Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
“Scare me? No, of course not. I’m not afraid of you.”
He watched his hand trail up and over her hip, then back again. “No. I mean what you found in my pocket.”
“Oh.” She fell silent, mulling the question. “You didn’t scare me. I was scared for you. But also, so freakin’ proud.”
He laughed, but it came out harsh and ugly. “Pretty sure I didn’t do anything anyone should be proud of tonight.”
“Yes,” she said with firm finality. “You did. You didn’t use whatever it was in your pocket, Lock. You gave it to me, and I destroyed it. You were stronger than you think. Stronger than the pain inside you. That’s something to be proud of.”
He let her words sink in. The therapist in rehab had given him a similar speech. Recovery didn’t mean perfection. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t occasionally backslide, have a bad day, or need help. The key, he’d said, was to use the resources around him, including people, to do whatever he needed to avoid using drugs.
And he’d done that.
Thanks to Brenna.
He cupped her tits, stoking his thumbs over her pretty nipples. They perked back up beneath his touch. The way her body responded to his hands was a rush more potent than any drug. “I don’t know what I did in a previous life to deserve someone as fucking spectacular as you. I’m not sure I can let you go, Brenna.”
Her eyes widened, and she arched into his touch, biting her lower lip on a whimper. “So don’t,” she whispered. “Keep me as long as you can.”
What if I want to keep you forever?
The unspoken question hovered between them, but instead of voicing it, he kissed her. Brenna melted against him. Every time he had her, he wanted her more. Soon, it’d be impossible to deny his feelings.
He’d fallen for this woman in every way.
“You’re mine, Brenna,” he said as he rolled her to her back and settled between her thighs. His cock rallied as soon as it encountered the sticky evidence of their recent sex.
She pressed her hips into him. “Yes, Lock. I’m yours. Show me again. Make me feel it again.”
He kissed her as he slid back inside her welcoming body.
Yes, he’d show her again and again. Whatever it took to make her stay.
Forever, if you’ll have me.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
SUNDAY MORNING, BRENNA found herself seated at a long table in the clubhouse with mountains of food piled from end to end. Once she finally remembered to text Brooke the previous night, she’d been immediately instructed to meet everyone at the clubhouse at eight the following morning for “family breakfast.” Well, Brooke had only extended the invitation after chewing Brenna out for leaving her hanging. With all the mind-blowing sex, Brenna had completely forgotten to call her back. Whoops. Thankfully, Brooke had a hot man of her own and guessed the exact reason for the delay.
Well, maybe not the exact reason. She hadn’t said anything about knowing Lock fucked Brenna in a way she’d only dreamed of, with fierce possession and an almost ferocious need. But she had assumed they’d fallen into bed once Brenna got him home.
“Yo, Bren, pass that bacon this way. I gotta get some protein in me to keep up with my ol’ lady, if you know what I mean.” Jinx winked at her.
Harper rolled her eyes. “Pretty sure the bacon knows what you mean. You’re not exactly subtle.”
He smacked a loud kiss on Harper’s cheek. “Sorry, baby, can’t help it. I need meat to power my meat. You demand a lot of my body.”
“Oh my God,” Harper muttered as she turned bright pink. “You’re such an animal.”
Jinx snarled. “Damn straight.” Then he barked a few times before playfully attacking Harper’s neck. His woman squealed and pretended to swat him away but didn’t protest the deep and not-for-public kiss he laid on her.
“You’re both fucking animals. Knock that shit off,” Spec shouted. “Jinx, you look like you’re trying to eat her goddamn face.”
A biscuit flew across the table and hit Jinx smack in the side of the head.
“Hey!” He stopped kissing Harper to flip Spec off.
Everyone laughed, even Lock, which had to be a good sign, right? It was the first time since they’d woken up hours ago that his mouth did something besides scowl. He hadn’t taken a bite of food, though he did down three cups of coffee. If he had any more caffeine on an empty stomach, he might levitate off his chair.
She squeezed his hand, and he turned her way. “Thank you,” he mouthed. The moment they got out of his car, he’d threaded his fingers through hers and hadn’t let go once. She’d be a lying fool if she said she didn’t love how he reached for her in times of crisis.
Next to him, Caleb sat in a highchair, munching on small pieces of biscuit and strawberry without a care in the world. Sometimes, it’d be nice to be oblivious to the chaos.