Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54343 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54343 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Immediately, Street helped her, tangling his fingers in the material and lifting his head to drag the garment off. He tossed it away carelessly. “Touch me, Little girl,” he told her in a raspy voice harsh with need.
She loved hearing how she affected him. Rosa didn’t understand how this had exploded so quickly between them, but she refused to question it. For once, she wouldn’t second-guess anything.
His hands cupped her breasts, and she quit thinking. Street kissed a trail over her borrowed T-shirt to one taut nipple. That hot breath flowed through the fabric as he exhaled and then wrapped his lips around his target. He seemed to know exactly what turned her on and concentrated on delivering pleasure.
He ran a palm down her abdomen to one bare thigh and gripped her slender leg tightly. “Stop me now, Little girl.”
She shook her head. She wouldn’t deny herself this time. He offered a delightful escape from her reality.
“I make you mine and you stay mine. I won’t let you leave. Whatever’s going on with you will involve both of us.”
The allure of having someone on her side made her crave saying yes. Her inner voice told her she’d be stupid to trust a man she’d met less than forty-eight hours ago. Slowly, she shook her head, dropping her eyes to the carpet. “I can’t promise you forever, Street. Will you settle for tonight?”
“No, Little girl. I won’t. I can’t. And you can’t either. I’ll wait until you decide we’re worth the risk,” Street said. His voice echoed with sadness but didn’t hold an ounce of doubt. He needed everything from her. He wanted to be her Daddy.
She moved to slide off his lap, but his arms tightened around her.
“Stay here, Little girl. Let me pretend for a bit longer.”
Her eyes stung with tears at the sadness in his voice. Rosa couldn’t bring herself to deny herself the sweetness of his embrace. She curled up on his chest and tucked her head under his jaw. His slow heartbeat sounded beneath her ear. Surrounded by his arms, she relaxed and drifted off to sleep, feeling safer than ever before.
“No! No! Get away!” Rosa flailed her arms, trying to get free. Trapped by terror, she controlled her volume to not wake up her mother. This would be her fault again.
The rush of cool air on her skin jolted Rosa from her nightmare as she finally rid herself of the covers that trapped her like arms. She panted into the quiet space around her as her gaze darted around the room. Thankfully, a small nightlight dimly illuminated the new space. She was safe. Her stepfather couldn’t get her here.
An overwhelming need rose inside her to find the only man who’d ever made her feel safe. Rosa threw herself out of bed and dashed down the hallway to the darkness filling the main bedroom. Drawing on her memory, she edged forward toward the bed.
Street’s breathing changed. “Little girl? Is everything okay?”
Using his voice as a locator beacon, she hurried forward and bumped into the mattress. “I found you.”
“You did indeed. Did you have a bad dream?”
Rosa nodded and then, realizing he couldn’t see, she answered, “Always.”
“Do you want to come sleep in Daddy’s bed?” Street folded the covers away from him. “Let me put on some boxers.”
She climbed into bed before he could get out. “I’m good on the edge.”
“Rosa, I’m not wearing anything.”
“I promise. I’ll stay right here. You can sleep however you like.” She stretched out on her side, clinging to the side of the mattress. The mattress tilted slightly under his weight, creating a slide for her body to ease down to his. The feel of his warmth around her soothed something deep inside her, making her feel safe.
“You are not going to be comfortable, Little girl. Let me tuck the covers around you so you don’t freeze.”
As the material touched her skin, the old nightmare rebounded into her mind. Frantically, she pushed the sheet and comforter off. “No, no, no! You can’t trap me again!”
Immediately, the threatening bedclothes vanished. “Shh! Little girl, you’re okay. No one’s got you. Let’s take some breaths together to calm down. Put your hand on my chest.”
She reached out blindly and pressed her palm against his hard muscles. His crisp chest hair tickled her skin, reminding Rosa that this was Street. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her. She slowed her breathing to match his. After several rounds, her fright faded away.
“Sorry,” she whispered.
“You don’t need to apologize. I’m sorry I tucked you into bed so snugly. I bet you woke up and panicked.”
“It’s not your fault I’m weird,” she said.
“You’re not weird, Little girl. Traumatized, I would say. I hope you’ll tell me what happened to you someday, but now you need some sleep, so you won’t be groggy tomorrow.”