Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
“You can’t control the whole world.”
“Don’t want to control the whole world,” he replied. “Just need to control my part of it so that nothing goes wrong.”
Devi wanted to point out that that was impossible. But then she remembered what happened to his wife.
It was no wonder he wanted some form of control.
She also understood the reasons behind all these rules. May’s death had traumatized him. Devi wondered if she’d ever find someone to love her as much as he’d loved May.
She guessed he thought that surrounding her in ridiculous rules would help keep her safe. What she didn’t understand is why he cared so much. She wasn’t his wife. And she knew that he could never love her.
As much as she might wish he was truly her fiancé.
Don’t think about that right now.
Sighing, she shifted around.
“What’s wrong?” he demanded. “Are you in pain?”
“No. Not really.”
“Not really?” He turned his head to her. “Remember your rule about telling me what you need?”
She might have resisted telling him for longer if another cramp hadn’t caught her by surprise. Breathing through it, she leaned back as it eased.
“Toilet. Please.”
“Right.”
It was another five minutes before they reached a rest area. By that stage she was in a bad way. The pain was getting more intense and she desperately had to pee.
He got her out of the car and carried her to the bathroom.
“I can walk.”
“Not sure that’s true.” Hayes walked straight into one of the unisex toilets for wheelchair users and shut the door behind them, locking it.
“You can’t stay in here with me!”
“I’ve stayed in the bathroom plenty of times with you,” he pointed out.
“But not anymore. Out! Out. Please. I deserve some privacy. Out.”
To her shock, that actually worked.
At the door, he turned to her. “Leave this unlocked and if you need me, yell out.”
Then he was gone.
And she felt the stupid urge to burst into tears because she hadn’t actually wanted him to leave.
Oh Lord.
She was in big trouble here.
Come on, Devi. You don’t need to rely on Hayes to take care of you for everything.
No, but it sure was nice and her Little didn’t really understand this need for independence.
Pushing down her pants and panties with one hand, she noticed that her period had started.
Really? Could anything else go wrong?
Sitting on the toilet, she nearly cried as she finally peed, it was such a relief.
Ouch.
That actually hurt. Reaching for some toilet paper, she cleaned herself up.
Shoot. She didn’t have any sanitary products.
What was she going to do?
Suddenly, it just became all too much, and she burst into tears.
Well. This was going well, wasn’t it?
What the hell was going on with her?
Why would she tell him to leave? He hadn’t wanted to go. Every instinct had told him to stay and look after her.
But the look on her face . . . the tone of her voice . . . she’d seemed so desperate. So he’d walked out and left her in the bathroom.
To fend for herself.
Nope. This was wrong. He should be in there with her.
But was he being too controlling?
May had let him take charge when it came to her Little or in the bedroom, but that was about it. She’d never have let him come into the bathroom with her.
But maybe if he’d taken control more she’d still be alive.
Okay, even he knew that was stupid. But it just felt like if he controlled every aspect of her life that nothing would happen to Devi.
Do not scare that girl away with your bossy ways.
Right. Thanks for the helpful advice, May.
Devi needed him in ways that May never had. May had an awesome upbringing with a family who had adored her. And who had taught her how to take care of herself. Devi had been looking after herself for most of her life, but she still didn’t know how to put herself first. How to protect herself and make sure that others didn’t take advantage of her.
That was his job now.
Not to mention that she was injured and possibly in danger.
It made his instincts go into hyperdrive.
“Hey, what’s going on? Why’re you pacing up and down the hallways like a bear with a sore paw. Where’s Devi?”
“Bathroom.”
Donovan’s face twisted into sympathy. “Too much junk food? Been there, done that. She need some medication to stop her up?”
Hayes gaped at him. What was he . . . oh. “I don’t think she’s having those kinds of problems.”
Well, what did he know, though? She could be and he was out here twisting his fingers together.
“Just go and get some more water for her, will you?” he grumbled.
“Say please,” Donovan said with a grin.
“I’ll say please by sticking my boot up your ass,” he grumbled.
“Aww, that’s a kind offer, but fisting isn’t really my thing. And I’m not into grouchy, older guys.”