Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
“Okay, do I move rooms?”
“I’m sorry, we don’t have any other rooms.”
“What?” She reaches over, absently gripping the front of my shirt. “But where will I go?” There’s a hint of panic in her voice now, which I hate. I don’t want her to feel scared, but the end goal justifies the means.
“There is a hotel in Benton.”
“Isn’t that like thirty miles away?”
“I’ve got her, Elliot.” I cut in before he comes up with a worse lie, knowing if Paisley really thinks on it, she’ll start asking questions. “Come on. Let’s get your things.”
“But—”
“I got you.” Her bottom lip puffs out. I want to lean down and suck on it. The fuck is wrong with me? Controlling my desires has never been an issue. Not even when I was a teen.
She slips her key into the door. When I hear her sniffle, it’s like a knife to my gut. At this moment, I know that I’ll do whatever I can so she never has to feel this way again. “Princess, you’re all right. You’ll come home with me. I’ve got more than enough space.”
“Home with you?” I reach down and finish unlocking the door for her, pushing it open. “You’re a boy. I can’t stay with you.”
“Trust me, sweetheart. I’m not a boy.” She peeks up at me. Her cheeks go that sweet pink again.
“Right.” She moves her hand to my chest again.
Meow!
“Tigger! My baby boy.” Paisley bounces away from me over to the bed, where a giant orange cat is stretched out, his ears sticking straight up. “Mommy missed you.” She hugs the cat, and his loud purrs tell me he’s enjoying every second of her attention.
I’m not getting jealous over a damn cat she’s showering with attention and kisses. I’ll use this opportunity, though. I start packing up all her shit. I can’t believe she lived in this damn motel room for two weeks with a lock that a five-year-old could pick.
“Motherfucker.” I grit my teeth when I lift the lid on a cooler and see all of her meds inside.
“Oh, I need to get fresh ice for that.” She rolls off the bed, bouncing to her feet. Her tits sway with the motion.
“We’ll put them in my fridge when we get home.”
“Right.” Her shoulders drop. “I can’t stay with you. I don’t know you.”
“I’m June’s brother.” She chews on her bottom lip. I walk over and use my thumb to pull it out from between her teeth. “You’re coming home with me where it’s safe. I’m only down the road from my parents where June lives.”
“I don’t want to be a bother.”
“You’re the furthest thing from a bother, princess.” A smile pulls at her lips. One that I swear could brighten any man’s darkest day.
“You haven’t had to live with me. Remember, two left feet.”
“Remember I’m quick with my hands.”
“They're big.” She grabs one of my hands, stroking her fingers across my palm. The sensation of her touch goes straight to my cock. For a second, I imagine how it would feel for those soft hands to be stroking me. Get it together, I remind myself. Now is not the time for this shit. I need to focus on getting her to my home.
“Let’s get your shit together. I’ll pull my truck over.”
“Maybe—”
“No maybes. Pack it up. We’re going home.”
“Going home,” she repeats.
Those two words turn my whole world upside down.
8
PAISLEY
“Have you seen the new vet?” June asks me from the back seat of the truck as she wiggles her fingers inside of Tigger’s cage, trying to pet him.
“The new vet?”
“Yeah, I mean I’m sure Tigger needs checkups.”
“June.” There is a warning in Jackson’s tone.
“What?” She has her mischievous smile on. I’m not sure what she’s up to, but she’s not good at hiding anything after she’s had a few drinks. “Just saying you’re single and got a whole tiger here.”
“He’s a Maine Coon,” I correct. I’d never own a tiger. “Did you know there are more captive tigers in the States than there are out in the wild?”
“No, shit.” June snaps her fingers. “Bet the new vet knows that.”
“June. Get out of the damn truck. We’re here.”
“Someone is in a mood.” June leans forwards and kisses me on the cheek. “Call me tomorrow,” she says before bouncing from the truck. I wonder why she hadn’t invited me to stay with her.
“Are you sure this isn’t a bother? Maybe I could stay with June,” I ask Jackson again for what is probably the hundredth time.
“No bother at all.” He glances over toward me. I could get lost in those eyes of his. “You’re staying with me.” There is a finality to his words.
We drive for about five minutes before Jackson turns off the main road onto a more isolated one that's all gravel. Trees line the road. I swear it’s like we are going deep into the forest. Everything is super quiet, the trees are ginormous, and it’s almost pitch black.