Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
“She still plans on leaving, Deacon.”
This was no surprise to him, not after she had told them about the abuse she suffered at the hands of the man she was supposed to be able to trust.
Deacon had hoped they could have convinced her otherwise, but their little mate had a strong head on her shoulders and had determination in her blood.
“Then I guess we’ll just have to make her want to stay more then she wants to leave.”
Thayer chuckled humorlessly. He watched as his little brother rubbed his eyes right before he let out a long sigh. “I can’t let her go, Deacon, not when I’ve finally had her.”
He could sympathize with his brother completely. Even before he had tasted the sweetness that came from her, Deacon knew he couldn’t let her go.
“It shouldn’t be this hard.” Thayer relaxed his body against the cushions and stared at the vaulted ceiling.
“Everything worth anything makes you work for it.”
Thayer dropped his eyes to his and smirked. “Since when did you become so theological?”
Deacon smirked in return and shrugged his shoulders. “I guess living with you has rubbed off on me.” He finished his coffee and stood.
He stopped in front of the window above the sink and stared out at the wilderness.
“I’m going to tell her about growing up, Thayer.” He spoke low but knew his brother heard him nonetheless.
“Do you think that’s such a good idea? I mean, I agree she has to know the truth, but don’t you think it’s too early?”
Deacon curled his fingers around the lip of the sink. “If we want her here with us, she needs to know why I’m like the way I am.” He turned and looked at Thayer, who leaned against the island. “Her not being in this house, in my life, is not an option.”
Thayer exhaled and cast his glance in the direction of Jessa’s door. “I know. I just want to be careful with her. I don’t want her running, Deacon.”
He agreed with his brother, but he wouldn’t let her run. “I’m going to take her into town, show her around. I want her to be comfortable here, to see the kind of life we live. I don’t want to be isolated anymore, Thayer. I want to have a life, with her.”
It wasn’t just about sharing his mate with his brother, but about the three of them becoming one unit. It was about their triad forming a new family, a family that wasn’t filled with pain and sadness.
“All I want is to feel whole in my own skin, and she makes me feel that way, Thayer.”
“I know, Deacon. She makes me feel the same way.”
The sound of the floor creaking had both of them turning and seeing Jessa standing there staring at them with wide, surprised eyes. He had no doubt that she heard everything.
The question was, what would she do with that information?
Chapter
Eighteen
The truck bounced around on the uneven, snow packed ground. The scent of green apples filled the cab of the truck, and for what seemed like the hundredth time Deacon found himself looking over at her.
When he asked her if she wanted to go into town he had seen the bright light enter her eyes. No doubt she had a bit of cabin fever. Although he wouldn’t mind having her in bed with him all day, she needed interaction with others.
He knew all too well the effects of isolation.
“So, where are we going?” She looked over at him and smiled. Even with her knitted hat bunched low on her forehead and her jacket that was thicker than her, his cock still grew hard at the sight of her.
“Thought I’d show you around town, maybe drive by the more popular attraction.” He kept his eyes on the road. “Steal South isn’t that big of a town, but we do have a major grocery store, so that has to account for something.”
He turned and smiled at her. She turned and looked out the passenger side window. Silence descended over them, but it was comfortable.
“I’d like to get a paper, please.” Her voice seemed distant, and he knew where her thoughts were. Deacon knew from experience that horrors like she had seen wouldn’t be erased.
They might never go way, but with time they would fade, and with the love that he and Thayer could show her, she might be able to understand that there was more to life than what she had experienced.
“Yeah, sure.” Tightening his hand on the steering wheel, he thought about the conversation he needed to have with her. “I’d like to talk with you, too.” When he looked at her he noticed she already had her gaze on him.
“Yeah, okay.”
Silence came over the cab again.
The small town of Steal South came into view. He navigated his truck through the small streets, pointing out the main focal points of the town, the grocery store, hardware store, mechanic shop, and so forth.