Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
A crest of emotion swelled in her eyes, though they were bright with adoration. “They took us in. Protected us as if we were their own. All of them only sixteen or seventeen themselves.”
“I’m so sorry that happened to you.” I felt dazed, trying to process the ton of information that had come out in those two sentences.
A million ghosts played through her expression. “Me, too, but once River got me out, my life was filled with love. So much love.”
“I can’t believe…” I trailed off, once again looking out at the group I couldn’t put my finger on.
“They’re good men.” Raven’s words lowered in emphasis. As if she were making more than a general claim.
“What’s with the matching tattoos on their left hands?” I didn’t know why it was so difficult to get the question out.
I swore that both Raven and Charleigh flinched, a subtle rigidness ticking through their demeanors, though Raven took another casual sip of her margarita.
“It’s a symbol of their oath to each other. Of what they stand for and fight for in this life. The fact that they will always take care of each other. Be there for each other, just as much as they’ll strive to stand for anyone who might be in trouble or need help. No matter what.”
I peered over at her, trying to gauge what that meant.
Clearly trying to change the subject, Raven groaned in pleasure when she took another sip of the sweet, lime-infused concoction. “Well, the one thing I can say for certain is what I’m really going to miss when Otto finally knocks me up are my bestie’s margaritas.”
I choked over the sip I was taking.
Caught off guard. Dragged from the most intense of subjects to this bombshell.
I could feel the weight of her smile when she leaned in and whispered in my ear, “But don’t breathe a word of it to my brother since he still gets all surly and grumpy whenever he thinks of Otto having his wicked way with me.”
She truly had no filter. No shame or worry or fear that I would take advantage of who she was. Things I would never dare to trust others with just dropping from her tongue as if it were natural to share them.
“No luck yet?” Sympathy filled Charleigh’s question.
Clearly, she was privy to details her fiancé was not.
Raven pouted her full, red lips, her words light but still tinged in disappointment. “Nope. I started my period this morning.”
Then she shrugged it off with a grin. “Which only means Otto is going to have to double his efforts this month, so we can hardly count that a bad thing, can we?”
Charleigh scoffed a playful sound. “I’m not sure how he’s supposed to double his efforts when the only thing you two do is get naked.”
“As if you’re one to talk? And can you blame me? I’ve been trying to make that man mine for years, and now that he is, I’m taking full advantage of the whole package.”
She flourished a hand in the direction of Otto. Otto who was currently gobbling up the sight of her from across the yard, as if he had direct access to her thoughts and was envisioning all the ways he wanted her to take advantage of it.
“I mean, that cock is something to behold.” She made a dreamy sound toward the sky. “Even better than I imagined, and with the amount of romance novels I read, you can bet I was imagining something spectacular.”
I spluttered again, and my cheeks went flaming red. I was so unaccustomed to this. Talking about men like this. About sex like this.
My foolish gaze traveled to Kane where he leaned against the fence.
Casually king.
How was it possible my insides flipped?
That connection yanking and pulling and coercing.
Charleigh giggled conspiratorially. “Looks like someone else is imagining something spectacular.”
I jolted back, stammering and fumbling all over my words, “Oh…I wasn’t—”
My throat tightened, my mouth completely dry, because suddenly, I was. I was wondering what it would be like to see Kane completely bare.
My stomach in knots as the vision slammed me. Me on my knees as he moved to tower over me. That glorious body on full display.
I should be terrified.
Horrified.
Repulsed.
But my eyes were crawling back to the man, hungry for something I’d never been.
“Oh, I think you are,” Raven teased.
My eyes rammed closed in an attempt to stop whatever this out-of-control train was that the man had set me on. The one who’d cut the brakes. The one who had loosened the chains that had held me back.
It had to be the grief. The way I’d felt as if I’d been flayed wide open when I’d lost my sister.
Set out to sea.
Drifting and lost.
Floating away.
He’d been the one buoy I’d been able to reach.
But I had to know that was fleeting.