Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
"Are you okay?" She asks. "Or are you just enjoying the sight of my legs?"
"I enjoy all sights of you." I place the grilled cheese I made on the plate before taking it over to the kitchen island and setting it next to the tomato soup.
“My fave.” She slides into the chair. “I’m not shocked you know this. I should quiz you. See how much you really know.” Kindred playfully rubs her hands together as I set my own plate down next to hers.
“Hit me.” I pick up my sandwich and take a bite. I should be buckling down on finding out who did this, but it can wait for tomorrow. Kindred is back to smiling, and she is tucked away here with me. I know she’s safe.
“What instrument do I know how to play?”
“The flute.” Though I have never seen her with one. I know she played it in high school.
“What’s my favorite sport?”
“Trying to rile me up.” A giggle leaves her. “You also enjoy going dancing and being in everyone’s business.”
“Damn, you’re good.” She takes a few bites of her food, thinking. “How many kids do I want?” I was just getting my dick to calm down, and she asks that. My eyes drop to her legs, the shirt having ridden up farther now that she’s sitting, swinging her legs back and forth.
“I know you want a few, but I don’t think you have a number on it.” She bumps her shoulder into mine.
“You got it. I know I want them, but I have to feel it out, you know?” She dips her sandwich in the soup before taking a giant bite. Who knew I would think eating was sexy? When it comes to Kindred, I find everything attractive. The little sounds she makes when she enjoys something go straight to my dick.
“Because you’ll be a damn good mom, and you don’t want to take on more than you can handle, thinking there won’t be enough of you to go around.”
She peeks over at me. “I mean—” Her tongue comes out, swiping across her bottom lip. “What if we have one and it feels right?”
“Then we only have one.”
“You don’t have a number?”
“Before you, I didn’t think I’d ever have a family, but I find when it comes to you, I always enjoy the hell out of the ride you take me on, so—”
"Really, you still like your control."
"On some things," I agree. "That can happen when for a big chunk of your life you felt as though you had no control." Her eyes soften on me. "Being a Ranger worked. I had a schedule, and I was merely moving through life, checking off each day. I think I would have kept going that way, but you came along. Then I started to want things. To see the enjoyment you can get out of simple things." The moment I laid eyes on her had changed everything for me.
"What kind of simple things?" Kindred turns in her chair.
"I do enjoy the fuck out of figuring out what you might be up to."
"And here I thought I was annoying you." She lets out a fake annoyed huff.
"Going to the bar."
"What!" she squeaks. "You hate the bar. You stand in the corner like this." Kindred folds her arms over her chest and glares around the kitchen, tracking every inch of it. Not too bad of a job.
"I enjoy watching you dance and sing, even if you can't hold a tune to save anyone's ears."
"You did not say that."
"It adds to your charm." I tug one of her locks that has spilled free from the clip she put it up into.
Kindred places her hand on my chest, leaning toward me. I changed into a shirt and sweats before I started making dinner for us. I turn my head to be closer to her. Her eyes search my face.
“You know so much about me, and I don’t think I know enough about you.”
“Didn’t really start living a life worth talking about until I got here.” This place, New Hope and Kindred, woke me up from a long slumber that I didn't know I was under. Not until she stayed to clear that fog.
Her hand slides up, and I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her over into my lap so that she’s straddling me. Fuck, she's beautiful and so full of life and happiness. I have never been a religious man, but she could make me a believer.
“You did. Those experiences contributed to your journey here. They are a part of you.”
“That’s one way to look at it.”
“Do you not want to tell me about your past?” Her bottom lip slightly puffs out. It's a small tell of hers that she's not happy but won't push. She wants me to open up to her.