Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
“Wait. You’re not staying?” she asked.
“Not tonight, sweetheart. You have time with Steele.” He walked out of the room and she tried to stifle her stab of disappointment. She really did. But it sliced into her, thick and hard, settling in her stomach.
“Remember, baby. Watch for the signs.”
Well, all signs pointed to the fact that Grady didn’t want to sleep with her.
“This is about him. Not you. He never sleeps in the bed with me when . . . well, you know when.”
When other women slept with them.
“So I’m just like those other women?” She grew tense.
“You wanting another spanking?”
“No!” she cried.
“Well, you’re about to get one if you don’t stop that. You know you’re not like those other women. You’re ours. Grady just has to wrap his head around what you need and how he wants to give that to you. He’ll come around. He’s not a snuggler. Never has been. But you need that, baby, he’ll give it to you. You just got to let him know.”
She could do that.
She hoped.
41
Effie practically floated as she entered the kitchen. Or at least that’s what it felt like. Grady was already at the stove, yawning. Had he slept?
She felt weirdly shy. The two orgasms that Steele had given her this morning were now wearing off as she stood looking at the other half of her heart.
Because Effie was certain that she loved them. Both of them. There was no way she could imagine her life without them in it. She didn’t care if it was too soon or what people would say.
When you knew. You knew.
They were the one.
Well, the two.
Grady turned to her, eyeing her for a moment. “Come here, Effie.”
It wasn’t quite said in the same tone as Steele liked to use. But it was still a command.
“I don’t want a pity cuddle.”
His eyes flared, then his face hardened. He reached over to turn off the stove.
“Excuse me? Why would you think it would be a pity cuddle?”
“I’m sorry,” she blurted out. “I didn’t mean for that to come out just like that. What’s for breakfast?” She gave him her best smile.
Don’t rock the boat, Effie.
Be grateful for whatever anyone will give you.
“Your nan is talking to you in your head, isn’t she?” Grady asked.
“I . . . I . . .” She dropped her gaze away from him. She didn’t want to tell him. Didn’t know if she could make herself that vulnerable.
“Fuck. Fuck.”
She jumped, looking up with shock as something slammed against the wall. She stared down at the mug of coffee that he’d thrown against the wall.
This was . . . unexpected. Grady was the calm one. Steele had shown he had a temper, although she knew he’d never harm her. But Grady was usually tied down tight, his emotions under wraps . . . but not right now.
Right now, he seemed tortured.
He leaned his hands on the counter, bending his head down.
Fuck. Had she done that to him?
She rushed toward him, uncaring that she was in bare feet and there were sharp shards of crockery on the ground. She wrapped her arms around him, pressing herself against his back
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
He was so still that she was certain he didn’t hear her. Then he suddenly straightened and reached around to grab her, pulling her to his front and then lifting her so she sat up on the counter.
He still looked rough. Haunted. She wished she could do something to help. This wasn’t her Grady.
She had to fix this.
“What can I do? I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean any of it.” She reached up to touch his face but at the last moment, pulled back.
He grabbed her hand, drawing it to his cheek, then he turned his mouth, kissing her palm.
“I fucked up last night.”
“What? No, you didn’t. If anyone fucked up, it’s me this morning.”
He shook his head and placed his hands on either side of her. “Sweetheart, I have my demons.”
She nodded, eyes wide. “I guess we all do.”
“Yes, but not all of us let those demons dictate their every fucking action.”
She sucked in a breath at his savage-sounding words. Then she straightened her shoulders. “We’re all nuts here, remember?” She threw his words back at him.
“Some of us more than others.”
“Well, I hear my dead nan’s voice in my head, berating me constantly. So I guess you’re right, some more than others.”
His gaze narrowed. “I wasn’t talking about you.”
She raised her chin. “I’m nuts, crazy, loopy—”
“Stop that right now,” he commanded. “One more word and I’m going to turn you over my knee.”
Was she going to do it? She was operating on pure instinct here. But that instinct was telling her to push.
That it might be the only way to reach him.
“Promises. Promises.”