Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
“I’m not,” I lied coolly.
“Good, because I’m getting dressed and going.” But though he talked a big game, I saw that he didn’t move—his eyes were still fixed hungrily on my body.
“Well then, I guess you’d better pick some clothes to wear,” I said. Turning away, I walked a few steps further into the bedroom, my hips rolling seductively with the motions since I was wearing a pair of extremely high-heeled shoes.
I heard Slade groan as he took in my full hips and behind. I turned my head and watched as his eyes traveled down to my shoes…and there they stopped.
“Aurora,” he growled. “Why the fuck are you wearing those?”
“Wearing what?” I asked innocently, turning to face him again. I had the bed right behind me—I was setting the stage.
“Those are the ‘fuck me’ shoes I bought you,” Slade pointed an accusing finger at the red heels with their thin leather straps wound around my ankles.
“Oh, are they?” I feigned surprise as I looked down at my feet. “Well what do you know, they are,” I said.
“I told you—you’re not going to seduce me,” Slade growled, crossing his broad arms over his muscular chest. “You betrayed me once—I won’t give you a chance to do it again.”
That stung but I knew getting angry and shouting at him wouldn’t get me what I wanted—what I so desperately needed from the big Brute.
“Fine.” I shrugged. “But tell me this—we’re still Fated Mates, right? I mean, you can’t just turn it off and choose someone else, can you?”
“Fuck…” Slade ran a hand over his horns. “Yes, we’re still Mates. Unfortunately you don’t get to pick who your Fated Mate is and no, you can’t turn it off.”
“All right, good. And Fated Mates take care of each other, right?” I probed. “I mean, the way you came and rescued me right when Hornsby was about to fly me off to Skeezix to chop me up. How did you find me, anyway? I mean, how did you know I was in trouble?” I asked.
Slade squeezed his eyes shut for a minute and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I had a feeling—a feeling like something bad was happening to you. I tried, but I couldn’t…couldn’t ignore it.”
It hurt to know that he’d tried to ignore it in the first place, but I wasn’t going to concentrate on that.
“So if fated mates take care of each other, you should still be able to heal me. I mean, before you go,” I said.
Slade glared down at me.
“And where exactly do you need to be healed?”
“Here.” I pointed to my sore lower lip. The skin was still split and swollen, though I had done the best I could to ease the swelling with a cold cloth.
“What the fuck?” Slade cupped my cheek in his hand, turning my face up and leaning down so he could see more easily. “What happened, baby?” he asked.
His use of the old nickname sent a thrill of hope through my entire body but I worked to keep my expression nonchalant.
“Hornsby slapped me when I was screaming for him to let me go,” I said.
“That fucker!” Slade’s eyes flashed black for a moment. “I should have killed him slowly.”
“He’s gone now and we never have to see him again,” I reminded him. “But in the meantime my lip really hurts. I know you’re still mad at me but could you…would you heal it for me, Slade?”
I looked up at him, putting my heart in my eyes, letting him see how much I needed him.
A low growl rose in his throat but it ended in a defeated sigh.
“I’m not just angry you know—I’m fucking enraged,” he told me. “What you did—”
“Was a misunderstanding,” I cut him off smoothly. “And we can talk it out if you want to—after you heal me.” Taking a step closer to him, I stood on my tiptoes and put my arms around his neck. It was much easier to reach him wearing the “fuck me” shoes, which was nice since he was so much taller than me.
Slade resisted at first. Then, with a low groan he leaned down and gently began licking my hurt lip.
I moaned softly and melted against him and a moment later the healing turned to kissing, just as I had hoped. Slade sucked gently on my lower lip and then took my mouth more fully. He must have brushed his teeth because his tongue tasted like cinnamon. I sucked on it eagerly, wanting any part of him I could get inside me.
Slade groaned softly as he kissed me back. I could feel the hungry intensity in his kiss, in the set of his big body as he crushed me to him. I knew then that he had missed me as desperately as I had missed him. I just needed to bring him a little closer, and I thought I knew how to do it.