Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 88936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
I attempted to stop him and tug it down, but it was no use. He pulled it up until the handprint bruise was visible.
“Your father?” he asked, not taking his eyes off it.
“Don’t,” I replied as I finally got my shirt free of him and tugged it down so he’d stop looking at it.
His shoulders rose and fell. The veins in his neck stood out, and he took several deep breaths before he lifted his eyes to mine.
“Last night.” It wasn’t a question. He was stating what he already knew.
“He was drunk and angry,” I told him. “Please don’t do anything. Don’t ruin what happened. The kiss.”
He shook his head, and his shoulders relaxed. “I won’t. I’m sorry if I was the cause of that. I messed up last night, and you paid for it.”
“No!” I said fiercely, placing a hand on his chest. “This isn’t your fault. Just forget it, okay? I bruise easily. It didn’t even hurt.”
Amory nodded. “Okay.” Then, he reached out and ran his knuckles down my cheek. “I’ll be here at eight.”
That hadn’t been bad. I wanted to throw my arms around him and thank him for not making a big deal out of this. He winked at me with a small smile, then turned to walk back to his car, which I realized wasn’t the Porsche.
How many vehicles did he have?
I’d never pictured him in a truck, even an expensive-looking one. He opened the door, then picked something up. I watched as he placed a black cowboy hat on his head and then glanced back at me.
Amory Blaine in a cowboy hat was porn-worthy.
• Eighteen •
What was I going to do if she was guilty?
Sebastian
The only thing keeping me from taking that bastard out myself was knowing Royal was waiting on me.
“You look like you’re considering burning the place down,” Storm said beside me.
I tore my eyes off Miller’s Bar and looked at him then at Thatcher, who was leaning against the driver’s door of the Escalade with his arms crossed and a cigarette in his mouth. I’d asked him specifically to do this. If I couldn’t be here to do it, then I wanted him. Not because he was my brother, but because he’d not restrain himself. He’d make it hurt. He’d enjoy it. Until I could get there.
“I gotta go,” I told him.
Thatcher nodded his head once, then clenched the cigarette between his teeth. “Go on then. We got this.”
I took one last glance at the bar, then headed for my truck. It was ten until eight, and I didn’t want to be late. Thinking about how fucking incredible Royal had felt in my arms today and the sweetest-tasting mouth I’d ever had was what kept me from ripping things off the walls after I saw the bruise on her arm.
My plan had been approved by my dad. He liked it and agreed it would speed things along. He just wanted to be sure I could handle Royal. I’d assured him I had the situation with her under control. Which I did. I just didn’t know what tomorrow would bring and if I was ready for it. Whatever she did or said though, I was going to make sure she stayed clueless and safe.
Forcing thoughts about everything except her out of my head, I did my best to relax. She’d notice if I was tense. My being distracted, however, wasn’t going to be an issue. The moment I saw her, I’d forget this shit, or at least it would be moved aside. She always managed to claim my complete attention.
Pulling into the driveway, I smiled as the front porch light came on. I wasn’t even out of my truck yet when she opened the door. I almost swallowed my damn tongue when I got a look at what she was wearing.
Please let there be nothing on under that oversize, long-sleeved shirt.
I wouldn’t think about why she had on sleeves. I knew she didn’t want to remind me about her bruise. It was probably best I couldn’t see it.
I made long, swift strides up the beaten, weathered sidewalk until I reached the porch. I skipped two steps and was in front of her in moments.
She smiled shyly up at me. The places I wanted to see those pretty lips. Starting with them wrapped around my cock.
“Just a shirt?” I asked hopefully.
She blushed, then tugged it up. “Shorts on too.”
Dammit. We’d have to fix that.
I nodded my head at the door. “Grams asleep?”
“Yes,” she said, then turned to go back in the door.
I followed so close behind her that our bodies brushed.
I shut the door and locked it before reaching for her waist. She spun around and laughed.
“Shorts off,” I told her as I reached under the shirt and took the offending item, then pulled it down her legs.