Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 72233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
She looked up at him with those big blue eyes. “Nothing.”
He caught her chin. “No. Finish what you were going to say.”
She swallowed and lowered her stare. “I never wanted to hurt you.”
He’d forgotten about her little assault, but it must still be weighing on her. “I think we’re even.”
She met his stare. “I don’t want you to share me with other men.”
Her directness, in the face of his unpredictable temper, left him in awe. She was indomitable when she wanted to be.
“I won’t let anyone else touch you.”
Relief transformed her face. “Thank you, sir. You’re the only one I want that way.”
He was fucked.
Cupping her cheek, he looked into her eyes and vowed, “It will only ever be me. Anyone else lays a hand on you, they’ll lose it.”
She smiled. Dark circles shadowed her eyes. It had been a long and trying night, and the devil only knew the last time she slept.
“You need rest.” He pulled the covers over her. “After you sleep, I’ll have a fresh bath drawn.”
She opened her eyes. “Are you leaving?” The desperation in her voice confused him.
“I have to check on the crew.”
“Stay.” Her hand curled around his. “Please.”
It was a simple plea, but it knocked something loose in his chest. Glancing at the soft way she held his hand, he tried to remember a time when anyone else had ever touched him so gently.
“Don’t worry about me.”
Her hold tightened when he tried to pull his hand away. “But someone has to. You need rest, too.”
“You want to worry about me? That was a big job for anyone.”
She looked up at him with those trusting blue eyes and nodded. “It wouldn’t be a job. I’d take care of you if you’d let me.”
It was a mistake he couldn’t resist. But how was he supposed to turn down such a sweet offer?
Stretching out beside her, he folded his hands behind his head. “I’ll stay for a few minutes. Then I have things to do.”
She smiled, lifting the covers and cuddling close to his side. His throat went dry when her soft curves molded to his hard edges, and she rested her cheek on his chest.
Now, who was the inexperienced one?
Her fingers trailed over his abs, and his eyes went wide. She was barely touching him, yet somehow destroying him.
She lifted her head, and her hair tickled his chest. Tiny kisses peppered over his abdomen as she moved lower. His dick instantly hardened when her hand reached for him.
She didn’t ask permission, and he had plenty of time to stop her, but he wanted to see where this led. Her innocence showed in the shy way she fondled him, but that didn’t detract from the pleasant sensation of her hand on him.
She kissed lower and then pressed her soft lips to the engorged tip of his cock. Warm breath skated over his flesh as she hesitated. She traced her lips over the side but didn’t seem to know what else to do.
He gently gathered her hair so he could see her beautiful face. “Try putting it in your mouth, darling.”
She looked back at him and then returned her focus to his cock. Slowly, she parted her lips and gave the tip a wet kiss.
“More,” he rasped.
She kissed the tip again, this time wrapping the head of his cock in the wet heat of her mouth.
“That’s it.” He cupped the back of her head, pressing her lower. “Relax your jaw.”
When she did as he instructed, he flexed his hips, bumping the back of her throat, then let go of her. She looked up at him in astonishment, her full lips parted as if hungry for more.
He stroked her cheek and grinned. “We’ll do more of that later. For now, you need to rest.”
“But—”
“Later.” He pulled her back to his chest, desiring that unfamiliar intimacy more than anything else at the moment. He allowed himself this unique second of desire, knowing it wouldn’t last forever.
He’d never slept beside anyone—save his brother—and that was before the orphanage. The novelty of sleeping beside a woman left him far from at ease, but the longer she curled into him, the more his guard came down, and he wanted to stay there, wrapped in her softness, listening to her breathe.
She nestled into his chest, her warm little body a constant source of comfort. It became hard to swallow as he stroked his hand slowly up and down her arm.
His eyes grew heavy, and he briefly thought about the unattended weapons on the dresser. He could warn her, but he didn’t want to. He wanted to test the theory that he could trust her enough not to leave the bed.
Unfortunately, when he awoke, she was gone.
Chapter 14
The Place Between Dreaming and Awake
Stretching his hand across the sheet, James found the bed cold and bolted upright.