Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
He glanced outside, noting that she’d come to the street-side entrance, rather than up from the beach, and shut the door. “You look…” Fucking terrified.
He went to her before he could think better of it, pulling her into his arms. Shivers racked her body, and her breath came too fast, as if she’d just sprinted here. He hesitated and then smoothed back her hair. The move seemed to calm her a little, so he did it again. “What happened?”
“It’s silly.” She buried her head in his chest, which made it impossible to gauge her expression.
“‘Silly’ isn’t a word I’d use to describe you. Tell me.”
She took a shuddering breath, held it for exactly three seconds, and exhaled. “I was walking back from the little pub in the middle of town. I didn’t realize how dark the streets would be, and I spooked myself. That’s all. It’s nothing.”
It didn’t sound like nothing. Sloan might be edgy around him, but he’d observed her enough to know that she didn’t jump at shadows. All he knew was that something had scared the living daylights out of her, and she’d just run some distance to come to his door. It would have taken her a grand total of five seconds to reach the O’Connor house and bar herself inside, but she hadn’t done that.
She wants me to protect her.
The thought staggered him. He held her closer without meaning to. No one came to him for protection. They feared him, even if they weren’t able to put a name to their fear until he stood before them, their death in his eyes. He stalked, hunted, killed, leaving destruction in his wake.
He didn’t protect.
But he suddenly wanted to make an exception for this woman. She was so small in his arms, her strength gone in an instant, her body shaking even as she tried to calm herself. He wanted to stand between her and the world, to fight whatever demons plagued her.
Jude almost snorted. That wasn’t who he was. That wasn’t what he did. He might forget that from time to time when he was around Sloan, but that didn’t change his reality.
He still wasn’t going to make her leave while she was terrified.
He guided her over to the couch and sat down, taking her with him. She curled her legs up, fitting in his lap with laughable ease. They sat like that for a long time. Jude didn’t know what to say. He wanted to know what really set her off, but she obviously didn’t want to talk about it. Fuck, he wanted to know a whole lot when it came to Sloan, but she wasn’t the sharing type.
“I was so angry at you today.” She spoke so softly, he thought he’d imagined it until she raised her head and looked at him. Sloan sighed. “It seems rather petty right now, though.”
He’d known she was pissed. He’d done it on purpose. “I don’t lie, not when it comes to sex.” Only everything else. “If you go and get your heart broken, it won’t be because I filled your head with false promises.”
She blinked and then laughed, the sound harsh. “Oh my God, could you be any more arrogant? If you remember, I am the one who invited you in last night. Yes, I invited you to stay, but I’m prepared to chalk that up to temporary insanity. I like how you make my body feel—that’s the sum of it. I’m not ready to date anyone right now, and even if I was, I certainly wouldn’t date you.”
That should reassure him. It was exactly what he wanted, after all.
Instead, it made him fucking furious.
He glared at her, half-surprised when she glared right back. Sloan shook her head. “Coming here was a mistake.” She started to get up, but he hooked the band of her yoga pants and pulled her down. She ended up straddling him with a hiss of fury. “I dislike you intensely.”
“No, you don’t.” He palmed her ass, sliding her forward so she rode the ridge of his cock. “You dislike feeling out of control. Guess what, sunshine. You don’t get control when it comes to fucking me.”
Her nipples pebbled, showing through her thin tank top. They teased him even as she put her hands on his chest, her fingers kneading him and making him think of a kitten who had just discovered her claws. “And if I want control?”
“You don’t.” He wrapped one arm around her waist and used his free hand to palm her over her pants. “I’ve barely touched you and you’re so fucking wet, you’re practically panting for me.”
“You are insufferable.” But she rolled her hips, rubbing herself against his hand. “I’m leaving.”
“No, you’re not. You’re going to stay here and let me lick that pretty pussy of yours until you come.” He lightly pinched her clit through the fabric, watching her face. She liked the slightest bit of pain, if the way her eyes went heavy lidded was anything to go by. “And then I’m going to bend you over this couch and take what’s mine.” Until you forget why you were frightened in the first place tonight.