Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Then he introduced me to his father.
Ransom and I only managed to keep our hands off one another for two short weeks. Then came that wonderful, horrible morning…
When I entered the kitchen, I saw the lust on his face before he could hide it. After a night of fantasizing about him, of trying futilely to find orgasm, seeing the dark expression that said he wanted to put his hands and mouth all over me until I begged him to ease the ache in my pussy set me off. I couldn’t take the wanting anymore. I threw myself against him and pressed my lips inexpertly to his. I worried I was crossing a line, but he merely lifted me onto the counter, spread my legs like he couldn’t wait another second either, groaned my name, and delved into my mouth as if he was on fire and only I could save him.
Then Ethan stumbled into the kitchen.
Ransom wrenched away from me, and it ripped my heart in two. When he said I needed to leave, I thought I would die. Yes, he made sure I had a place to stay…but I didn’t want the scraps of his guilt. So I got my GED and found this job. It gets me a step closer to a career working with animals and it pays the rent.
But Ransom swore he’d be back for me the day I turned eighteen. He promised.
With only three hours left of my birthday, I don’t see that happening.
That’s depressing AF.
I always envisioned having some sort of bash on the day I became legal. It didn’t have to be a big one, but maybe some close friends, a balloon or two, and a piece of cake.
The only party I’m having now is all about pity.
Damn it, I hate this woe-is-me crap. I’m responsible for my own happiness, so I’ll stop at the twenty-four-hour diner on the way home, pick up a piece of pie, sing to myself, and start the rest of my life without Ransom.
It’s a solid plan—until I hear a volley of gunshots outside. That’s not unusual for this neighborhood, especially this half-abandoned shopping center. My boss, Dr. Robbins, keeps saying she’s going to leave since gangs have moved in recently. Drug dealers think it’s a great haven, too. I suspect one of the empty storefronts might even be a meth lab. Typically, those guys don’t bother me and I don’t bother them. But this… It’s a lot of gunfire, and I’m scared.
I call 911.
While I talk to the dispatcher, the shots continue. I consider leaving. Even my ratty rent-by-the-week apartment would be safer. But I don’t dare run out of the building during a hail of gunfire.
“Meow.”
One of the kittens who got spayed last week mewls from her cage. She has food. She has water. Is she crying because she’s afraid? Or because she wants affection?
“That makes two of us, Shadow.” I open her cage and gently scoop up the little black fur ball.
She cuddles up in my arms, nuzzling my neck and licking my cheek. Aww, she’s lonely.
Like me.
Her owner was supposed to pick her up days ago but never did—and never returned our calls. Dr. Robbins and I suspect the crazy woman who brought her in isn’t coming back.
I rub Shadow’s small head, and she looks up at me with sad green eyes. “I know how you feel, girlie. We’ll stick together, okay?”
If her owner doesn’t return soon, I’ll find some way to pay the doctor for the surgery and take this baby home with me. I could use the company—and a friend. My apartment doesn’t allow pets, but I can sneak her in. Just temporarily. I’ve been saving money to move out of the shithole I’ve called home since shortly after I left Ransom’s place. I’ll look for a new building that will accept Shadow.
“We’ll make each other happy,” I promise her. “Girl power and all that.”
She meows at me again and starts to purr. I hear her loud and clear since the gunfire abruptly quiets.
At least I’ll get a little peace for my birthday. And I made a new friend. It’s not all bad…
But you were really hoping for Ransom.
And I have to stop. He’s not coming.
Suddenly, Shadow quits purring. I feel a shift in the air, followed by sounds I shouldn’t be hearing this time of night.
No. That couldn’t be the back door opening and closing, right? It was locked…
I don’t know the first thing about guns, and Dr. Robbins doesn’t “believe” in them. That seems naive to me. At least she keeps a baseball bat here, just in case.
“Be right back.” I ease Shadow into her cage, open the door of the surgical room, then creep down the hall, bat in hand. I have my phone in my pocket in case I need to call 911 about an intruder.