Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 132657 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132657 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
In some ways he almost hoped she would do it. Then he could go back to stalking Hamilton and likely get his ass killed and it would be over.
Was he thinking that way?
“You wouldn’t,” she said.
“Try me.” Now she needed some honesty, and it was going to make him vulnerable, but it didn’t matter. She could tear him apart, and he would let her. “I’m only hiding here because of you, Harlow. If you walk, then I will call your family and feel safe knowing that you’re with them. And then I’ll go and finish the job.”
“You fucking will not,” Niall protested. “This is serious.”
“You think I care?” Harlow challenged. “I stopped caring the second you chose your revenge over me.”
“I chose you over everything else,” Jensen shot back. “Do you know how much trouble I got in when my girl got arrested? It set me back for months, and I had to compound it when I got your client out. They thought I might have had something to do with it. It would have been so much simpler to keep you with me. I did it to save you, but I don’t expect your forgiveness.”
“Good, because it’s not forthcoming, motherfucker.”
His eyes narrowed on her. “But I do expect you to not run off recklessly and force Niall and I to put ourselves in danger to save you when it’s safe here. So that’s it for you. Here or with your parents in Colorado. And if you keep cursing me, we’ll talk about punishment since that’s what you’re honestly here for.”
“Excuse me?” Harlow asked, her brows rising.
Jensen held his ground. “If you didn’t want to start a fight that’s absolutely going to end with my hand on your backside and likely two cocks in your pussy at some point, you would be sulking in your room. Or you would already be walking. No. You came out here to start something.”
Niall watched them both. “Jensen, she just wants to talk.”
Jensen didn’t take his eyes off her, and she stared at him. “She doesn’t want to talk, man.”
“You think you know me?” Harlow asked in a challenging tone.
“I know this much,” Jensen said with confidence he shouldn’t have. “Niall and I were discussing the fact that we know two different yous, but it’s the you I know that’s showing up tonight. I know the gorgeous bitch who takes no shit from anyone. She also has trouble with shoving her anxiety and anger and sorrow down. Really any strong emotion.”
“You think a cry is going to fix this?” She moved into his space, her face flushing a pretty pink.
She was so gorgeous when she was mad. Maybe that was why he poked her so often. Or he could accept that he didn’t always know how to handle her since she was more complex than he liked to admit. Niall was right about that. His relationship with her was born in fire, and it would burn them both if they couldn’t turn the flames down.
But not tonight. Tonight she needed the burn, and fuck all, so did he.
He put his hand around her neck, a gentle reminder of who would be in control if she continued down this path. “I think a good cry followed by an orgasm would do you a world of good. It doesn’t have to mean anything beyond we’re stuck here and both our lives were completely upended today and we need something to comfort us. I doubt you want me to hold you and tell you everything is going to be okay.”
She moved closer, pressing her neck against his hand. “It means nothing.”
At least she was done pretending.
He tightened his grip, though it was still gentle. He would never hurt her in anything but a pleasurable way, and he wasn’t the type of Dom who lived to see his mark on a sub. But then his sub had always been her. He got into the lifestyle for the job, but he lived it for her. “Do I have to rip your clothes off? Or is it acceptable for Master Niall to pull those pants down so I can spank your ass?”
“I’m confused, actually,” Niall offered.
“I don’t have any other clothes, asshole,” she shot back, a dark look in her eyes. “Are you all about sharing now, or are you going to have him do your dirty work and shut him out?”
How little she thought of him. Although it was plainly what he’d been considering a couple of hours ago. The long ride and being back in this place had him rethinking. He should have known Niall would fall for Harlow. Maybe he had deep inside. Maybe there had been a part of him that wanted to know someone would love her after he died.
It hit him so forcibly that deep down he never intended to come out of this mission alive, and he had to find a way to deal with it. He hadn’t truly planned on a life after this, and he wasn’t sure of anything except that any life without them would be hollow. “I think you require two of us tonight. He doesn’t know this part of you. Have you played?”