Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
“But you don’t remember…”
“I know I don’t. But I swear. I never would have.”
I hear truth in his words. He’s not lying. Not to me. Not when he knows what’s at stake. What he almost fucked up.
“I believe you, buddy.”
“I know. And you know I’d never lie to you.”
“I know you wouldn’t. Do you need rehab?”
“I’ll be okay. I’ll force it. I want to join the rest of you guys in Paris. I swear to God, I’ll make it happen.”
“You doing okay?”
“Detox is a bitch, but I’ve been through worse. There was fentanyl in my system, but I’m on methadone for a few days to help get me back to normal. I refused it at first, but then I figured why not take all the help I can get? I can do it, Jess. I’ve walked through fire and survived. I can do this.”
I believe him. I believe him with all my heart. Because in truth? This is nothing compared to other stuff Dragon has been through.
“Yeah, you can, man. I’m in your corner. Always.”
“I know you are, Jesse. I’m just so sorry I ever started talking to those women. You had the right idea to get the fuck out of there.”
Yeah, I did. But only because I had eyes only for Brianna. If not for Brianna? It could have been me in there with Dragon getting drugged.
Fuck.
Maybe I owe Brianna for this one.
Cage and I had decided to fuck our way across Europe. And if not for my aching desire for Brianna Steel, I’d have been with Dragon and…
God, I can’t go there.
We were able to replace a drummer, but they couldn’t have replaced me.
Brianna…
God…I’ve been blaming her for distracting me.
But if she hadn’t…
Fuck…
I owe her everything.
I text her quickly.
You still up?
Yeah.
Can you come to my room?
It’s almost nine o’clock, Jesse. I’m exhausted from the train ride.
I know. But I have to talk to you. It’s important.
The three dots linger for longer than makes me comfortable, until—
Be right there.
I text her my room number quickly and then head to the bathroom and check myself out in the mirror. I look like I’ve been traveling all day, which I have. Not all day, perhaps, but for the last five hours.
I wash my hands and face and eye the plush white robe that’s hanging in the bathroom.
It would be so much more comfortable…
But no. This isn’t a booty call. I want to tell her thank you.
I want to tell her…
God, so much I’d like to tell her.
So much I can never say to her.
Because I’m not sure what I’m feeling.
It’s new to me…
Foreign…
Something I’ve…
Oh my God.
Something I’ve never felt before. Something stronger than the love I’ve known. Something more physical and visceral. Yet it’s far from only physical and visceral.
And it may…
It may be that silly four-letter word that Brianna utters so freely.
But I can’t.
I won’t.
Because if I do, I’ll mean it.
I’ll mean it with all my heart.
She believes she means it. But she’s young, and worshipping someone from afar for years isn’t love. It’s infatuation. Lust. Puppy love, even.
Not the all-encompassing passion and desire and pure urge to protect that I’m feeling now.
Fuck. It. All.
I may truly be in love with Brianna Steel, even after I assured her I wasn’t and could never be.
And then…
A knock on my door.
Chapter Sixteen
Brianna
Jesse opens the door and looks amazing as always. He’s still wearing the black button-down and jeans, complete with leather belt and the dragon belt buckle that he wore on the train.
I’ve showered, and my hair is damp and hanging around my shoulders. No makeup, and I had just pulled on a pair of lounge pants and a Dragonlock tank when he called. My feet are bare, even in February.
He holds the door open, and I enter. On the table are two glasses of water. He motions to one. “Thirsty?”
I nod, walk over, and pick up a glass. “I don’t know what it is about traveling, but it’s very dehydrating.”
Or maybe it was the fuck in the bathroom. I can’t say I’ve joined the mile-high club, but a train bathroom has to mean something. I take a drink, letting it soothe my dry throat.
He picks up the other glass and drains it. Then he looks at me but says nothing.
I clear my throat. “Since you called me here, I kind of thought you’d start.”
He nods. “Yeah. I… I want to thank you.”
I raise my eyebrows. “For what? The fuck? You don’t have to thank me for that. I don’t do anything I don’t want to.”
“For Christ’s sake, Bree. No, not for the fuck.” He inhales deeply and gazes at me. “Though that was crazy hot.”
I smile. “It was.”
He rakes his fingers through his unruly hair and tugs on it. “I talked to Dragon.”
“How’s he doing?”
“He’s going to be fine, and he swears he didn’t take anything. He’s pretty sure he was drugged.”