Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 44127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
For a minute, as I check the chamber of the Desert Eagle, I’m back in Mosul. For a second, the study fades away, and I’m back with my unit getting ready for a night raid on a Taliban compound on the outskirts of the city. I blink, the memory fading as I finish checking the handgun and set it down on my desk.
I don’t have many flashbacks or memories these days of my Special Forces days. And it’s not something many people even know about. In fact, no one at Winchester does, that’s for sure. And that’s how I’d prefer to keep it. The past is the past, and the demons and darkness from that time in my life can stay there.
There’s a knock at the door to my study, and I swiftly re-wrap the gun in its cloth and place it back in the lock box.
“Come in.”
I lock up the box as the door opens, and Brynn steps in sheepishly as I smile and turn to place the box back in the safe. I swing the door shut and turn back to see her looking away.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude on anything.”
I smile, shrugging. “You aren’t. How was the sandwich?”
She grins. “So good. I haven’t had peanut butter and jelly in forever.”
“Hey, all part of the five-star service here.”
She giggles, and fuck does the sound of it get my pulse racing before I catch myself.
Stop that. I can’t go there, even in my fucking head, with her. Not with how old she is, or how old I am. Or the fact that she’s a student, or…
Well, the list of reasons not to flirt with or be anything but an authority figure to Brynn Henley is extensive, to say the least.
“Well, the service at hotel Kane is exquisite so far,” she beams. “I’ll be leaving a stellar Yelp review.”
I chuckle. “Thanks.” I nod at the fireplace on the other side of the room. “You want to talk about what’s going on?”
She nods quietly, and I pick up the remote from my desk and turn on the gas flames. Brynn’s got her tea still in her hands, that pink robe wrapped tight around her and her hair still wet, and I’m helpless to stop my eyes from following her hips as she steps across the room. I swallow back the thoughts in my head as I pour a splash of whiskey into a glass from the bar cart and follow her over, sitting in the chair across from her, the fireplace between us.
“What’s going on with your father?”
Her face darkens, her teeth raking her lip as she nods.
“He had this investment fund, but it turns out it’s not really an investment.”
I frown, and she smiles wryly. “Investments have returns.
“Ahh,” I nod. “Shit.”
“Yeah, shit.”
“How bad?”
She snorts, shaking her head and taking a sip of tea. “Really, really bad. I was visiting home a few weeks ago for my birthday—”
“Happy birthday, Brynn.”
She smiles shyly. “Thanks, Colton.”
Our eyes lock, and she blushes as she looks back at her tea.
“The FBI kicked down our door during dinner and took him away in handcuffs. So, that kind of bad.”
I swear lowly. “Shit, Brynn. And now he’s gone?”
“Yeah. Posted bail instantly and then apparently left the country.”
I frown. “Why isn’t this in the news?”
She laughs bitterly. “Because my father is a scumbag and hires really good scumbag lawyers. They gag ordered the whole thing. Plus, I think the Feds are embarrassed to talk about this big case if the guy responsible left them in the lurch.”
“And your stepmom is in Greece? Can you call her and explain—”
“We’re not close.” She frowns. “Actually ‘not close’ would be an improvement. She hates me for being a reminder of my mom, and I hate her because she’s a horrible, cold bitch.”
I smile wryly, nodding. “Well, fuck.”
“Yeah,” she sighs, looking down. “I don’t know what the hell I’m going to do.”
“Hey,” I growl quietly, bringing her eyes back up to mine. “We’re going to figure this out, I promise. Tonight though, you’re staying here.”
“No, I couldn’t—”
“You can, and you definitely are,” I growl, smiling. “There’s a guest room down the hall from the bathroom upstairs. It’s yours for the night. I’ll get you some clean sheets.”
She smiles sadly, taking a breath as she brings her knees up to her chest. “Thanks, Colton.”
Except, I barely hear her, because suddenly, every single ounce of my attention is being yanked somewhere else. And something roars inside of me.
Because with her knees raised like that, I can see all of Brynn.
…All of her.
The robe is draped over her knees, and the giant pair of boxers of mine she’s wearing have fallen open and wide, and I can clearly see the soft, pink, glistening lips of her tight little pussy.
Fuck.
And just like that, the savage inside of me breaks free. The beast shatters the bars of its cage, and the fire inside of me roars.