Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 155037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 517(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 517(@300wpm)
He didn’t like the way she said that.
“Did Loki make you feel bad about it?” Was that why she was acting almost ashamed of being a Little?
“What? No! Loki would never do that! It’s just . . . I dunno. I just feel like other people will ridicule me.”
Other people? Of course there were always assholes out there that would take any opportunity to put someone down. That’s what assholes did.
But there were plenty of good people in Wishingbone, and the fact that her friends were Littles kind of paved the way for her.
“Are you worried about what your family will think?” he guessed.
“I don’t want to talk about them.” Her thumb slid back into her mouth.
Hmm. He’d probably pushed her as far as he should.
And he had his answer.
So, instead, he stood and drew her up into his arms, cradling her against his chest.
“You don’ts got to carry me everywhere.”
“You don’t like it?” he asked as he headed to her bedroom.
However, she simply sighed. “I likes it.”
“Good girl for telling me the truth. I want you to get ready for bed. I’ll come say goodnight soon.”
He set her down in her room, and she looked up at him before reaching up to rub her eyes adorably.
“You’re leaving?” she asked.
Was that a glint of fear in her face?
Or was he just hopeful that she wanted him to stay?
“I’m going to sleep on the couch again tonight.” He watched her closely and was certain that was relief he saw.
He wasn’t sure, though, if she was worried about something happening to her.
Or she just didn’t want him to go.
And he really hoped it was the latter.
14
Something sharp and cold pressed against his neck.
He opened his eyes, instantly awake. Years of sleeping rough meant that he had some well-honed instincts about when someone was close to him. Even when asleep.
So it was a hell of a shock to open his eyes to a man looming over him, a knife at his throat.
“What the fuck are you doing in my house?”
The room was dark. Remy wasn’t sure how long he’d been asleep, but he was guessing for a few hours.
“Loki,” he said. “I didn’t hear you.”
“No one hears me unless I want them to,” Loki replied in a low, dark voice. “And you weren’t supposed to. Now, why the fuck are you in my house?”
Okay . . . this wasn’t the Loki he was used to. That Loki was wild. Almost manic. Carefree and irreverent.
But this Loki wasn’t full of fun and riding a high.
This Loki was serious. Deadly serious.
And it was a reminder to Remy that people could have many sides to them and not to take them at face value.
“I’ve been looking after Isa,” Remy told him.
“And why the fuck would Isa need you to take care of her?” Loki replied.
“Because you weren’t here.”
Fuck. He knew it was the wrong thing to say as soon as it came out of his mouth, but he couldn’t help it.
The knife pressed into his skin and he felt the sting as Loki cut him. Fuck. The blade was sharp.
Loki wasn’t playing around.
Remy knew that he had to keep calm.
“I’m going to sit up,” Remy told him. “Remove the knife.”
“Like fuck. You shouldn’t be here. Isa didn’t need you. She has me!”
But you weren’t here.
The words were between them and he could hear how Loki’s breath had grown faster.
“I’m always there for Isa. I’m all she needs.”
Remy didn’t think that was true. Isa needed someone she could rely on. But Loki was her best friend, not her man. So it wasn’t up to him to take care of Isa.
That was going to be Remy’s job.
“I’m sorry I said that. I know she has you. And that sometimes you need to get away. That’s your business. But Isa is mine.”
“Isa is not your fucking business!” Loki yelled.
Fuck. He wasn’t sure what was better. Cold and deadly Loki with a knife or wild and crazy Loki with a knife.
“What’s going on in here?” A light came on, and he glanced over to see Isa standing in the living room, rubbing at her eyes. “Loki! You’re back.”
She started running at them. Didn’t she see the fucking knife? Remy braced himself, ready to grab the knife and injure himself rather than have her hurt.
But Loki slid the knife away and held his arms out for Isa.
For Remy’s girl.
He watched as the other man picked her up and she clung to him like a monkey.
While he knew that Isa felt something for Loki, he hadn’t known whether it was reciprocated.
However, the way that Loki was staring down at him right now with anger. Suspicion. Utter possession.
Yeah. He might have a problem here.
Remy sat up and waited to see if she’d remember he was there.
If Loki did want her, then how the hell would Remy ever get her to choose him?