Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
“Nah, they don’t care.”
“Well, that is just rude.” She gave a little tut.
“They care, Daisy, they just won’t care that you are feeling tired. Okay, that sounded wrong. They would want you to get better, not exhausting yourself.”
Daisy chuckled. “That’s better.” She sighed as he placed her down on the bed. “I would love to just climb into bed and sleep, but I really, really need a shower.”
He rolled his eyes and pointed a finger. “Wait here.” He stepped into the bathroom. He didn’t have an actual bath. Each room had a small en-suite bathroom. Enough for a shower, toilet, and sink, there was nothing else needed.
Anthony pulled his shirt up over his head and tossed it into the laundry basket. Turning on the shower, he tested the water, waited for it to get toasty warm, and then he walked back into the bedroom.
“It’s nice to see you can follow instructions,” he said.
“Are you being a wiseass on purpose?”
“This just comes naturally to me. It has something to do with being a wiseass overall.”
She chuckled. “You’re crazy.”
He reached for her, pulling her into his arms. “What I am, is crazy about you.”
“Have you noticed we’re saying ‘crazy’ a whole lot?” she asked.
“Yeah, I noticed that.”
He pulled her into the bathroom, making sure to be careful with her. She was still healing, and even though he wanted to pull her into his arms, to kiss her, make love to her, fuck her, he couldn’t. They would have to wait.
Patience happened to be one of his many virtues. Not that he had a lot of virtues. He helped her out of her clothes and accompanied her into the shower. Once she was settled beneath the warm spray, he quickly removed his clothes, tossing them into the laundry basket. He just couldn’t stand mess. He liked things clean and organized.
Closing the shower door, he reached for her. They couldn’t have sex, and he had to be careful with her, but that didn’t stop him from holding her.
Banding his arms around her waist, he was careful not to hit the scars. She still had a bandage and was healing, but she was able to shower. The doctors had used the covers as protection.
“Hey,” she said.
“I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too.”
She turned around in his arms, and then he felt her body against his own—her naked breasts and stomach—and she tilted her head back.
“There was a moment I thought I wasn’t going to see you again,” he said.
“I know. I ... I thought I was going to die,” Daisy said. “And I didn’t want to. I wanted to be with you. I wanted to go back in time and make you listen to me.”
“I should have listened to you.” He tucked some of her hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. We both knew it had to happen. Those girls needed to be saved.”
“I nearly got them killed.”
“But they weren’t killed.”
“It’s fucking with Luke’s head.”
“I can imagine it would. Luke was always different. Even in high school. Yeah, he seemed to have fun taunting Tabitha from time to time, but think about it, he rarely did anything that would hurt the club.”
“You mean the time he forced Tabitha out of class and into the bathroom?”
“Come on, he knew we were already on the way there,” Daisy said. “I think he was doing it on purpose. I didn’t say he didn’t have a little fun, but not like the others. He wasn’t cruel.” She shrugged. “So, yeah, I can imagine if you’re not into selling, using, and abusing girls, then it would mess with your head. Let’s face it, he got Ryan to the quad. He had to have known what Simon would do.”
“Are you still pissed about that?”
Daisy shrugged. “I can’t change it. I would have handled it differently, but that is the power of my thinking, not anyone else’s. Ryan died that night. Everything changed. We all did.” She put her hand on his chest. “And now, all we can do is deal with the fallout. Like the fact we have to protect Luke. He’s one of us.”
He wrinkled his nose and Daisy laughed.
“Don’t worry. You can still pretend to be the guy that absolutely hates all this, and be silent. You can do your glaring thing. I’m the only one who truly knows you can talk, hold a conversation, and it is down to choice that you don’t do anything else. You’re busted, Mister.”
“You know me so well.” He couldn’t resist running his hands down toward her ass, and he heard her slight intake of breath. “Soon.”
“Soon.”
And with that, she sunk her fingers into his hair and pulled him in close. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t kiss you.”
Anthony kissed her right back. It was perfect. Just like it always had been.
He loved her kisses. He loved this woman, and whatever she wanted, he was going to give to her.