Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 72308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
I gripped the strap of my purse before I slid my hand down, looking like I was simply changing the grip. “Are you expecting me to unlock the door so you can fuck me on the couch? Then you’ll be on your merry way?”
“I mean, I wouldn’t say no to that—”
“Get over yourself. This is so fucking desperate, it’s sad. There’s so many other—”
He rushed me, getting right in my face with a stern look. “Call me desperate again and see what happens.”
My hand slid into my purse, and my fingers wrapped around the hilt of the knife. “Go away and don’t come back. I have kids—”
“Who aren’t home. So we can do this here and now. Unlock your door so we can do business, or we’ll do business right here on the street—”
I slammed the knife right into his stomach.
He immediately lost his breath and staggered back. He dropped his chin to look down, to see the pool of red blood that slowly stained his collared shirt, vest, and then his coat. In shock, he looked up at me, his face already white.
“Come here again, and I’ll shoot you next time.”
I put my kids to bed and set the alarm.
I’d stopped using the alarm a long time ago, but now it was back on, somewhat easing my stress. There was a gun in my nightstand. Never thought I might actually have to use it. But I’d made a threat, and if push came to shove, I’d have to keep my word.
My phone lit up on the nightstand. Get your ass over here.
On a different night, I’d put on my coat and slip out of the house, but now I wasn’t in the mood. I’d gotten some of Kyle’s blood on my hand, and I’d had to scrub it with a sponge to get it to come off. Not tonight.
I call the shots, sweetheart.
I can’t leave my kids tonight. It seemed like Kyle respected boundaries by bombarding me when he knew my kids weren’t home, but it still made me uneasy. He didn’t seem violent either because he could have attacked me after I’d stabbed him, but he didn’t. Nonetheless, I decided to stay put.
Are they unwell?
They’re fine. I just need to stay in the house tonight.
Then I’ll come to you.
My kids are home.
Didn’t stop us last time.
The second he came over, I’d have to tell him what happened, and that was the last thing I wanted. I’m just not in the mood tonight, okay?
Now he didn’t say anything.
Perhaps it was over.
…
Nope. Not over.
There’s something you aren’t telling me.
I couldn’t resist the jab. Now you know how that feels…
What’s wrong?
Just had a shitty day. Don’t want to waste your time.
Taking care of you is never a waste of time.
Those words cut through all the scars and hit me right in the heart. Men had let me down so many times. It was nice to be surprised for once.
I’ll text you when I’m outside.
We went straight to my bedroom, which was on the bottom floor. Christmas was just a week away, and I’d barely found the time to wrap all the gifts for my kids and nanny. I was careful not to spoil my kids throughout the year, choosing not to buy them just anything they wanted, but once Christmas came around, those rules didn’t apply.
He stripped down to his boxers, a mountain of a man who made the bed dip once he lay down. He left the sheets at his waist, showing off all his sexy hardness.
I was in a loose t-shirt with my hair in a bun, nothing fancy.
He didn’t seem to care that my long, luscious tresses were hidden away in a tight band, that my eyelashes were real instead of thick and fake, that the imperfect complexion of my face was genuine. Whether I looked my best or my worst, it didn’t change the way he treated me. It was an interesting phenomenon, considering my ex-husband left me the second I gained some weight—after having his goddamn kids.
Grave cocooned me in his strong arms, the searing heat instantaneous. He brought me against his core and shared the pillow with me. Not a word was said, but his physical presence was more than enough. It chased way all my troubles.
If Kyle were to come back for another round, he’d be dead.
My alarm shattered my sleep.
It was six-thirty, and I had to get the kids ready and drop them off at school.
Grave slept on, not the least bit fazed by my annoying alarm.
I quickly got ready then left the bedroom to pack their lunches. The bedroom door was shut, and my kids would never go in there in the morning, so I wasn’t worried about one of them walking in and seeing an enormous man dead asleep.
I dropped them off at school then headed back home.