girl.
Oh, I’m going to hell. No doubt. Especially after last night’s dream.
Wrapping up my morning training session, I step out of the workout room and into the hall. And there she is. Boo has her laughing at something. She has a nice laugh. It’s not small and sweet sounding. It’s not a giggle. It’s uninhibited and animated. When she laughs, I feel like I get a chance to see the real Lily. The one whose mind doesn’t stop her from living a good life. The one who isn’t paranoid or on edge all the time.
The free Lily.
She wears a pair of small, black workout shorts and a baggy white tee knotted at the belly. Then I see her feet and scowl.
Walking up to them, we meet halfway. I say, “Take the boots off.”
Confusion mars her face. “Why?”
Because they look way too sexy on your long ass legs, and I can’t do anything about it.
“Because they don’t belong to you.” I say matter of factly.
Her eyes widen and she says concretely, “Uh, yes, they do.”
What?
Okay, so the military boots have hot pink laces, but you can’t buy those just anywhere. I feel I need to let her in on this.
“You can’t buy those boots just anywhere, Lily.”
Boo and Lily share a look, then smile. Lily utters, “Yes, Nox, I’m aware of that. Boo bought ‘em for me and I love ‘em, so I’m gonna keep ‘em on.”
I don’t get it.
Turning to Boo, I ask, “Why’d you get her boots? She doesn’t need boots.”
Boo hesitates for a moment before she says quietly, “Because it was her birthday, and that’s what she wanted, so that’s what she got.”
Her birthday?
I fucking forgot her birthday. Great. Now I feel like an asshole.
What do I say now?
“Uh, happy belated birthday. Guess you can keep the boots.”
Rolling her eyes, she mutters, “Thanks, dickhead,” then pulls Boo along and they disappear down the stairs.