Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 146666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 733(@200wpm)___ 587(@250wpm)___ 489(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 733(@200wpm)___ 587(@250wpm)___ 489(@300wpm)
That was going to be interesting with her arm in a sling.
“I’ll make us lunch. What do you feel like?” he asked as they walked into the house.
“I’m not hungry.”
“Grilled cheese it is,” he said cheerfully.
She sighed and slid her arm out of the sling.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Hack asked, looking over at her with a frown.
“I’ve got to do some work.”
“Not today, you’re not. You’re resting that wrist.”
She sighed. So fossy. But unfortunately, bills still needed to be paid. “I’ve got deadlines. And I can’t afford any more time off. My wrist will be fine.” She moved it around. Ouch. She wasn’t so sure it would be fine. But she’d suffer through it.
“And I said no. They can wait until tomorrow.”
“You can’t tell me no.”
“Yes, I can.”
“You’re not actually my guardian. You don’t really get a say in what I do.” She didn’t know why she was fighting him so much on this. The truth was, another day wouldn’t matter.
But she felt the urge to stand her ground . . . and see what he would do.
“I don’t get a say?” he asked in a low voice.
Warning. Warning.
She shook her head but swallowed nervously. Not that she thought he would hurt her. But he did look rather intense.
“I would have a say if you were mine.”
“But I’m not.”
“Are you sure about that? Because you feel like mine.”
32
“Uh, what?” she whispered.
“You feel like mine, baby girl.” He moved even closer, clasping her face between his hands. “You feel like you were always meant to be mine. I’m not a fanciful person, but it feels like the universe threw us together for a reason. Because we were meant to meet.”
Holy. Crap.
Was this happening?
“That’s called a snowstorm. It’s nature.”
“I don’t give a fuck what it was. I knew when I met you that you were mine.”
She shook her head. Well, as much as she could when he held her head between his hands.
“And I think you knew it as well, didn’t you, baby?”
“It won’t work.”
“Shh. You can’t start something thinking that it won’t work. You have to have faith.”
That was the problem. She didn’t think she knew how to have faith anymore.
“I want to kiss you. Do you want to kiss me?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
His lips descended. One hand moved to the back of her neck, holding her to him but not trapping her.
Her insides melted. This was like no kiss she’d ever experienced. With a whimper, she clung to him, wanting more. He slid his leg between hers and cupped her ass with his hand, pushing her against him.
Oh, hell.
More, she wanted more. She wanted him.
“You taste so delicious, baby girl. I cannot wait to fucking touch you, to taste you all over.”
She tensed.
Panic flooded through her.
Her heart raced as she pushed back from him.
“Red!” She managed to get the word out between her gasps for breath.
It was probably unnecessary to use her safeword since he’d already let go of her. But it had taken her a moment to notice that she was free.
Shit. Fuck.
Tears streamed down her face as she looked up into his tortured face. “I’m so s-sorry.”
“Baby, you don’t need to be sorry. I’m the one who pushed too hard. Did I make you feel unsafe? Did I scare you?”
“I . . . I . . .” She knew that she should be braver. Tell him what was wrong.
She owed him that much.
Here was this gorgeous, intelligent, caring man who wanted her. And the first time he kissed her, she said her safeword.
He had to think she was insane.
Well, better he found out now. Before things went any further.
God, she was going to miss him.
“I’m s-sorry.” Turning, she ran off.
Coward. Coward. Coward.
Hack stood there, staring at where she’d left.
How the fuck had that gone so badly?
Probably because you pushed her too fast, too soon, asshole.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
What had he been thinking? Of course she’d freaked out. He’d just claimed ownership of her after knowing her for what . . . a week?
Yep. Way to go. This was a new record for him. Usually, it took him at least a month to run a woman off.
He needed to learn when to pull back. How to slow things down. The thing was . . . what he felt for her was far more intense than anything he’d felt for any other woman in the past.
Should he leave? Give her time?
But that didn’t feel like the right thing to do. If he left now, then she might see it as him walking away from her.
She needs me.
And I don’t want to leave.
Moving down the hallway, he stopped outside Ethan’s bedroom door and knocked.
“Baby, I’m coming in.”
He waited for a protest.
Shit.
He tried the door. Locked.
Fuck. He should have seen that coming.
He leaned his forehead against the door. “Greer, baby. Open the door. I promise I won’t touch you. Not if you don’t want me to. I just need to see that you’re all right. Please.”