Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 160(@200wpm)___ 128(@250wpm)___ 107(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 160(@200wpm)___ 128(@250wpm)___ 107(@300wpm)
My cheeks warm as my heart goes pitter-patter, but I know I have to stand my ground.
“I appreciate the sentiment, but I’ll let you know when I have an answer for you.”
Cross stares at me, his blue eyes dumbfounded.
“Can we at least see Sylvester in the meantime?” he rasps. “He’s our son.”
I nod.
“Yes, because I want Sylvester to know his daddies. He’s a sweet boy who adores being the center of attention, and it’ll be good to have a male influence in his life. So yes. But I’ll be in touch about my answer with respect to a relationship,” I manage in an even tone, even as my heart races at the word “relationship.” “I appreciate your patience.”
The two men look like they want to say more, but then they nod and rise to towering heights within the apartment.
“Can we kiss you goodbye?” Barrett asks in a low tone.
“Just for old time’s sake,” Cross adds.
I pause for a moment, tempted to say no. But why not? After all, a kiss is just a kiss, and it wouldn’t have any bearing on what ultimately happens. So I smile softly and nod.
“Yes.”
The two men move fast. Immediately, I’m sandwiched between those hard male chests, Barrett catching my lips with his own first. His mouth is gentle initially, probing and questing, but as soon as I part my pout, he seizes control. His tongue delves into my mouth, claiming me as a big hand reaches up to toy with a stiff nipple.
“You’re so beautiful,” he rasps. “We’ve missed you so much.”
Then, Cross is next. The huge alpha male claims my mouth ruthlessly, as if he can’t hold out a second longer. He growls low in his chest, staking his claim as possession surges through his veins.
“You belong to us, Misty Earnshaw,” he rasps hungrily. “And don’t you forget it.”
Then, the two men disappear out my front door, and I’m left gasping and aroused, alone in the living room. What just happened? I thought I behaved in a rational and dignified manner, but the kiss we just shared has turned everything on its head.
14
Misty
“What do I do?” I wail. “I have no idea what comes next.”
Jenna is thoughtful, her lips pursed in a pout as I stare at my friend though the screen.
“Well, it doesn’t sound too bad,” she ventures. “I mean, Chris and Brent want you,” she says. “They’re rich as fuck and want to be in a relationship with you while getting to know their son. I’d say this is ideal, even.”
I shake my head.
“Jenna, you and I come from foster care. We can’t be naïve about stuff like this. You know they must be pulling my leg, and there’s something that I’m missing.”
My buddy frowns, her pretty pout turning upside down.
“I don’t know. Is there? You googled them using their real names, right?”
I nod.
“I did, and everything checks out. Cross is the CEO of Cross Holdings, which is a multimillion-dollar credit card company. Barrett works for a VC firm, and evidently owns a huge estate on the outskirts of Minneapolis. They both appear to be what they claim.”
“So what’s the problem?” my friend asks in a reasonable tone. “It sounds like a go to me.”
I pause for a moment.
“I just don’t think things can be that simple, you know? Life is hard. Our lives are hard. How can I be sure that they’re telling the truth?”
Jenna purses her lips again.
“Can I just be a Debbie Downer for a moment and say I think you’re being pessimistic, Misty? I don’t blame you because of where we come from,” she says quickly. “Foster care is rough, and being a ward of the state really sucks. But I also think you’re determined to look beneath every stone in order to find a problem. Can you just take it slow, and go by feel maybe?”
I stare at her.
“With two powerful alpha males? Is there such a thing as taking it slow? Especially when we already share a child?”
“Okay, you have a point,” Jenna acknowledges, tapping her perfectly-manicured pink nails against one another. “There are many different speeds, and slow is a relative term,” she hums. “But maybe just stop looking for hurdles and problems? Maybe lean into life and relax a bit? Chris and Brett want to help, and they basically said that they love you.”
“You mean Cross and Barrett,” I say in a rueful tone. “Because they were using fake names.”
Jenna shrugs.
“I think a lot of people on Sweet Lies use fake names. I know I do.”
I stare.
“You do?”
“Hell yeah!” she giggles. “I’m not going to tell you what my fake name is, but I’m definitely not going by Jenna London. That’s asking for trouble.”
I roll my eyes.
“Oh my god, I can’t believe you’re still with Sweet Lies after all this time.”
My buddy merely shrugs with a coy smile.