Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 110550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“Dammit, woman, I don’t think that!”
She jabbed my chest. “I’m strong enough to learn what you have to teach me, so say you will. Say you’ll turn me into a Merchant.”
“Kenzie—”
“Say it!”
“Okay,” I bellowed, so damn turned around I finally understood the confusion I dealt people when I bowled them under my rapid-fire speech. “I said I would and I will, but you need to take a breath and talk to me.”
“I am talking to you, Bane. I’m telling you exactly how it’s going to be from now on, because I’m tired of life happening to me.” I received another jab to the chest. “If you don’t want a relationship with me, that’s your choice and I respect it. But we’re done with this avoiding-me and keeping-me-at-arm’s-length nonsense.
“You’re into me, and I’m into you. So with your consent, we’re going to casually screw each other until you either break your vow or make the biggest mistake of your life and end it with me.”
Now I really wasn’t understanding what she was saying. The words I was hearing could not be the ones actually coming out of her mouth.
“We’re going to what?”
“Give in to all this ridiculous sexual tension.” She threw out her hands, and grabbed the hilt of a knife. “It’s that doe-eyed thing that makes you believe I can’t handle a casual relationship without falling hopelessly in love and getting my heart broken.
“Believe it or not, I don’t waste my time getting hung up on men who don’t want me. But then of course”—she bunched my shirt and sliced it with one swipe—“you do.”
“What the fuck?!” Reacting out of instinct, I seized Kenzie’s wrist and twisted her around. The knife hit the carpet and she went after it, legs tangling. I tried to catch her and we both went down, tumbling onto the couch.
Kenzie moved fast and flipped me over, straddling me. How stupid was I teaching her that move?
“Casual,” she said, bearing down on my shoulders. “No strings. No commitment. We can’t be around each other and not have sex. We can’t be apart without feeling like we lost a friend. So, this is the compromise.”
“We can’t do this—casual or otherwise! You’re dating my younger brother.”
This did not slow her down. On the contrary, her shirt was off and across the room in a blink. “Sole and I already discussed it. He’s got no problem following in your parents’ footsteps.”
I broke free of her easily, snapping her arms to her side. My ability to overpower her wasn’t the problem, it was my capacity. She was tossing me around like a sex toy because the element of shock gave her great advantage.
“Just because he’s okay with a poly relationship, doesn’t mean he’s cool with the other guy being his brother.”
If anything, her smirk widened.
“Except you and Liam were specifically brought up and Sole said he’s fine with it. You could call him and ask, but that would dampen the mood.”
My mind spun. “Sole said that?” That’s not right. He couldn’t have.
That guy wouldn’t share his candy, toys, and sometimes even his mother growing up. Wasn’t afraid to bite every hand that got close when Mom was carrying him. I’m supposed to believe he gave the green light for the woman he loves to sleep with his brother.
“But that doesn’t—”
Kenzie broke free and tore apart my zipper. “Pants off.”
“Fucking hell,” I cried as my button bounced off the wall. “I believe you mentioned my consent!”
“Oh?” Kenzie climbed off me, backing away. “Naturally, this only happens if we both want it. Can’t have you pulling the same crap on me that you did after we kissed, saying it was a mistake and you got carried away.”
She brushed one strap off her shoulder, then the next. A strangled noise left my throat as her jeans flew at me.
“So now’s the time, Bane.” Draping herself on my sectional, a naked Kenzie picked up the fallen knife and trailed it between her breasts. “Go ahead... say no.”
My cock strained traitorously through my ruined zipper. That was one compelling vote against no.
But this could not happen. Believing her word about my brother’s agreement while she was in the middle of a breakdown wasn’t the best move. She talked about what I would regret. What about what Kenzie would regret when this feverish mood lifted, and the law-abiding single mom from North Quay realized she didn’t want to learn to kill without conscience, or casually screw her teacher?
This is a recipe for disaster in every way, and no matter what she thinks, she is my friend. I can’t help her fall apart—
Licking the flat of the blade, Kenzie crooked her finger. I sprang off the cushions and launched at her.
We collided in a shower of sparks, moans, and clashing tongues. It was a good thing Mackenzie could make me a replacement, because she shredded my jacket—slicing it to bits by way of taking it off. I took the damn thing off her and flung it across the room over her giggling.