Total pages in book: 150
Estimated words: 136791 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136791 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
"What happened?" she asks, her voice a worried whisper.
"He called in an anonymous tip to LAPD." I blow out a breath. "I'm under investigation in connection with the murders of the Diablos who killed Titan and Jana. I was taken in for questioning the day you came home from Mariah's."
Her hand trembles as she reaches out for mine, clinging to me.
"I don't know if I'm going to face charges or not," I admit, shifting around when my knees start to ache from being on the floor for so long. I don't move, though. For another chance with this incredible woman, I'll stay on my knees, worshipping at her feet for as long as she'll let me.
She's quiet for a minute, processing this news. "I don't want you to go to prison," she whispers then, two tears making silent tracks down her porcelain cheeks. "I just got you back. I'm not ready to lose you."
Her words give me hope, but I push it down, refusing to feel it until the entire truth is out in the open. Secrets almost destroyed us once. I won't let them do it again.
"Do you remember what happened when Kaleo came after you?" I ask, stroking my thumbs along her cheekbones in slow passes to soothe her.
A shadow drifts through her eyes, and she grimaces. "I got my gun from the safe and came back for you," she whispers, that sweet voice trembling.
The fact that she owns a gun and knows how to use it is still fucking me up. I'm proud as hell of her for looking out for herself but pissed she had to do it.
"You didn't see me, but he did," she says. "When he saw me with the gun, h-he turned and shot me instead of you. I know…I know I killed him. I'm not sorry about it." Determination and anger flash in her eyes, turning her into that little lioness who fights like hell to protect what belongs to her. "I'm glad he shot me instead of you, Cade. It's the only reason you're still alive."
"Fuck," I mumble, pressing my head to her arm as a current of chaotic emotion runs through me strong and fast. My heart clenches in a vise. If I had to choose between us, I'd sacrifice myself for her every damn time. I love and hate knowing she'd make the same choice for me. I love that she believes I'm someone worth saving. I hate that she took a bullet to do it.
How do you even begin to comprehend the selflessness that took? The courage? She thinks she's weak, but she's so much braver than she realizes.
Knowing she remembers killing Kaleo wrecks me. I don't want her to remember a single second of it. She's too damn sweet to live with that memory.
"I'm so fucking sorry, January," I whisper when I compose myself. I lift my head, locking eyes with her. "I'm so sorry for all of it."
"I'm not," she whispers back. "He's taken enough from me. I wasn't letting him take you, too." She pushes her hand through my hair, brushing it away from my forehead. A little smile tugs at the corners of her lips. "I know there's a lot we need to work out, but I'm kind of hoping we can do it together."
"Yeah?" I ask, staring at her lips because I can't help myself.
She nods, her teeth pressing into her bottom lip before she releases it, leaving it wet and glistening. "Do you…I mean, are you–?"
"Am I what, little monster? Say it," I whisper, running my thumb along her bottom lip. It's so soft. Every part of her is soft and sweet. My cock throbs in my jeans, begging for relief he isn't getting any time soon. Until I'm inside January, he's just going to have to suffer.
"Are you staying?" she breathes out.
"Do you want me to stay?"
She nods, not breaking eye contact.
"Fuck," I mumble and then lean forward and take her lips in a bruising kiss. Our tongues dance together and then break apart before coming together again. Her lips are so damn soft against mine. So is her tongue. Kissing her is heaven and hell at once. Heaven because she's perfect. Hell, because I want her spread out beneath me, but I can't have that yet.
Reluctantly, I ease off, slowing the kiss. She sighs into my mouth, her breath so fucking sweet. Her hands are all twisted up in my hair, holding me to her as I nip at her lips and then press mine to each corner of her mouth.
"Cade," she whispers quietly, just like she used to do when we were kids, and I'd kiss her. It's still my favorite sound in the world.
"You're my home, January," I whisper a moment later, leaning back so she can see me and know I mean what I'm telling her. Her lips are swollen from my kisses. She looks like a little doll with happiness brimming in those bright eyes and her cheeks flushed. "Even if you had kicked me out of here today, I wouldn't be going back to Seattle. I'm staying right here with you."