Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 113272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
“Oh, right. That’s good.”
“Can you tell us about the nightmare?” Eli asked.
“No.” She stared down at her hands which she had twisted together. “I don’t remember.”
“Are you lying?” Kellan asked.
She sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. Eli rubbed his hand up and down her back, trying to massage any tight muscles that he found.
“Oh, that spot right there is good,” she said with a groan.
“Tell us about the nightmare,” Eli cajoled. “Maybe it will help.”
“I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t remember what it was. Although I can make a few guesses.”
“A few?” Kellan asked, sounding unimpressed. “How many nightmares do you have?”
“A few,” she said.
He snorted in response, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
Eli just kept holding her and massaging her muscles. He could feel her melting against him.
“That’s it, baby. Just relax. Everything is all right. You’re going to be just fine. We’re here. We won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“People always hurt me,” she mumbled. “They hurt me and leave me and use me.”
God, his heart hurt for her.
When he glanced up at Kellan he could see the anger blazing from his eyes.
“Who did that to you?” Kellan asked.
She shook her head.
“Your father?” Eli asked.
She stiffened. They already knew the answer, but she’d just cinched it.
“That fucking asshole,” Eli muttered. “We won’t pressure you to tell us.”
Kellan let out a grunt of disapproval. But he was the one who’d just been telling Eli that he was being too pushy.
“But when you’re ready we’re here and we’ll listen. Okay?” Eli said
She nodded. But it wasn’t enough.
“Eyes on me,” he said firmly.
Her gaze moved up to his. “Good girl.” Eli cupped the underside of her chin and ran his thumb over her cheek. “We’re here for you. Tell me you understand.”
“Yes, I understand.”
He couldn’t help himself, he leaned in and lightly kissed her lips. Drawing back, he stared down at her, wanting to see if he made her uncomfortable in any way. The last thing he wanted was to scare her. Or to kiss her if she wasn’t fully awake and aware.
But her lips were parted and wet as she stared up at him and he could see the desire in her gaze.
“Kiss her again,” Kellan said. “Make it deeper.”
Her gaze moved to Kellan and that desire seemed to grow.
“Do you want me to kiss you again, baby?” he asked.
“Of course she does,” Kellan said. “Look at her. Like a butterfly coming out of her cocoon. So fucking beautiful.”
Jesus. That was practically poetry for his brother.
“Let him kiss you, Butterfly,” Kellan told her.
Eli turned his gaze back to her and she licked her lips. “Kiss me. Please.”
“Of course, baby. Anytime you want. It’s my fucking pleasure.”
Then he kissed her again. This time, he deepened the kiss. It was longer and hotter. He ran his tongue over her lips and drew back.
“Part your lips for him, Butterfly,” Kellan ordered.
Eli pushed gently on her chin and she opened her lips.
“Such a good girl for us, isn’t she?” Eli murmured.
“Yeah, she is,” Kellan said gruffly. “Kiss her.”
Eli shot him a look. He didn’t usually take orders from his brother. But he could see that Kellan was only doing this because he couldn’t bring himself to touch her.
Not yet.
Eli shook his head at him, but since he wanted nothing more than to kiss their girl, he decided to get onto it.
Bending down, he licked his tongue across her lower lip before kissing her again. His tongue danced across hers and to his relief he felt her respond.
Fuck. He never wanted this kiss to end.
17
It was the best kiss of her life.
She wrapped her arms around Eli’s neck and held on as he kissed her like his life depended on it.
Then she felt him stiffen. He moved away from her, looking over at Kellan as she let out a grumble of protest.
“What’s that?” Eli asked as Horse started to bark.
“Someone at the door,” Kellan replied moving toward the door.
Eli lifted her and set her on the bed.
“W-what’s going on?” she asked over Horse’s barks.
“Stay in here with Horse,” Eli ordered. “There’s someone knocking on the door. Probably nothing, but we’ll go check it out. Do not move.” He gave her a firm look and left the room. Kellan had already disappeared.
She stared over at Horse incredulously. “Don’t move? Is he kidding?” Getting up, she grabbed hold of Horse’s collar and headed out of the bedroom.
Hopefully, he didn’t take off and pull her over. That would kill her back.
But Horse was surprisingly calm as he walked next to her. She heard the murmur of voices and she realized the storm must have eased up.
It had to be getting close to morning.
She stared around the doorway into the entrance, surprised to find a tall sheriff’s deputy standing there.
“Don’t give me any bull. I need to see her with my own eyes and check on her,” the deputy said.