Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 33401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
I wince. Of course, I feel the same way deep inside, but we’re basically forbidden to talk about Dad at all back at home. Mom doesn’t want to hear a single word about him, bad or good. So it feels strange to speak on it now.
Porter sees my reaction and reaches out to put his hand on my upper leg. "Bailey, parents are supposed to protect their children, not abandon them."
My heart warms. "It's okay. It’s been a long time. I barely knew him anyway, with how much he worked. It really is fine.”
"No, it's not. I don't know how the hell he could just leave you, baby."
"Really. I’m good," I reassure him. "He doesn't deserve my tears or my anger. Not anymore. And it doesn't bother me. It just is what it is. We made do without him."
"But you shouldn't have had to."
I shrug. "Maybe not, but we did."
Porter sighs, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and pulling me closer to him. We look out at the view, and he doesn't say anything for a little while. Finally, he asks what I think was probably the biggest thing on his mind this entire time. Porter tries to keep his tone casual, but there’s a thread of barely suppressed rage in it.
"What about this stalker of yours? Any more issues in the last few days?"
I shake my head. "I like to think he saw me going into the boxing gym and figured it wasn't worth the trouble. I haven't heard high or low from him, which is a huge relief. But I still want to learn how to fight. I don't ever want to be helpless again."
"You won't be." Porter's voice is firm. "You're not. Never again. No one is going to hurt you, Bailey. And if they try, they'll have to deal with me."
"You sound awfully sure of yourself," I tease. In reality, I don’t know that anyone on earth could get through Porter Brooks. He has every reason to be cocky.
"I am. I'm not letting anyone get close to hurting you, Bailey." He cups my face with one of his hands. "I take care of what is mine."
It happens in an instant. His lips crash into mine, and a whimper escapes my throat. Porter kisses me hungrily, claiming my mouth with his. His free arm wraps tightly around my waist, and I'm lifted and placed in his lap. He presses my thighs apart and pulls me tight against his body.
"Say you're mine, Bailey," he whispers. "Say it."
I moan softly as Porter kisses his way down my neck. It's hot out, but I'm shivering. Every touch of his fingers feels electric, and every kiss from his lips sends heat straight between my thighs. "I'm yours, Porter," I gasp.
He groans. "That's right. That's fucking right. And Bailey, don't tell me you're mine unless you mean it. Because now that you're mine, there is no going back. No changing your mind. You're mine, and nothing is going to change that."
His hand grips my ass and squeezes, and then Porter's tongue is in my mouth, coaxing a response from me. His kiss is full of possession, and heat, and need, and desire.
I shift against him, straddling his hips and rocking forward. Porter breaks the kiss long enough to groan. "Baby…"
"I know," I pant. I can feel his length against me, straining against his jeans, and it's making my head spin. "Porter, I—"
"Fuck." Porter sucks his bottom lip between his teeth and closes his eyes, and I can see that he's fighting to keep himself under control. "We can't do this here, Bailey. You deserve more than this for your first time. And I'll have to gouge a fucker’s eyes out if someone comes up the trail and sees you bare."
A whine escapes me, and I'm reluctant to let him go. I want more, but I also know that he's right. We're out here on a public trail. Even though no one else is here at the moment, we could have hikers passing us by at any point. And Porter is right. I do deserve more for my first time.
"Come on," Porter encourages. "We'll head back."
I slide off his lap, and he stands, stretching. Porter rolls his shoulders back, and we collect our garbage and head down the trail. I'm grateful for the long hike ahead of me. It will give me a chance for my libido to cool off and my pulse to slow down.
We hike for a couple of hours, and I'm getting tired, but Porter is a good sport and slows his pace. It's late afternoon by the time we pull into Renae's driveway, and I'm exhausted.
Porter flexes his hands on the steering wheel. "The offer still stands for you to come and stay with me."
I shake my head. As tempting as it sounds, this is already moving at a breakaway pace. "I just can't, Porter. It's only been a few days."