Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 103356 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103356 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
She shook her head violently and he smiled.
“Or you can pretend this never happened, you never saw any of this, and you can leave.”
“I want option number two. I’ll never say a word, Don. I promise.”
Please don’t let him take her back with him.
“I know you won’t, sweetheart. I’m taking over everything he owned, you know. You won’t get any of it.”
“I don’t want it. I just want to live in peace. Please.”
Don cupped her face with his hand. “I know you do. I saw that in you the first time I met you. I have no desire for an unwilling woman.” He stepped back.
“Some of the people who worked for him . . . in the house . . . they’re good people.”
“If they’re good people, they won’t be harmed, I promise.”
Lilac nodded. She just wanted out of here.
Tanner. She needed Tanner.
“Now, we’re going to leave, and you need to get off the plane. But don’t worry, I’m sure your man will be here soon.”
“You know about Tanner?” she asked.
“Hmm. Tell him Mateo sends his regards.”
“You know Mateo?” she whispered. She remembered Alec had talked to him, and he’d said he’d discreetly ask around about her brother.
Why hadn’t he mentioned Don to Alec?
“Yes. He contacted me to see if I knew what was happening with Stefan. Mateo wasn’t able to get directly involved. But I told him I would do what was necessary to take care of you. He didn’t know the details.”
Okay. All right.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart, but I’m going to have to ask you to get off the plane. I need to leave now.”
Sure. Uh-huh.
Why did she feel so numb? And yet her legs didn’t want to move properly.
She had to step over Stefan’s body to get out. A sob escaped her. By the time she descended the stairs, the plane was getting ready to leave and she was barely able to stumble far enough away.
Pausing, she heaved up the contents of her stomach, which wasn’t a lot.
She wanted to believe she was safe.
She slid onto her ass and waited.
When Tanner arrived with Raid and Butch. He opened the back door of the truck before it even stopped, running toward her.
Crouching down, he cupped her face in his hands. His face was pale, his eyes wild. “Baby, baby, are you all right? Are you hurt? Fuck, talk to me.”
“He’s dead, Tanner. He’s finally dead.” She threw herself into his arms, tears sliding down her cheeks.
She wasn’t sure why she was crying, exactly.
Because of everything that had happened? Because he’d nearly taken her? Or because he was dead?
It was all so mixed up in her mind.
“Shh. It’s all right. You’re safe. I have you. I have you, baby. And you’re never going to leave my sight again. I’m going to spank you every night for a year. I’m going to glue you to me, put a leash on you, fucking something.”
She let out a sobbing laugh and leaned back to look up at him. “I’m all right, Tanner. I promise I’m safe.”
“You better fucking be. Because there’s no way I can ever go through this again.”
“I love you, Tanner Malone. With all of me. And this . . . this is the start of our happy-ever-after.”
EPILOGUE
“Let me play with you.”
“No,” he said.
The reply frustrated her even as his touch brought her such pleasure she swore she saw stars.
His hands were heavy on her breasts, lips on her nipples. His mouth moved lower and lower. To where she wanted him to touch her.
But she wanted to give him the same.
Wanted to take him. Wanted him to fuck her.
Hard. Fast. With a fierceness their love-making no longer had.
Don’t get her wrong, she liked him sweet and slow. Gentle and tender.
But she also liked that other side to him. The man who was in charge. Who commanded her. Who bossed her and teased her. Who flirted and grinned. And yeah, she even missed Meanie Malone.
As he entered her, his dick driving deep inside her, she came. Her cry of pleasure filled their room in the bunkhouse of the Ranch.
Tanner held himself above her, not giving her his weight, afraid to crush her.
Because he thought she was delicate, fragile.
Ever since Stefan stole her away six weeks ago, Tanner had been broken. He was still here. Still did and said the right things. But he watched her all the time. Every touch was deliberately careful as though he was scared she would break.
She’d long since healed her bruises from the car crash. The mark on her cheek left over from where Stefan slapped her was gone.
The nightmares continued, but they were getting better. She’d only had one this last week. Still, they didn’t help Tanner’s state of mind. Every time she had one, he freaked out.
Thankfully, Alec and West hadn’t been badly injured. After no one could get hold of them, Maddox had gone looking and found them. West had a small concussion, while Alec had a lot of bruises and a gash on his head that had needed stitches.