Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 83800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
"He's your brother."
"He went too far. The man I want in my life doesn't exist. I've accepted that."
I go easily when he pulls me to his chest, once again burying my nose in his t-shirt. His familiar scent washes over me, giving me more comfort than I even have the strength and courage to ask for right now.
"I want to build a life with you, Morgan Spence," he whispers into my hair, making me smile against his chest.
"I want that, too," I manage, my throat threatening to clog with emotions. "I'd like to start that journey with a shower."
He takes a step back, reaching for my hand before guiding me to his en suite.
"Let me get it started for you," he offers, but I cling to his hand when he tries to take a step away.
"I don't want to let him come between us. Join me?" I ask, not knowing what his answer will be.
"I don't expect that," he says, his eyes searching mine. "If you need time, I'll wait—"
"I need you with me," I assure him.
I release his hand and begin to work open the buttons on my blouse, and much to his credit, he gives me a soft, gentle smile before turning the water on.
He doesn't stare at me as I undress. He simply begins to pull his clothes off as well.
I have his undivided attention once we step inside the shower. He runs soft, gentle hands all over my body, spreading shower gel first and then rinsing it away. He urges my head back under the spray before washing my hair. There's so much care and love in his hands and actions that it's as if what happened tonight is already beginning to fade, and I'm grateful to have found a man who will forgive the things I've done.
I have no doubt he'll never mention it again if I ask him not to, and I know he'll talk about it a million times if it's what I need from him. I have every intention of being the exact same for him.
When the shower is done, he gently dries my skin with a warm towel, even going so far as to urge me to sit on the closed lid of the toilet while he blow-dries my hair for me.
I feel cherished beyond compare when he gives me one of his t-shirts to sleep in before guiding me to his bed. He's following my cues, which means he doesn't hesitate to climb in beside me when I open my arms to him. He pulls me to his chest, arm wrapped around my back, and holds me like he was worried that he'd never see me again.
I cling to him just as tightly, tears of relief falling and wetting his chest.
We don't speak about any of it. We just let the silence swarm around us like a cocoon.
I feel like together, we could face the world and every struggle life plans to throw at us and come out the other side victorious, not that I want to be challenged for the sake of winning. I'd love an easy, laid-back life, and I know I want to spend it with this man.
My breathing slows, and sleep finds me easily, which is a surprise considering what I've gone through in the last thirty-six hours.
Chapter 38
Rooster
Holding her is selfish.
Loving her for the rest of my life is going to be just as selfish, but it's not like I can flip a switch and turn those emotions off. Letting her go will never be an option for me either.
I know what it means to keep her in my life. I know that keeping her means that she will be on Henry's radar for the rest of his life. I also know that doing so means I risk her being hurt again because Henry will know that the best way to hurt me is to get to her.
It took me hours to fall asleep, and the entire night has been spent with only short bursts of rest. My mind has been racing since we laid down. I know we're protected here, but that hasn't made my brain turn off. I've pictured Henry busting into the house to hurt her, even though I know that isn't really his style. My twin is more of a mental game kind of guy simply because physical wounds heal, and psychological trauma can last much longer.
It's always the head games with him. His arrest means nothing. He won't stay locked up. He never does. I have no doubt he has some sort of failsafe plan in place that will trigger and allow for his release because he somehow tampered with the police department's system before allowing himself to be caught.
That's the part I can't figure out. Why get caught in the first place? Why just sit there and provide clues to be found? As much as I thought I knew Henry's style, I can say that this latest ploy is much different from the ones before it.