Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 106292 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106292 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
“No,” I say, “But—”
“Then I’m not wearing it.”
“Don’t be stupid.”
“I’m not sure if you’ve noticed,” she says. “But I don’t have great options in life, and if I can somehow manage to take myself out in a more humane way than having my heart ripped out of my chest, then I will.”
I shake my head and shove the helmet over her head as she sighs. “Not on my watch.” Then just to rub salt in the wound, I make a show of bopping the top of her head before straddling my bike.
Oakley’s hands immediately fall to my waist as the Harley roars to life, the loud engine rumbling through the underground garage. I hit the gas and break out onto the roads of Faders Bay with Oakley’s arms circled around me, her body pressed right up against my back.
The wind whips back through her hair, and I feel as her body truly starts to relax for the first time in weeks, leaving all the bullshit back inside the penthouse.
I weave through the backstreets of the city for over an hour, going out past the city limits and right back across town. She doesn’t say a word, just rides with me, taking in the scenery and getting lost in her thoughts.
We pull up at a red light, and I reach back, my fingers brushing over her bare thigh. “What’s up?”
Her lips press into a hard line as sadness creeps into her eyes. “I don’t want you to fall for me, Dalton,” she murmurs, her voice barely audible over the sound of the roaring engine. “You’re too good. And when Zade . . . it’s going to break you.”
A heaviness settles into my chest, and I reach back, gripping her waist before pulling her around me, settling her over my thighs. Gripping the helmet, I pull it off her head so I can see her properly, desperately needing those blue eyes on mine. “It’s too fucking late for that,” I tell her. “The moment you looked at me that first night outside the college apartment complex, I was a fucking goner. I could have pulled away from you then. I knew the consequences of getting involved with you, but I did it anyway.”
Oakley lets out a heavy sigh, her eyes roaming over my face, tears welling in her eyes. “Don’t say it, Dalton.”
I shake my head, not understanding how I possibly couldn’t. “I’m in love with you, Oakley. Every fucking piece of me belongs to you.”
The tears fall from her eyes and she looks at me so fucking broken. “You can’t,” she breathes, her voice breaking. “I’m going to die. He’s going to tear my heart right out of my chest and you’ll be left with nothing.”
I shake my head, my hands gripping her waist and holding her tighter. “Not if I can help it,” I tell her. “Some way, somehow, I’m going to save you from that ritual, Firefly. Whether it’s a loophole or if I have to physically stand against Zade. I’m not going to allow your heart to stop beating.”
“You can’t stand against Zade,” she whispers. “No one can stand against him.”
“I can and I fucking will,” I tell her, “and if I go down trying, then we go down together.”
Her tears fall more forcefully, and she locks her arm around my neck, her lips barely a breath away. “I’m not ready to die.”
My lips crush against hers, kissing her deeply as her words rock through my body, shattering what little soul I possess. Her kiss becomes hungry and desperate, and I give her exactly what she needs, even when she reaches down between us and frees my cock from the confines of my pants.
I’m already fucking hard, my cock straining for her touch, and as she moves her fist up and down in the dark, deserted street, I have to have her, and I don’t have a fucking second to waste.
My arm locks around her waist, lifting her just enough to guide my cock to her entrance, more than happy for her decision to walk out of the penthouse without any fucking underwear. Lowering her down onto me, she groans into my mouth as my cock stretches her sweet little pussy. I take her deep, and as usual, she waits just a moment, getting used to my intrusion before finally moving up and down, bracing her arms around my neck to give her leverage.
She grinds and moves, not bothered by the fact that the red light has turned green and we’re stopped in the middle of the street, the loud rumble of the bike probably drawing attention from all around. All that matters at this moment is being one.
Oakley clenches around me, and my eyes flutter, the satisfaction so fucking strong. I go to grip her ass, more than ready to take this to the next level, when she gasps, her eyes going wide over my shoulder. “Oh, shit,” she breathes. “Someone’s coming.”