Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 154379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 772(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 772(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
But this? How was it any different than what I did for Sanctum? I did my best to convince myself that’s all that it was.
Piper
I don’t even know what to make of you.
Exasperation was woven in the words.
Me
Only thing you need to know about me is I’m the guy to come to if you need anything. If you need help. If you’re afraid. Anything you want from me, and it’s yours.
Wondered if she took it as a proposition because I could almost see that fucking adorable scowl from across the property.
Piper
You know nothing is going to happen between us, right? You can forget it if that’s what you’re angling at.
Me
Seems to me you’re the one who’s thinking about it.
Couldn’t help but goad her a little. Especially since I’d felt it seeping from her when she’d been ticking through those forged complaints about me being the owner of The Sanctuary.
Luring us toward something I thought we both knew we couldn’t seek.
And fuck.
I wanted to get under her skin.
Press into that draw that tugged between us.
Stupid, but I’d always loved to play with fire.
Another text blipped through.
Piper
Sorry to break it to you, but you’re not my type.
Yeah, she was a little liar.
I knew exactly what flared in her eyes when she looked at me.
The tension that bound and pulled.
That kind of attraction that hooked you before you even knew you’d been baited and trapped.
Me
Don’t worry, gorgeous, I plan on being a perfect gentleman for your entire stay.
I could almost see her roll those pretty eyes, and this time there was lightness in her words when she responded.
Piper
I doubt someone who looks like you has been a gentleman a day in his life.
Me
And what do I look like?
Couldn’t help but play along.
Another text came through in a flash.
Piper
Trouble.
A rough chuckle scraped free. Yeah, I was plenty of that.
Me
What, you aren’t looking for a little trouble in your life?
She seemed to hesitate before she responded.
Piper
I’ve had plenty of that to last me a lifetime.
My chest tightened at her words.
Woman offering me the barest insight into who she was.
Didn’t matter there were no details.
A wave of protectiveness slammed me.
Consuming.
Blotting out all rational thought.
Me
And is that what you’re still in? Trouble?
I asked it point blank.
Piper
Other than not having a car and being stranded in this town? Nope. Everything is perfectly fine. You don’t need to worry about us.
Little Liar.
Could smell it coming from her, riding on the vestiges of the clouds that twined through the atmosphere.
It was all mixed with that sugary, intoxicating scent that smacked me in the face every time I got near her.
Cherries and cream.
Wanted to dip my fingers into that decadent dessert.
Me
Want to make it clear that if you’re afraid of something or someone? I’m the exact kind of trouble you need.
I was probably revealing too much. Exposing a piece of myself that I needed to keep hidden.
But I’d made an oath to my crew and to myself that I’d stand for those who were in need. Those who were in positions where they couldn’t help themselves.
Those who were running.
For me, that stood for those outside of Sovereign Sanctum’s protection.
It took forever before another text blipped through.
Piper
I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it for a long, long time.
A disturbance rolled through my being. Was that an admission?
Me
You ever get tired of that? Holding it all on your own?
Piper
You don’t know me, and I’m not your responsibility. Let’s leave it at that.
The deflection fired between us like darts.
Me
Maybe I want to know you.
Fuck. What was I doing? Pushing in a direction that I couldn’t go?
The promise I’d made screamed from the deepest recesses of my spirit. In the darkest place where my greatest regret would forever remain.
Where my duty laid.
I fucking knew better.
And there I was, tapping out words that I couldn’t afford to say.
Me
There’s something about you.
Piper
No, there’s not. There’s nothing about me that you need to know.
I hadn’t been so certain than right then that she was in something.
Up against something.
In danger or maybe just running from her past. From something she didn’t want to be or maybe she was just running toward what she wanted to become.
Me
Think I could imagine a few things I might like to discover.
Crossing lines seemed to be my forte tonight.
Piper
Like I said, it’s not going to happen.
Me
Now that’s a shame.
Piper
Is it really? One-Star, remember?
A grin quirked my mouth. Sweet little liar.
Me
I’m just messing with you, Pipes.
Clearly, I was the liar.
When she didn’t respond for a few minutes, I tapped out another text, figuring it was time to cut off whatever insanity she stirred in me.
Me
Going to hit the shower. Don’t hesitate to call if you need anything. Mean it, what I said. If you’re struggling or in need or just fucking afraid? Then I’m the kind of trouble you want standing by your side. In front of you or behind you or wherever you want me to be.