Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 42332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 212(@200wpm)___ 169(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 212(@200wpm)___ 169(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
Twenty minutes later, he lit the place up. The fire was bright and hot, a towering column of smoke that lit the night sky like a sign that vengeance had been served.
We stood together, watching the flames throw long shadows over the dirt. I watched the fire until the roof caved in, the heat stinging my face.
By the time we climbed back on our bikes, I hadn’t said a word. There was only one thought in my head.
Maren.
I needed to see her. Touch her. Remind myself that she was alive, safe, and mine.
18
MAREN
I’d opened the window for some fresh air, and it turned out to be a good decision because I heard the motorcycles that much sooner. Their engines growled outside the compound gates, and I didn’t think; I just ran. Out of Lucas’s room, down the hallway, past a couple of startled prospects. My legs carried me before my mind caught up.
I hit the bottom step just as the front door swung open.
Lucas stepped inside, blood streaked his jaw, dirt smeared on one shoulder, and his knuckles were raw and red. He looked like he’d walked straight out of a war.
But he was upright. Breathing. And whole.
My knees nearly gave out from the force of relief flooding through me.
His gaze immediately locked on me, and I felt it like a physical pull. My entire body tightened under the weight of his focus.
He didn’t slow as he stalked toward me. When he finally stopped in front of me, his hand came up to cup my jaw, his thumb brushing just under my ear. The warmth of his palm and the steadiness of his touch loosened the tightness inside my chest.
“It’s over. You’re safe.”
I exhaled a shaky breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, leaving me lightheaded. I wanted things to feel normal again. To breathe without waiting for the next shoe to drop.
My lips wobbled into a smile. “Does that mean I can leave now?”
I only meant the lockdown, but the way his eyes darkened told me he thought they were for an entirely different reason.
His jaw flexed, a sharp tic that sent a rush of heat straight through me. “You’re not sleeping anywhere but with me.”
I blinked up at him. I’d only meant the lockdown was over, that I’d be allowed to leave the compound without an escort. It had nothing to do with wanting space from him. “Lucas, that’s not—”
He didn’t let me finish. “You’re not leaving until we find our own place.”
“Our own place?” I gasped, my eyes widening.
“I must not have been clear enough when I told you you’re mine. So now I’m gonna make sure you understand exactly what I mean.”
He grabbed my hand, his fingers closing around mine with a finality that shut down every thought except going along with him. Not that I needed his grip to be unshakable, my feet were already moving. I was more than willing to follow Lucas anywhere. He’d proven I was safe with him and that he’d go to any length necessary to protect me.
My question had put him into full possessive mode, but I wasn’t afraid of him when he got like this. More like I was anticipating what was about to happen in his room because we had the best sex when he let that feral edge loose.
Lucas didn’t slow until we reached his room, and even then, he only paused long enough to fling the door open and then slam it shut behind us. He didn’t look away from me while he clicked the lock in place.
My heart thudded so hard it felt like it was going to beat out of my chest, but instead of coming toward me, he turned away to cross to the dresser. My brows drew together as he opened the bottom drawer, reached inside, and pulled something out.
When he faced me again, my world narrowed to the leather vest he cradled in his big hands. It was a smaller version of the spare I’d been wearing. Similar to the ones the other women had that I’d started to covet once I fully understood the meaning behind them…and admitted to myself that I’d fallen in love with Lucas.
When he flipped it around so I could see the patch on the back, my vision went blurry as tears pricked hot behind my eyes. It boldly proclaimed to the world that I was his, Property of Kevlar.
“Maybe this will get the point across.” He finally moved close enough to put my arms through the holes and settle the leather vest on my back. “There, right where it belongs ’cause you’re my woman. The only one I’ll ever claim.”
This moment was everything I hadn’t let myself hope for. My fingers trembled as I slid them down the front of the vest, accepting the weight of the statement he was making.