Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 147545 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 738(@200wpm)___ 590(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147545 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 738(@200wpm)___ 590(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
“No,” he says firmly enough that I believe him, but then he meets my gaze and says something far worse. “But I know you were attracted to him, and now that he’s gone… I’d like for Tim to stay completely out of your mind.”
I can’t breathe for a moment. I feel like he just gut-punched me.
That was the narrative the lawyer spun to defend Tim. That I liked him, and I was angry when Tim “rejected me” after that night, so I’d made up this awful story about what happened…
“I can’t believe you just said that.”
He studies me for a moment, as if assessing damage he hadn’t intended. “I didn’t mean… I wasn’t saying you wanted it or justifying anything that happened to you, Cassie. I wasn’t judging you. I’m just not interested in sharing you, even with a memory, so I’d rather we put him behind us than nurture anything that may not have been resolved.”
“I wasn’t—I’m not attracted to your brother. I shot him,” I say, wide-eyed.
“I know. I was there,” Tor says, almost lightly.
I am not amused.
I am flabbergasted.
Tor leaves the food simmering and comes around the island. I almost take a step back because I’m so thrown, but he grabs my waist and pulls me closer. His hand slides along my jawline, and he looks down at me. “It doesn’t change anything that happened to you, Cassie. Someone you’re attracted to is perfectly capable of raping you. I wasn’t saying you wanted it.”
I swallow, my heart in my throat as I look up at him. “I didn’t.”
“I know.” He nods, offering double reassurance.
“And it wasn’t… he attacked me. Nobody would want what he did to me.”
“I know,” Tor says, pulling me into his chest and kissing the top of my head. “I’m not doubting you. I would never do that.”
My gaze drops to his chest. “But you’re parroting what your stupid lawyer said to get him off…”
“No.” He catches my chin, tilting it up so I’m forced to meet his gaze again. “I’m commenting on something I saw myself. Something you don’t have to be ashamed of. It’s not surprising you were attracted to Tim—most girls got sucked in to his bullshit.”
“I didn’t get sucked in,” I mutter.
“Maybe not, but you got a little too close to the whirlpool for my comfort,” he says lightly, caressing my jaw. “Don’t lie to me, Cassie. You never have to lie to me. There’s absolutely nothing you can’t tell me. Surely you know by now I would never judge you.”
That’s true.
I mean, he knows I’m a murderer, and he’s completely fine with it.
I guess if there’s one person in the world I can trust not to use that knowledge against me, it would be him. “It always feels like people are trying to invalidate my experience with that argument. Like, it couldn’t have been rape if I found him attractive, but finding someone attractive isn’t the same as wanting to sleep with them, or being willing to, and I was still with Russell, so I would never—”
He cuts me off with a finger against my lips, then replaces it with his mouth. He kisses me tenderly, the way that melts my knees, and I find my body drifting closer to his. “I know,” he says softly. His tongue sweeps into my mouth, and I sigh, weakening against him, my fingers curling into his shirt.
He lifts me, carries me over to the couch, then puts me down gently. He climbs on top of me, and I tug up his shirt, wanting it off. He stops kissing me long enough to pull it off, then he’s on me again, unbuttoning my pants. I lift my ass so he can yank them down, and he grabs my panties while he’s at it.
Once my legs are free, he parts them, and I gasp as that perfect mouth of his latches onto my pussy. The sensation is so shockingly delicious, I reach overhead and grab the arm of the couch.
“Oh god,” I moan.
As good as he is at kissing, he’s even better at this.
I’m lightheaded with pleasure as his tongue laps at my clit, teasing and circling it. His fingers have a bruising grip on my thighs as he holds tight, keeping me spread open for him to feast on. His hands and his mouth completely pin my hips, but still they try to move.
My stomach muscles clench as he devours me, quickly driving me higher and higher.
He almost lets me come.
Almost.
Then he stops, and an agonized moan escapes my throat.
I’m not disappointed for long, though. He takes a condom out of his wallet, and a moment later, he’s sinking inside me.
“Fuck yes,” I say softly, locking my legs around him and pulling him deeper.
It’s a quick, frantic fuck, and I’m a little tender from being pounded so hard last night, but I still come hard, my pussy milking him as he shoves deep and lets go inside me. He groans as he comes, then collapses on top of me, my legs spread on either side of his beautiful body.