Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 43456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
We stepped inside, and I ignored the curious looks and the smirks cast our way by a few of my brothers and a couple of prospects lounging in the main area. I had no intention of explaining myself or letting their curiosity slow me down. Linden was my only priority right now—getting her somewhere safe and secure was all that mattered. The rest of the guys knew me well enough not to get in my way or start asking questions.
I steered Linden straight toward the stairs, gently but firmly, not giving her the chance to hesitate or pull away. She moved with me willingly, her green eyes wide as she glanced around, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings with unabashed curiosity and a little bit of awe.
When we reached the top of the stairs, I led her down the hall toward my room, unlocking the door and guiding her inside without a word. Once we were safely shut inside, I set her bag down next to the dresser and turned back to face her.
Linden was looking around, taking in the orderly space of my room with nervous interest. Finally, her gaze swung back to me, uncertainty flickering across her pretty face. She bit her lower lip lightly, then asked quietly, “So, where am I going to sleep?”
I stared at her for a moment, caught off guard by her question. It seemed so obvious to me that it hadn’t even crossed my mind that she wouldn’t already know. Her expression was confused and vulnerable, as if it hadn’t occurred to her that she was exactly where she was meant to be.
My eyes locked on hers with quiet intensity, and I stepped forward. “Right fucking here.”
Her cheeks flushed with warmth, and for a second, she looked like she might argue. But she didn’t. Instead, she swallowed hard, her gaze never leaving mine as she gave a tiny, hesitant nod.
I saw the flare of trust in her eyes and felt the tension melt away from her body as she accepted the truth of my words. She was safe now, protected and mine. And I wasn’t fucking letting her go anywhere.
I stepped toward the bathroom door, pushing it open and flicking on the light for her. “Bathroom’s here, little dove.” My voice was gruff from the tension coiling through my muscles with every breath. “Everything you need should be stocked. You get cleaned up, get some sleep. Don’t leave this room without me, understood?”
She glanced up, her wide green eyes meeting mine, and nodded quickly. “I won’t.”
“Good girl.” Again, my voice was rougher than intended, heat flaring through me as her cheeks flushed once again. The sight made my cock throb painfully hard against my jeans. I forced myself to step back, giving her room to move past me, but even the brush of her body as she walked by sent a surge of raw need rushing through me.
I knew she’d brought clothes, but I stalked to my dresser and grabbed a T-shirt, tossing it at her.
“To sleep in,” I muttered, making sure my tone conveyed that this was nonnegotiable.
Her cheeks turned pink, and she held the fabric to her chest as she nodded, then slipped into the bathroom.
I waited until the door clicked shut before exhaling sharply, dragging a hand over my face as I tried to cool the inferno raging inside me. It was no use. My mind was consumed by thoughts of her standing just on the other side of that thin door, wearing my shirt and likely nothing else. The image made my heart pound, my hands clenching into fists at my sides as I fought to maintain some shred of control.
I needed to meet with the prez—but all I wanted was to shove open that bathroom door and press Linden against the wall. Taste her soft skin, feel her arching against me, and hear her gasping my name. She was innocence and temptation rolled into one, and resisting her was damn near impossible. But I had to protect her, keep her safe. That came first, no matter how much I ached to fully claim her.
With a low, frustrated groan, I forced myself to move. Every step toward the door felt like a battle against my own instincts, the ache between my legs nearly unbearable. Still, I closed the bedroom door behind me with a quiet click that felt far too final.
6
TOMCAT
As soon as I received Linden’s call earlier, I texted King and told him there was an emergency we needed to handle when I got back. After leaving Linden in my room, I sent another message to let him know I’d returned. He replied that he was already in his office and to meet him there.
I strode through the compound, adrenaline humming beneath my skin, my jaw locked tight. The military had trained me to operate with razor precision under extreme pressure, yet the sensation gripping me right now was something far more visceral—a primal urgency, tied directly to Linden’s safety. I wasn’t accustomed to the feeling, but I didn’t have the time to analyze it.