Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
He bundled her up tighter against him. “Pull your knees in, Suzette. I’ll tuck your dress around your feet so they don’t get cold.”
She giggled, feeling lighter and safe. “This is not a dress. This is layers of shifts. My dress is still on my bed at home.”
He smiled again. She loved it when he smiled. His face lit up, and tiny lines wrinkled at the corners of his eyes. “I’m glad. That means it’s not ruined. You can wear it for me someday.”
She liked the thought of that. Could she really? It was hard for her to imagine all was not lost today. He still wanted her even though another man had held her. She hoped that was all he had done. She was confident that was the truth, but how could she be sure?
Brock held her with one arm and pulled a phone from his pocket with the other. Seconds later, he spoke. “I have her… Yes, she’s safe. I’m taking her to my home. Would you please bring the bag from her room. Make sure her doll is in it.” He hung up, seemingly without waiting for a response.
“Who was that?”
“My brother, Elias.”
Her face flushed at the thought of his brother knowing about her doll, but she was so very relieved to know she would not be spending a night without Molly. And then she needed to know the truth. “It was you, wasn’t it? You’ve been coming to me in the night. That’s how you know about my doll, Molly.”
He smiled his award-winning smile again. “Guilty.”
“Why?”
“I wanted to make sure you were safe in the night. I meant to remain outside, but your scent was powerful. Once I inhaled your tantalizing aroma, I couldn’t resist coming into your room. I love to watch you sleep. I’m going to want to do so often for the next century or so. We won’t tell anyone I watched over you. I was breaking a few rules.” He winked at her conspiratorially.
She loved the way he confided in her, and she had an admission of her own. “I sensed you. When I awoke, you were always gone, but I knew you’d been there.”
He nuzzled her nose with his. “We must go, Little doll. Hold on to Daddy.” He rolled her tighter against him and held her with both arms.
She forced herself to relax in his embrace, her arms wrapped around his neck, her head nestled in the crook of his neck. She closed her eyes and breathed him in. His scent was intoxicating, and with every passing minute, she grew restless in his arms. She had an odd sensation of needing to be closer to him even though she was almost as close as she could be.
After a while, he stroked her back. “Shhh, Little doll. You’re distracting Daddy.”
She sucked in a breath. How was she distracting him?
He kissed her temple. “Your little noises are driving Daddy bonkers, Suzette.”
Noises? Was she making noises? She pursed her lips and concentrated on not making a sound. She wanted to be good for him. It concerned her that he was taking her to his home even though she was ruined. Wasn’t she?
No man was ever supposed to touch her besides her mate. No man should have seen any part of her except her mate. She’d spent her life protected from anything like that ever happening. Now it had.
And he still wanted her.
Hope bloomed inside her.
Chapter Four
Brock was doing everything in his power to keep from upsetting his precious mate. She was clearly scared out of her mind. Tear stains ran down her face. She’d been traumatized.
He assumed that she’d been unconscious for the journey to this cave and had woken up some time later in the small kennel, hopefully not long before he’d arrived.
Suzette was his mate. She’d been his destiny for two decades. Even longer if the Fates were to be believed. She still was. Nothing had changed.
Even before Brock had torn up the mountain in search of her, he’d known she would be his no matter what had happened to her. As soon as he’d stepped into the cave, he’d inhaled deeply and had been beyond relieved to discover no other scent but her own.
Yes, the shifter had touched her. He had carried her to this location. He would pay for that when he was found, but there was no evidence of his semen near the cave, and not a trace of evidence he’d gotten his essence on her, not even her skirts. Nevertheless, it bothered Brock that he still hadn’t caught a single hint of the unknown man’s scent at all. It was unheard of and confusing. But he would deal with that later.
Brock was anxious to get home, strip her off these garments, burn them, and wash her kidnappers touch off her. That would be his first order of business. Afterward he would dress her in the clothes he’d purchased for her, bundle her up to keep her warm, hold her in his arms, and feed her a bottle.