Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 106312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 532(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 532(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
“Say my name!” He curses, driving me into oblivion.
“Eli,” I barely gasp. His grip slackens, and he kisses me again as if in reward. I’m on the edge as I carve one more line down his back. He grunts into my mouth, his hips rolling into me.
“Eli!” I scream, snapping as I finally crash over the edge, and he’s holding me, supporting me as my body convulses on its own. He impales me one more time and curses under his breath as he begins to release inside me.
I’m riding the high, holding on to him for dear life as the crash comes in waves. I’ve shattered into a million pieces. The adrenaline that was once holding me together, is replaced by the very monster I shouldn’t be fucking.
Eli holds me as I cling to him, coming down from the peak of ecstasy. We stare at one another for a moment, an unnerving and dangerous energy crackling between us again.
I promised myself it would only be once.
A truce only for today.
But I’m unsure how to keep that promise when I’ve never been fucked to within an inch of my life like this, and something has never felt more right. For the first time in my life, I feel grounded and like I’m where I’m meant to be. And I have no idea what that even means.
Especially considering the bloody mess we’ve made of one another.
We’re both still breathing heavily as some kind of reality snaps us back into place, and I push against him as quickly as he pulls out.
I search for my clothes, ignoring his arrogant grin as he fastens his pants and belt.
I don’t want to acknowledge what just transpired between us, but whatever it was, it satisfied my immediate need for release but replaced it with something else entirely—addiction. Because I already want more.
“I’m clean, by the way,” he mentions as he bends over to collect his shirt. “I don’t usually fuck without protection.”
“So why—” My mouth snaps shut as I take in the carnage I caused. Two thick lines carve his flesh, and smaller ones add to the trail of blood dripping down his muscled and tattooed back. “I’m so sorry.”
I’m mortified. Why did I do that?
“Don’t be.” He shrugs, then leans into my space, planting his hands on either side of me. “Next time, just make sure to do your duty of care.” His muscles bunch and I’m hypnotized for a moment by the dangerous beauty of this man.
I click my tongue. “There won’t be a next time.”
He smirks as he brings his hand to my throat, applying pressure. It causes another buzz to come to life under my skin. His callused thumb delicately brushes over my jaw and rubs against my lips. He withdraws his thumb and looks down at the smudged blood, now painting the digit. “We shall see, Kitten,” he remarks before he takes the thumb into his mouth and sucks.
CHAPTER 26
Eli
“Married?” Dutton questions loudly. “To the woman who’s trying to kill you?”
“Don’t sound so shocked,” I say as I remove my shirt and dump the bottle of water over my sweaty body.
Dutton and I have been throwing a few rounds in my home gym. Usually, Hawke and Ford would train with us too, but I have them out cleaning up the Dee mess. They were unimpressed by the fact that I didn’t take them as backup. But I don’t answer to them; they work for me.
I check my phone to ensure they’ve received the money without a hitch, and proceeded with the document exchange to begin the new contracts with Dee. I eagerly await to see what he already has in motion regarding the motorcycle gang, The Boston Delinquents. The moment I have the details, I have no issue with doubling back and removing Dee from the equation entirely. He offended my family, and people don’t survive that shit.
“Shocked? Weren’t we only having a conversation the other day about figuring out who hired her and then getting rid of her? Do your parents know about this?” he demands.
I look up from my phone. “It hasn’t been publicly announced, but my mother did decide to appear on her doorstep a few days ago.”
Dutton throws his hands in the air. “And then you decided to have a little shoot-out with your girlfriend against Dee and his men without Ford and Hawke. Have you lost your goddamn mind? She could’ve easily killed you then.”
“I’ve heard tests of loyalty are healthy for any relationship,” I say dismissively.
He laughs then, the sound both chaotic and lethal. “Relationship? What the fuck are you on about? You don’t do relationships.”
“It’s a means to an end. I can marry her, wait out the three months until I’m officially named head of the family, then decide whether I dispose of her permanently or pay her out and send her off so she can start a new life.”