Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 60023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
It feels good.
Freeing.
It is a terrifying realization that this is exactly the reason people become addicted.
“That really your first time?” he asks, glancing sideways. “Gettin’ high?”
“Yeah,” I admit, my cheeks burning. “My, ah, family isn’t exactly the fun type.”
“Figured. Glad we could give you that,” he says, and there’s a warmth in his voice that makes my heart skip.
We walk in silence for a while, the cool night air wrapping around us. It feels good against my skin, calming the heat that’s still burning in my chest. I breathe in deeply, trying to steady my racing heart.
“What about the man?” Talon asks, his tone shifting.
“Who?” I say, even though I know exactly who he means.
“The fucker in the car. You said he was from the cult.”
I swallow, I hate Cyrus almost as much as my father. Almost. “His name is Cyrus. My father chose him for me. He thinks we’re going to have some chosen child that will lead them all to eternity or whatever the fuck it is they believe.”
Talon stiffens beside me, his grip on my hand tightens. “They force you to be with someone against your will?”
I swallow. “Yeah. I guess they do.”
Something in him shifts, and he releases my hand, running it through his hair. “When I get my hands on those fuckers, I’m going to make them wish they were never born.”
My eyes widen.
“He fuckin’ touch you?” The question is sharp, his voice low.
I look away, shame rising in my cheeks. Of course he has touched me, I didn’t get a choice. I have never truly thought about how wrong that is, but now I’m thinking about how it might sound to him, it makes me want to recoil away from him in shame. Of course I didn’t like doing it, but at the time, I thought it was just how it was.
I know that it isn’t normal, but I also know that I didn’t have a choice.
“I’ll fuckin’ kill him,” Talon growls.
I pause, words caught in my throat, shocked by how protective he is. It warms a part of me I hadn't even realized was cold, a part that had never known the comfort of someone else's concern. The sensation is overwhelming, and I can’t come up with anything to say.
I just stand there. Wordless.
“When we come for them, I promise you this, we will make them beg for their freedom, for our mercy.”
He means it. Every word. But there’s a dark edge to his voice, a danger that makes my skin prickle.
I suck in a breath, letting it out slowly.
“I don’t want you to get hurt because of me,” I say.
His eyes lock onto mine. “Don’t worry about me. Worry about them.”
I’m starting to think maybe it’s them who doesn’t know what’s coming.
BEING ALONE WITH TALON is exhilarating in a way that defies explanation. His presence makes me feel this strange kind of warmth and comfort, yet at the same time ignites a fierce flame within me that terrifies every fiber of my being. His power to unravel me is daunting, and I am terrified of what my feelings in this situation might do.
I want him, and I’m tired of trying to hide it.
We come across an old fallen tree, and he sits down, boots kicked out, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the stars in the clear night sky. I remain standing, my breath caught in my throat as I wrestle with the thought of making a move. Can I muster the courage? Mera urged me to just go for it, yet my instincts scream against being so bold.
Fuck my instincts anyway, where have they gotten me?
"You gonna sit?"
I glance at him and bite my lower lip, catching his eyes following the movement, sparking something in his expression. I pause for a moment before settling beside him, our shoulders lightly touching. The night air is chilly, but his warmth radiates into me. My heart pounds like a wild, untamed creature within my chest.
God dammit, I don’t know how to do this with him.
"You good?” he murmurs, and I don’t miss the low, throaty tone in his voice.
I look over to him, my eyes searching his face. "Yeah. I’m okay."
Here goes nothing.
I turn towards him, my eyes locking with his, and I know if I don’t do this, I’ll chicken out and never get the chance again. Maybe it’s the joint, or the alcohol, or both, but I need more than just his shoulder brushing against mine. I want to feel him, deep inside me, and know exactly how it is meant to feel to have a man want me.
“I need to kiss you again.”
My voice is breathy, and I see the exact moment my words register, because his expression grows dark and his body stiffens. I don’t let him think about it, because I’m afraid of his reaction. Instead, I move closer, reaching up and letting my hand rest against the stubble on his cheek.