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)
"Good."
"You were incredibly rude."
"Don't like him," he mutters, shrugging.
"You don't even know him!"
"I know he was waiting on your fucking porch for you. And I'm guessing it happens more often than you're going to admit. I'm also guessing your packages conveniently show up at his place a little too often too."
"That's not his fault."
"It is if he's making sure they're showing up at his place," he says. "Why does he have access to your shop?"
"Because it's easier for him to put the packages in there than for me to drag them out there," I mutter and then throw up a hand. "You know what? I did not sign up for the Inquisition when I hired you."
"Told you already, Firefly. The job ended when your workday did. It's personal now. Someone is trying to hurt you, and right now, he's the most likely candidate."
I gape at him for a full five count and then burst into laughter. "You think Silas is behind all of this? Good grief, Callum. You've lost your mind. The man wouldn't hurt a fly. He's obnoxious, but he has nothing to gain here."
"Except you and your land." He tips my chin up by crooking a finger beneath it. "You think you aren't a prize worth fighting dirty to get, Firefly? You're wrong. There's no limit to things I'd do to win you."
He means it. The truth glitters like the brightest stars in his eyes. He'd fight wars and topple kingdoms for me. He wouldn't hesitate or regret it, either. Lord. Who is this man?
I swallow my laughter, my mouth going dry.
"The only thing I'd never do is hurt you."
"Callum," I whisper, not sure if I'm asking him to kiss me or begging him not to break my heart. Both, I think. I want him with an intensity that scares the hell out of me. But can I take a taste of him without risking my heart?
No, a little voice whispers. You know you can't.
Kieve squirms in his arms, demanding to be let down. He holds my gaze as he stoops, carefully placing my dog on the ground. Kieve immediately takes off to explore the front yard. He won't go far. He knows not to leave the yard.
Callum rises to his full height, his eyes still locked on mine. "We've got a problem, Firefly," he murmurs, dropping my bag to the ground to tug me into his arms. "If I kiss you like you're practically begging me to do right now, it won't be enough to satisfy either one of us, and we both know it."
"T-that's a problem?"
"A big fucking problem," he growls, tilting his hips to press his erection against my lower belly. "I'm trying to make you my forever, not my for right now. I don't want to fuck it up, move too fast, and lose you for good."
"Callum," I whisper, my heart beating so loud I'm sure he can hear it. Anxiety courses through me, urging me to back away, to throw up walls to keep him at a distance. He's getting too close to dangerous territory, to the place where happily-ever-after ends with little girls growing up without parents. But he isn't my dad. I'm not my mom. And their story doesn't have to be ours.
I can't run scared forever. Eventually, I have to let someone in. I have to face my fears and learn to trust. I think…I think I want that person to be Callum. Something about him calls to me. It has all day. The way he looks at me. The way he speaks to me. For the first time, I want to know what it's like to just let go of the fear and just…feel.
"Kiss me," I plead. "I won't regret it."
He spears his hand into my hair, dragging my mouth to his with a needy groan I feel in my bones. His lips touch mine, soft at first. Electricity sparks between us, humming to life like livewires. He feels it too. He groans again and pulls me closer, his hand tightening in my hair.
His tongue flicks against my bottom lip, demanding entry. I give it to him, willingly opening to him. I whimper as he sweeps inside, tangling his tongue with mine. As soon as his strokes against mine, I lose the ability to think. My legs tremble, my knees threatening to buckle.
"Fuck." He releases my hair to drag me closer to his body as my legs give out altogether. "This perfect mouth is going to ruin me."
His already ruined me. He's ruining me with it right now.
His hands prowl down my body, gripping my ass in his palms to pull me even closer. He doesn't handle me like I'm delicate. He handles me like I'm his, holding onto me as if he's not planning to let go anytime soon. The possessive edge to his touch is the single sexiest thing I've ever experienced.