Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 102929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Part of me thought he might have been avoiding me, or maybe he was just too hungover and needed to sleep for a good part of the day. He froze at the bottom of the stairs when he saw me sprawled out on the couch, glancing up at him from my book. He tried to keep his emotions in check as he stood there in nothing but a pair of gym shorts, hanging low on his hips.
His muscular arms crossed over his chest. His body was already covered in tattoos. It was one thing Julius couldn’t stop. Kraven started getting them often, making Julius worry about infection since he was probably getting them done in someone’s garage.
Kraven rubbed the back of his head like he was lost in thought, searching all over the room looking for answers. A few awkward seconds passed before he finally made his way over to me, still not uttering a word.
I threw my book on the coffee table, turning to sit sideways to look at him, tucking my legs underneath me as he took a seat beside me.
“Isla, I-I-I…” he stammered, figuring out what to say first. Struggling to gather his thoughts, he shook his head, and his gaze connected with mine. Sighing, he shared, “I was really drunk. I know that’s not an excuse, but it’s all I got.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t. Not even close.”
His tone was defeated yet determined, which only baffled me more. Kraven was my friend, or so I considered him one. By the way he treated me, I assumed I was his friend too. Whenever he brought girls around, they would look at me with such disdain, and it never made sense.
I imagined it was from jealousy of living there with them. I didn’t see his flings more than a couple of times, and then they’d disappear. No one ever spent the night with him, and Julius often made jokes that Kraven was always getting his dick wet and needed to wrap it up because he wasn’t ready to be an uncle.
I frowned, wanting to know. “What does that mean?”
He didn’t hesitate in stating, “It means I’m fucked.”
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t care about Kraven. I did, very much so. The air grew thick between us, and I couldn’t form words. He literally made me speechless.
“I—”
The door opened, revealing Julius. I swear the brothers had a knack for intruding on each other. It was as if they had some sort of radar for private moments.
“Am I interrupting?” Julius questioned in a snide tone, shutting the door behind him.
“Of course you are,” Kraven bit. “Your timing is impeccable as always.”
I got off the couch, kissed Julius on the cheek, and announced, “I’m going to make some lunch. You guys hungry?”
“Yeah,” they replied in unison.
Between last night and now this, I defaulted on what came naturally.
I fled.
* * *
My mind was running ragged on what Kraven was going to say after that.
Chapter
Twenty-Nine
Isla
Sometimes people don’t want the truth because they don’t want their illusions destroyed. - Friedrich Nietzsche
* * *
3 months later.
* * *
“Mmm…” I groaned in my sleep.
“You feel so damn good,” Julius rasped against my ear, softly kissing down the side of my neck.
Am I dreaming?
I had to be dreaming, but it felt so real.
His lips felt as smooth as silk, making their way down to my chest. My breathing hitched when he slid his way back up to my mouth.
“Ask nicely and I’ll be generous,” he growled, biting my lower lip.
Gripping the back of my neck with his strong, warm hand, he held me in place, kissing me senseless. Deepening our kiss, he pushed me to the brink of ecstasy.
My legs shook.
My stomach clenched.
My body quivered, tightened, and spasmed all at once.
It was forceful, urgent, demanding.
If this were a dream, I didn’t want to wake up.
I wanted this.
Needed this.
Him.
The way his tongue sinfully played with mine, causing a loud moan to escape my mouth.
“Open your legs for me…” In one sudden movement, he reached where I wanted him the most, and my hands fisted the sheets.
I gazed down at him through hooded eyes, while he stared up at me with a piercing green that tore into my soul.
My eyes closed, and my head fell back against the bed as he devoured me. He gripped the back of my thighs, rocking my hips against the pressure of his lips. His fingers dug into my hip bones, enjoying this as much as I was.
My body fell forward, and that was when I locked eyes with Caribbean blue.
In seconds, I came undone, screaming, “Kraven!”
I gasped, shooting straight up in Julius’s bed. “What the hell?” I breathed out, waking up from a dream.
Or is that a nightmare?
My body throbbed, mimicking the pounding of my heart. I shook off the sentiment, pulling off the wrestled sheets that I gripped and throwing them aside.