Total pages in book: 203
Estimated words: 199654 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 998(@200wpm)___ 799(@250wpm)___ 666(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 199654 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 998(@200wpm)___ 799(@250wpm)___ 666(@300wpm)
She stares at me for a long minute, emotion in her eyes, a tear escaping and trailing down her cheek.
“I want what I’ve always wanted, Jason. You.”
I suddenly feel weightless.
All the old air leaves my lungs and as I pull in a fresh, clean, fortifying breath, I smile wide. “Finally, I feel like I can do what you need then, because I’m yours.” I grab her hands and kiss one, then the other.
“Are you sure you don’t want to ask for a refund?” she asks, more tears trickling out. “Because I’m feeling pretty defective.”
“No way. Not for anything and everything. I want the female who was chosen by the universe to be mine. That’s you, baby.”
Her shoulders shake as she silently cries.
“Don’t cry, Bailey. The more I thought about it, the more sense it made for us to go through this. I had to fight for you to realize how much I want you looking at me the way you used to do. I had to compete and come close to losing to fully appreciate what’s in front of me. What’s been in front of me. I couldn’t pick you before because you’re Grey’s sister. And until a few years ago it would’ve been frowned on with the age gap. And not only Grey but the entire pack would’ve strung me up if they thought I was playing with your feelings. I wasn’t gonna play with Grey’s sister. And I wasn’t gonna play with anyone where feelings might get involved, especially not you. Everyone loves you. And you know what happened to Joel and Susie, but do you know my parents’ backstory?”
“Your mom told me the day we got back.”
“Heard about it my whole life how Pops dumped Mom’s best friend and then they had to pair up regardless of the fact they couldn’t stand one another. Between that and getting a front row seat with Joel and Susie…I wasn’t gonna do more than play the field until it counted. I wasn’t trying to be a man whore. I don’t think I was much worse than Mase or Linc. And like I said, the four ahead of me identified perfect strangers. I figured it was a trend with this council, that it’d be a flight attendant or some barista or hotel maid in Italy or something else would kick off after I got back. I never played where I thought feelings might get involved.”
She says, “I showed up in Rome to save face. I was going to save your ass and walk away with my head held high. And then I was going to do some sightseeing and shopping before coming home, packing up, and going to Alaska, so I could get over you without having to watch you fall in love with someone else.”
“I’m sorry I was such an asshole.”
“I’m sorry I’ve been so stubborn and bitchy, Jase.”
“You shouldn’t be sorry. You woke my shit up.”
“Are we gonna talk about this forever and ever or are we going to actually fix it?” she asks.
“You ready to let me off my leash, Bay?” I ask, my blood beginning to sizzle in my veins.
“Jason?” she says softly, looking at me with big, beautiful doe eyes.
“Hm?”
“That thing that happened to me on your lap last night?”
“Mm hm…” I smile, remembering it vividly.
“That was the first and second time that ever happened to me with someone.”
My spine snaps straight, and I’m suddenly feeling as serious as a heart attack.
“Um… and… Jase?”
I jerk my chin up. Because it’s all I can do.
“You were my first kiss, too.”
I scoop her up, making her squeak with surprise.
I storm out of the cabin.
“Where are we going?” she asks, looking freaked out.
“Home. I’m claiming you in my bed.”
“Oh,” she says.
“And fair warning… I might not let you out of it for a week.”
Her lips part. Her eyes are huge.
“You set your sights on a super alpha shifter, Bailey. You wanted me, knowing you’d be the sole being responsible for satisfying my hefty sexual appetite. You might think you know what you’re in for, but–”
“I really don’t. I’ve never been touched that way.”
I laugh with supreme satisfaction. “Well, brace, baby. Because not only are you mine, but you’ve also been denying me what’s mine for too long. So, you’ve got a male who’s beyond ready to show you what it means to be claimed by an alpha.”
“I’m scared, Jase.”
“You should be.”
She pales.
My voice goes gentle. “I’ll take care of my sweet little mate, Bailey.”
“You will?”
“Promise.”
“Good,” she whispers.
“But that doesn’t mean I won’t take my fill and leave you unable to move afterwards. I promise you’ll like it, though.”
“Um… okay.”
I laugh and I’m worried it’s coming across as sinister, but the expression on her face means everything, because she no longer looks afraid. My Bailey looks excited.
46
BAILEY
Backing up, Jase’s truck slams into the front bumper of my car.