Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 44127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
I tuck the shirt into the shorts though, trying to make them look at least somewhat flattering before I catch myself.
Great, now I’m preening and primping for my super-hot, twenty-years-older-than-me Principal. I blush, almost wishing I had makeup with me, but that’s downstairs in my purse. Instead, I pull my hair back as much as I can with a hair tie I’ve had around my wrist. I glance in the mirror again, blushing when I see how obvious my nipples are through the shirt. I pick up the pink princess robe and slip it on, and it actually does fit great, so I tie it around myself, take a breath, and step out of the bathroom.
I head back down the staircase he carried me up, back through the house, and into a huge, modern kitchen.
“How’s your head?”
I smile wryly at the sight of him standing there with a mug of something hot in his hands, now wearing slightly baggy grey sweatpants and a perfectly fitting white t-shirt.
…And good lord do they look good on him.
“It’s good, thanks,” I smile, before I blush. “Sorry for, uh… you know.”
He raises a brow, and I bite my lip.
“Flashing you.”
He grins, chuckling lowly. “Hey, nothing I haven’t seen before.”
He freezes the instant he says it, like he’s just realized the implications.
“I…” he frowns. “I didn’t mean you, Brynn, I just mean…” his frown deepens, and I grin.
“You just mean it’s not the first time you’ve seen boobs.”
He grins. “Something like that.”
He gestures at the kettle sitting steaming on the big Wolf Range stove behind him.
“You want some tea or anything?”
“Tea sounds good,” I say quietly.
He nods, turning to pour me a mug before he steps over and passes it my way.
“Thank you.”
“No problem.”
We sip in silence for a second before he clears his throat.
“We need to get the police involved in this, Brynn. What that man was doing was exploitation and blackmail. Both are illegal, and—”
“No,” I say quickly, shaking my head. “No, no police.”
He scowls. “Brynn, this isn’t a game. Those guys meant serious business back there.”
“I know that,” I whisper. “But if I go to the police, what does that do for my dad?”
His scowl deepens, his arms folding over his chest.
“Pardon?”
“No, I just mean, my dad’s already in a ton of shit. But if I bring up the fact that he’s tied to mob guys too?” I shake my head, aware of how stupid this sounds. “Look, my dad did bad things, but he’s still my dad, you know? I don’t know why he ran, but I want to give him a chance to make this right before I throw him under another bus.”
I make a face. “That sound ridiculous, given what’s going on with him, doesn’t it?”
But Colton just shakes his head. “No, I get it. I don’t like it, but I get it.”
He takes a deep breath. “So those guys back there were mob?”
I nod. “I’m so sorry. I never wanted anyone else to get caught up in—”
“It’s fine, Brynn.”
“They’re dangerous.”
“I can handle myself,” he growls quietly. “But I’m assuming they know you’re a student here?”
I nod, and he swears under his breath.
“You think they’d come after you?”
My face pales, a shiver rattling through me. I want to say no, but I know that’s not true. Not when there’s this kind of money owed to a guy like Lorenzo Tonelli. Slowly, I nod.
“I’m… I’m not sure.”
He nods, a growl rumbling in his chest as his eyes burn into me.
“Fuck it,” he finally mutters. “You’re staying here.”
I blink, my heart jumping into my throat. “What?”
“You can’t go back to the dorms. At least not tonight, and not until we figure this out. So, you’re staying here.”
“With you?” my voice breaks, and I cringe, but he just smiles.
“I mean, I have a guest room, Brynn.”
I blush furiously as I nod, our eyes meeting.
“Principal—Colton, I—I don’t want to get you—”
“I’m a big boy, Brynn,” he growls quietly. “I can take care of myself. And you.” He nods. “You’re staying here, at least for the tonight.”
I nod, a hot shiver teasing through my core as I rake my teeth over my bottom lip.
“I really don’t want to put you—”
“You’re not,” he growls. “And that’s final. You’re staying here, Brynn. You’re staying with me.”
…I probably shouldn’t be as warm or as excited as I am when he says that.
5
Colton
The gun is cold and heavy, and I scowl as I turn it over in my hands. Surprisingly, given my background and my career before I moved into education, I only keep one gun in my house. It’s typically always locked in the safe hidden in my office, but tonight, it’s out. Tonight, I’m giving it a once-over, and checking my ammunition while Brynn is back in my kitchen having a bite to eat.
I’m not scared, but maybe call it “on edge.” After all, I just beat the shit out of two mob guys, and threatened a third who seems like he might be pretty far up the ranks. None of them know who the hell I am, but it doesn’t hurt to be careful. And besides, they do know who she is, and I meant what I said before. She’s staying here, and she’s mine to protect. And I will protect her.