Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
“Next time, you damned well call me if you get in trouble,” Shade said, his voice like gravel. The words were punctuated with his thrusts, like he was punishing me for trying to handle Randy on my own.
Maybe he was.
I should piss him off more often, because despite the brutality of it, I’d never felt anything more amazing. I’d loved it when he’d gone down on me, but this rough and wild sex was somehow better.
Maybe it was the way it hurt a little…the way his hands held me tight, forcing me to hold steady for him, taking everything he had to give, no matter what that meant. Whatever it was, the tension spiraled through me fast and hard until I hovered right on the edge of oblivion.
Shade convulsed, groaning as his hot seed blew into me. I felt the pulse of his cock as he buried himself. That was enough to push me over the edge.
My world shattered into a spiral of stars and streaks and blessed relief.
Shade leaned down over me, catching my hair and turning my head for his kiss. He was marking me, I realized. I wasn’t sure why or for how long, but until he said otherwise, I belonged to him and there was no going back.
Maybe there never had been.
He’d seen me and he’d wanted me. Ultimately, he found a way to have me. That should’ve pissed me off, but when I thought of Randy and Hannah and the whole horrible situation, I didn’t have any room left for anger.
Shade pushed himself back up, then pulled out of me, leaving my ass on full display. Suddenly self-conscious, I grabbed my jeans, pulling them up.
“I should probably get back to work,” I said.
“That’s fine,” Shade replied. “Just don’t forget who you’re going home with at the end of the night.”
I nodded and turned to the door. Then I stopped.
“Shade?” I asked hesitantly, staring at my feet like a chicken.
“Yeah?”
“Will you tell me what happened last night?”
“Your sister’s dumbass ex left a lit pipe in the trailer,” he said. “Whole damned place burned up because of it. Fuckin’ shame.”
“And Randy?”
He didn’t answer for long seconds. My chest tightened.
“Last I hear, he took off in that little car of his,” Shade said. “Asshole made a big mistake, setting that fire. I’d think a man like that would disappear if he could. Probably won’t see him around again. Him or his friends. You and Hannah don’t need to worry.”
“Okay,” I whispered, wondering why I didn’t feel guilty.
Because he was a drug addict who endangered his family, Wonder Woman reminded me. And his friends were worse. They hurt Hannah and threatened Callie. There’s no room for guilt here.
“Don’t forget—you’re with me tonight,” Shade said quietly. “No more games, Mandy.”
“No more games,” I agreed.
We left the bar half an hour after closing.
Riding with Shade at night felt familiar by now. We were in a pack, surrounded by his fellow Reapers and their women. I wasn’t sure how many of them knew what’d gone down.
What I did know was that they’d given, and given generously.
The girls had kept a running total of their tips and sure enough, Bone had matched it. He’d also handed me the five hundred that’d been sitting there waiting all this time. There was more than enough to get a new apartment, I realized. Assuming Hannah wanted one… Heath seemed to think she should just stay at his place.
We’d figure it out later.
For now, I decided to enjoy the feel of the bike between my legs and the fact that I’d already gotten laid once. Odds were good I’d be getting laid again soon.
In four weeks, I’d be done with probation.
Life was good.
I woke up the next morning to find the bed empty, just like last time. This was a bummer because I’d been hoping for some morning nookie. On the other hand, he’d given me four orgasms total last night, so it wasn’t like I was suffering.
I let myself drift back to sleep, waking when I heard voices out in the corridor. Men talking. Then the door opened and Shade stepped in.
This time he wasn’t holding coffee.
“I have to go,” he said. I frowned because he was in full-on biker badass mode—all leather and patches, with a knife sheathed against his leg and a distracted look on his face.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah,” he replied, walking over to the dresser. He opened the top drawer and dug around, tucking something in his pocket before turning back to me. “I can’t give you a ride home. Pepper will take you.”
Then he started for the door without a second look.
“Wait,” I said, sitting up.
Shade turned back, obviously distracted. “What?”
“Is this it, then?”
He frowned at me. “What do you mean?”
“I guess… Is this good-bye?” I asked, and the words sounded so pathetic that I could’ve kicked myself. I forced a smile, determined not to look disappointed. “Is our one-night stand over now?”