Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 68192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“No, I’m definitely not. I don’t know what kind of assholes you’ve made out with, but they are stupid as fuck if they didn’t think being with you was a gift. None of them deserved to touch you. They weren’t even close to good enough for you. I’ve never been with anyone hotter than you.”
“Lorenzo, you don’t have to say those things. I’m going to be here. I’m going to do whatever you want. I know how much I owe you.”
I wanted to end this game now so I could stop pretending my taking his ass had anything to do with him owing me, but I also didn’t want to take any risk that he’d stop being so open and needy, so willing to strip himself down to nothing in every possible way for me.
“Baby, I’m not flattering you. I’m just telling you the truth.”
“So you think other men would want me?”
A growl rose from deep inside me. “Yes, but they can’t have you.”
His eyes widened. “You’re scary when you use that voice.”
“Do you like it when I scare you?” He nodded, and I smiled. “Don’t let any other man do that. You’re safe with me, not with anyone else.”
Niko grinned. “Not with your brothers or—”
I knew he was teasing me, but anger still burned in my chest. “If my brothers so much as look at you like that, they will pay.”
“You’re being ridiculous. Your brothers aren’t going to want me.”
Rafe would fuck just about anyone, and he’d already mentioned how hot Nikolai was. Not that I actually thought he or Dante would ever try to take a man from me, but I had no doubt they both knew how lucky I was.”
“You need to get some sleep,” I said.
“Are you going to stay here?”
“Yes, I’m going to stay here. You’re paying for my protection, aren’t you?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Here in bed with me? I think I’d sleep better if you’re next to me. If you don’t want me here, in your own room, we could go somewhere else.”
“Niko, this is exactly where I want you. You’re not to leave this room unless you’re with me.”
“Am I a prisoner?”
I frowned. “Not exactly.”
“But I’m not allowed out of this room?”
“It’s for your own safety.”
“Your family is at war with mine. I get it.”
I shook my head. “Not exactly. Not yet.” Though if Remington wanted to negotiate with Dimitri after last night, I was going to tell him to go to hell.
“That’s enough talking. You really need to sleep so you can heal. Let me clean you up.”
He frowned. “You don’t have to do that. I can—”
“Are you really going to be able to walk to the bathroom right now?”
He chewed his lips for a moment, then shook his head
“That’s what I thought. Let me take care of you.”
“But that’s all you’ve been doing since I got here.”
“No, I’ve been fucking you, using you, taking you harder than I should have.”
His lips turned up in a dreamy smile. “That felt like caring for me too.”
“And I thought you were paying what you owed.”
“I was. I am, and I’ll keep paying. You didn’t say I couldn’t enjoy it.”
Just when I started to think I was a monster for taking advantage of him, he showed that more spirited side of himself, and it made me like him even more. “Stay right there.”
“I just said I couldn’t walk yet. Where am I going to go?”
I brought a warm, wet washcloth and cleaned him up. He flinched when I patted the cloth over his well-used hole.
“Sore?”
“Yes, but I don’t mind. I… don’t regret it.”
“Good. Let’s get you tucked in bed.”
He frowned as he looked down at the clothes I’d discarded. “I don’t have anything to wear except the clothes I wore here.”
“You don’t need to wear anything in bed with me.”
“But what if something happens and someone needs to come in, like your brothers or—”
“Good point.” I didn’t have anything that would fit him well, but one of my T-shirts would be large enough to easily fit over his cast and come down nearly to his knees. I liked the idea of him wearing something that was mine. My cock reacted to the mental image of him in my T-shirt and nothing else. “I’ll find something.”
At the bottom of my shirt drawer, I found a T-shirt that was large even on me.
Niko sat up, and I untied the sling I’d made and slipped the shirt over his head. “Your cast should fit through the sleeve, but let me help you.”
“You don’t have to dress me.”
“Shh.” I placed my finger over his lips. “Just let me take care of you.”
I got him into the T-shirt, helped him turn on his side, and put a pillow under his broken arm to support it.
He was mostly asleep by the time I spooned myself around him, but I lay awake for a long time, trying to figure out if there was any way to adjust my life so I could have Niko and keep my family safe.