Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 133975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 670(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 670(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
Keys crushed her to him, dragging her so close she didn’t know where he ended and she started. His arms were around her, and weirdly, she felt safer than she ever had as he pulled a sheet over them and kissed the top of her head. “Sleep, Wildfire,” he murmured, and she heard that command. It was easy enough to obey when she couldn’t even think or move.
* * *
Keys came awake instantly, gun in hand, tracking the room even as he rolled to cover Lyric’s body with his own. She had moved away from him, her back to him, and he realized just that small separation had awakened him. More, he felt tremors moving through her and knew she was crying. He shoved the gun under his pillow and framed her face with his palms.
Wet skin. Smooth like silk. But wet with tears. She was a silent crier, which he thought was worse than if she had sobbed loudly.
“What is it, Wildfire?” He pressed kisses to the nape of her neck and then over her high cheekbones, trailed more down to her delicate jaw and over her throat. “Tell me.”
She gave a little shake of her head and tried to hide her face in her hands. It was dark, but the moon spilled light through the window, just enough for him to see her fragile features.
“Baby, I need you to talk to me. Did I hurt you? I was rough, but you got off on it. After, I made certain you were taken care of, at least I thought I did. What did I miss?”
Sometimes he woke up next to her and just spent an hour staring down at her, trying to believe he had her in his bed. In his life. In the darkness, in the cocoon of silence, he knew he’d been given a miracle. His best friend. The only love he would ever have—ever know. The only woman who was capable of seeing him—loving him, as rough and as fucked up as he was.
He knew she loved him. He felt it every time they were together. Each time they entered the house. When her arms wrapped around him on the bike. When her face lit up in welcome. When she jumped into his arms. It was there. That elusive emotion he never believed he would ever feel. He never believed anyone could feel it for him.
“Lyric, babe. Talk to me. What’s wrong? We can’t fix it if I don’t know what it is.”
“We’re wrong. This is wrong.” Her voice was muffled.
He tried to understand what she was saying to him. How could they be wrong? As far as he was concerned, no other two people were more right for each other.
“I’m listening, Wildfire. Explain it to me.” He stroked his hand down the back of her head, trying to find a way to comfort her. She might think she was hiding from him, but just those tears told him she was devastated.
“The sex. We’re all about sex and it’s crazy sex. It shouldn’t be so wild and out of control. We feed off each other and not in a good way.” She jammed her fist in her mouth to muffle the low sound of her weeping.
“Is that what you think?” He pressed his lips to the nape of her neck. “How we choose to express the way we feel for each other is no one’s business but ours. We can be as wild and as crazy as we want as long as we both agree to it.”
“I know, but…”
“Do you think I would touch you if you didn’t want me? You’re afraid sometimes because it’s all new, and I like rough. And dirty. And kinky. You like it too. I make certain you’re with me every step of the way, Lyric. I need rough and dirty and kinky. I need it. You give it to me because you love me and you get off on it.”
She shook her head, a small sob escaping. That got him right in the heart.
“Don’t deny it, Lyric. Don’t deny us. No one else is ever going to love me, nor would I want anyone else. We belong and we make our own rules. Did I scare you?”
“You always scare me.”
“In a bad way?”
She bit down on her bottom lip. “I don’t know,” she finally answered. “I want this, I do. But I just don’t understand what is happening between us. I’m so confused.”
“It’s all new to you, baby. That’s all. Intense, and new and scary. But have I ever hurt you? During the most intense time, did it feel good or did it hurt?”
“Both, I think.”
He nuzzled her throat. “It’s supposed to be both, but in a good way. Your body told me you were into everything I was doing to you.”