Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 29462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
The orgasm slams into me like a tidal wave crashing into the shore. I topple beneath its might, shouting his name to the heavens. He roars mine back to me, falling still above me as his body jerks and wetness spills into me. No, not wetness. Him. His erection jerks as his seed splashes against my womb.
"Perfect," he groans in my ear, kissing all over the back of my neck as we writhe in ecstasy. "Fucking perfect, Firefly."
I'm not sure if he's talking about me or the moment. I'm not sure if it matters. In this moment, I think he's right on both counts. I feel perfect. And this is perfect. It's magic…the fairytale kind.
He falls beside me, dragging me into his arms with his cock still inside me. His chest heaves as he sucks in deep breaths, nuzzling his face into my throat from behind. "Never letting you go, sweet Hope. Never."
In this moment, I discover something else I lost too. Hope. The first fragile threads of it bloom in my heart, growing rapidly. Somehow, I'm going to make it through this. For him, I'll find a way.
"Get out!" I shout, marching toward the door of my shop when Thomas Huntington steps through the front doors late the next afternoon. "Out, out, out!"
"Miss Byrne." He holds his hands up in a placating gesture as Kieve starts barking up a storm from behind the counter. "I didn't come here to cause a problem. I just came to talk."
"I believe she made it clear when she threatened to shoot your sorry ass that she wasn't interested in what you had to say." Callum steps up beside me with his arms crossed over his chest. He angles his body so he's partially blocking me from view, protecting me with his body.
Thomas glances from me to Callum, his Good Ole' Boy smile on full display. It's a load of crap, of course. Thomas Huntington is nothing but a bully in a suit. He may hide it behind bright white veneers and Botox injections, but he's a thug.
If anyone is responsible for trying to destroy my business, it's him. I'd stake my life on it. He wants my land and he'll do whatever it takes to get it for his company. Just like he does to every other property owner who has what he wants. There's a reason people sell to him. He hounds them into it. And when that doesn't work, he finds other ways to get what he wants.
Ransom Oil doesn't play fair. I doubt they even know the definition.
But they picked the wrong woman this time. There are no loopholes to exploit to get their dirty hands on my property. It's been in my family for generations, and Silver Spoon Falls protects its property owners specifically so companies like Ransom Oil can't come in and do what they do in every other town to run residents off. Sometimes, living in a town full of millionaires and billionaires pays off.
"Hello," Thomas says to Callum, thrusting out a hand toward him. "I'm Thomas Huntington with Ransom Oil."
"Callum Carmichael." Callum doesn't take his hand. "I know who you are. You've been harassing my woman about her property for months despite her telling you she isn't interested in selling."
"So you two have discussed it."
"You mean have we discussed the fact that you've continually trespassed on her property? Yeah, we've discussed it." Callum takes a threatening step toward him. "You won't listen to her. I guess she doesn't have the right appendage between her legs for a man like you to hear her, so listen up, Huntington. She said no. N-fucking-O. She isn't selling to you or anyone else." He pauses. "And just so we're clear, should anything happen to her, you still won't get your fucking hands on the property. Her will makes it crystal clear that the property will go to her cousin, Dante Arakas."
Thomas's smile slides from his face. "Dante Arakas is your cousin?"
"Yes," I lie, not sure what Callum is doing, but playing along anyway. "On my dad's side."
Thomas nods, his expression troubled. "Well, I guess if that's your decision," he sighs heavily, reaching into his pocket to pull out another of the business cards he's left me. "Here's my card if you change your mind, Miss Byrne."
"I won't."
Callum takes the card from him anyway, tucking it into his pocket.
We watch in silence as Thomas exits the shop.
"Dante Arakas is my cousin?" I arch a brow at him. "What are you up to now, Callum?"
"Protecting what belongs to me, Firefy." He tugs me into my arms. "If they are the ones behind the attacks, they're a helluva lot less likely to try to hurt you if they think they'll have to fight Dante Arakas if anything happens to you. You're one woman. He's the biggest criminal in Texas. Who do you think they think they stand a better chance of talking down?"