Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 137326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 687(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 687(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
Preston
Reporting live from the latest crime scene, bitches.
Jude
JFC, what the fuck did you do now?
Preston
I only do genius things.
Jude
Pres, don’t make me come there and strangle you.
Preston
Chill. It’s nothing serious. Unfortunately.
Jude
You didn’t do something stupid to Osborn?
Preston
Stupid is your middle name, not mine.
Jude
I swear to fuck I’m going to beat you to a pulp.
Preston
Scared to my nonexistent core. Brb, calling my mommy as we speak. Wait. I don’t have one.
Jude
Be serious for three fucking seconds. You know we’re not allowed to hurt Osborn. At least, not yet.
Preston
Yikes. Must’ve missed the memo.
Jude
Don’t tell me you killed him?
Preston
He’s still polluting the earth with his existence. For now. More importantly, you have a hunt coming up, big man? I could use a purge.
Jude
@Kane Davenport?
Preston
Probably too lost in pussy to see straight.
Me
Not yet. Save that energy for the next game.
Preston
Boo, everyone join me in calling Kane a fucking killjoy.
They’re both typing when slender arms wrap around my waist and the scent of jasmine fills my nostrils.
Dahlia’s breasts press against my back as she rests her cheek against my shoulder.
I let the phone hang in my hand as her presence invades my senses until she’s the only thing in my surroundings.
Her soft breaths, her warmth, and her gentle curves mold to me so naturally, as if she always belonged here.
With me.
“Couldn’t sleep?” she asks in a groggy voice.
“I’ll be fine. Go back to bed.”
As I face her, she stumbles, her movements sluggish, and I grab her by the waist.
She wraps her arms around my neck, and then this fucking woman who could barely stand jumps and encircles my waist with her legs, and I have to support her back so she doesn’t fall off.
Dahlia smiles, looking like a fucking goddess even with the messed-up mascara and ruined makeup. “Come to bed with me.”
I raise a brow. “Is that an invitation?”
“We can have sex later. Now, I just want to hug you.”
Fucking hell.
What can I even say to shit like that?
Instead of speaking, I walk her to the bedroom and start to lower her to the bed, but she doesn’t let me go.
So I lie down on my side and Dahlia buries her face in my neck.
“You’re awfully clingy today,” I say against her hair.
“Nope, this is the right amount in a relationship.” Her lips brush against my throat with each word. “I think.”
“So you’re not sure?”
“I’m a beginner, but I think so are you?”
“Yeah, I don’t do relationships.”
“Awesome. That way, you’ll consider this the standard. Just so you know, I’m going to annoy the hell out of you.”
I chuckle. “More than what you’re already doing?”
She lifts her head and studies my face with wide eyes, the green killing all other colors.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Nothing. It’s just too rare to see you laugh genuinely.” She grins. “It makes me happy.”
“My laugh makes you happy?”
“Mmm. Because I’m the reason.” She strokes the back of my head. “I’m glad you didn’t let me go.”
“You forced my hand into a relationship. Is that really what you want?”
“It is.” A delicate frown creases her forehead. “If you discard me again, I’m walking away. For good. If another woman touches you, I’m also out.”
“You’re the one who had your fucking arm around Osborn, Dahlia.”
“And Isabella had her claws all over you.” She narrows her eyes. “Did you fuck her?”
“You think there’s another woman who can handle me?”
A smug look covers her features. “Well, you better remember that.”
I fist her hair and jerk her back. “And you better remember you’re fucking mine.”
“Okay, caveman.”
“And if this is an attempt to weasel your way into Vencor again, that’s out of the question.”
Her throat works up and down and I release her hair.
“I understand.”
Silence beats like a presence as she shifts. “Kane?”
“Hmm?”
“Why don’t you ask me about my real reason for wanting to get in? You must’ve figured out it’s not for some vain purpose like status or power.”
“If I ask, will you tell me?”
“Maybe one day.”
I nod.
She doesn’t need to tell me. Not really.
Because it doesn’t matter. Now that she’s mine, nothing and no one will change it.
“I just want you to know I didn’t mean to use you.” She swallows. “Maybe that was true initially, but I just want to make this thing between us work right now.”
“Me, too, Dahlia.” I stroke her back. “Me, too.”
She smiles, her eyes so bright, I want to fucking engrave them in me. “Tell me something I don’t know about you.”
“What’s with this all of a sudden?”
“I want to get to know you better. I’ll go first. When I was younger, I wanted to be a rich lawyer who used my money to do as many pro bono cases as possible. I wanted to focus on those who were failed by the system.”
“But you chose medicine. Why?”
“Because Violet has always had poor health. I wanted to take care of her.” A sheen of sadness flickers in her eyes, turning them a turbulent yellow. “Not that it matters much right now.”