Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“No worries, man. Our schedule is set for tomorrow. Go get some rest.”
“Well, I’m not resting until I have Skylar in my arms. So, tell me. What room?”
“She’s in the room beside yours. As hateful as you are, I should have put her beside Bull’s.” I flip him off and start walking away. He tried to talk me out of going to her side. He’s lucky I don’t punch him. “You’re welcome,” he calls out, but I ignore him. I’m tired and I want my woman.
When I make it to her door, it’s locked. “Good girl,” I whisper. The lock won’t stop me, but it does make me smile.
I pull out my wallet and find an old, expired credit card I keep in there for emergencies like this one. It only takes me a minute to slide the card between the door frame, to force the lock to retract. Once I get it in position, I jimmy the lock loose and open the door. I gently close and lock the door, then replace the card in my wallet and toss it gently on the dresser by the door.
The room is dark, but there’s a soft glow of light from the attached bathroom. It’s just enough for me to make out Skylar’s frame on the bed. I quickly discard my boots and socks. Then finish stripping down. I could use a shower, but it will have to wait until tomorrow morning. I walk over to the bed where Skylar is lying. I look at her for a minute, just drinking in the sight of her. This is the first fucking time since she ran away from me today that I feel my breath coming easily. The tension in my body is finally lessening now that I’m close to her.
I carefully get on the bed, curling into her back. I slowly wrap my arm over her so that my hand rests against her stomach. I briefly wonder if she might already be carrying my child. The thought fills me with joy. As I snuggle into her, I can tell the exact minute she wakes up because she stiffens against me.
“Torin, please go away.”
I kiss the back of her head. “Get some rest, Peaches. I won’t do anything. I just want to hold you tonight,” I explain.
“I don’t have it in me to fight with you right now,” she mumbles.
I bend so I can place a kiss on the back of her neck and squeeze her gently. “Seriously. Sleep, Peaches. I don’t know why you left, but we can talk about it later. I just want you in my arms right now.”
She’s quiet for a minute, her body slowly relaxing. Then I hear her quietly sobbing. Wet, sloppy tears fall down against my hand. Immediately, I roll to my back, moving into a sitting position. I pull my woman into my arms and cradle her against me.
“Torin, I feel so lost,” she whimpers, her voice sounding so small with none of her usual spunk. Her silent sobs are causing her body to jerk, but she’s still doing her best to suppress the noise, not wanting to show weakness. Fuck, my woman is spectacular. Even I didn’t know how strong she truly was.
“I know, baby. I’m here. Hold on to me and let it out, Peaches. Don’t hold it in.”
“Everyone is acting like he’s dead, but I just don’t think he is. My brother can’t be gone. You know him, Torin. Mattie would fight too hard to not go out this way.”
I sigh, my heart breaking. Still, I can’t give her false hope. “Baby …” I leave the rest unspoken. I can’t seem to make myself say the words.
“No, Torin. They haven’t found Mattie’s body yet. There’s a chance. A big one. I know him. Heck, you do, too. You know how hard he’d fight … There has to be a chance.”
I hug her tighter, pulling her back into my body. My cock instantly rising to the occasion, but I ignore it. I don’t want to give her false hope, but there’s no way I can break her heart either. “There’s a chance,” I agree, giving her another squeeze. “You’re right, baby. There’s still a chance,” I repeat. “Breaker absolutely would fight to survive.”
Her tears come harder. “That’s exactly what I told, Thea,” she sobs. The sound of her misery is breaking me. I can do nothing but hold her and comb my fingers through her hair. “Let it out, baby. I’m right here. You’re safe with me, Peaches. I’m right here with you. I love you.”
“You love me?” she whimpers.
“After what we shared, how can you doubt that, Peaches?”
“But I heard you, Torin. You were on the phone telling Raze that our night together only happened because you felt guilty and sorry that you had hurt me. It was pity sex. I heard it all.”