Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 37824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
“Oh.” Her smile grows. “So you all are close then. Winter and I are close too.”
“Yeah, we’re close. Whether he likes it or not.”
“Right, because he enjoys being out in his cabin alone.”
“Not alone anymore.”
“That’s still a lot for me to take in. My sister has a boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend.” I chuckle. I don’t think Garrett or I have looked like boys since the seventh grade if I had to guess.
“I guess if he’s your size, he’s not a boy.” I don’t know why, but her comment makes me want to puff out my chest. No, I’m no boy, but I need to fucking remember she is a young girl. I know she’s legal, but still. Fuck me.
“We are built pretty much the same.” I begin to remove my gear. Libby takes a step back. “Not getting naked.”
“Oh, ah—” She tucks a piece of hair behind her ear. “I didn’t think that.” Her cheeks flush. Damn is she cute when she gets flustered. How would she be if I got my mouth on her?
I turn to give her my back because my dick is coming to life again. Those thoughts are not going to help. When I turn back around, her eyes are curiously running over my place. I hadn’t thought about how someone else might see it. The only people who have ever been up here are my brother and a few contractors I hired to help with the construction of it.
“It’s an open floor plan, but the bathroom is private." I walk over to the barn-style door and slide it over to show her.
“So I’m staying here?”
“Till the storm dies down.” I really don’t want to think about that right now. There is no way I’m letting her leave, but I can’t say that. Shit, I shouldn’t even be thinking it with what she’s been through. I know it’s messed up, but that doesn’t change anything. She’s mine.
“You live alone?”
“Of course.” Has she been thinking otherwise? “I’m single.” I hold up my hand to show her my finger is bare. Well, I was single until I laid eyes on her.
“But people out here live together before marriage, right?”
“They do. I'm not one of them.”
“It's truly a whole new world for me.”
“That scare you?”
Libby lets out a small breath. “Not sure what I feel. It’s all so much. I thought I’d forever be under my father’s finger. No one was going to marry me because of my leg.” She shrugs her delicate shoulders. Again, I want to grab her up into my arms, but I stop myself.
“Bullshit,” I blurt out. Her brows lift in surprise. “You’re fucking gorgeous. Not to mention sweet. Your leg isn’t putting anyone off.”
There is no way that shit is true.
“You know, sometimes I did wonder. I thought a few showed interest, but my father always told me there weren't any requests for my hand.”
He’s full of shit, and that gives me a real fucking unsettling feeling. Why did her father want to keep her at home? There’s no way in hell anyone with eyes saw Libby and didn’t want her. By chance, she and I made eye contact, and she was all I could think about from that moment forward. Which tells me that for some reason, her father lied to her.
“Did your father have other wives?”
"No.” She shakes her head. “From what I was told, once they married Winter off, it was only going to be the three of us.”
My next thought ignites a burning sensation deep in my throat. I want to ask her if fathers have married daughters in their cult, but I don’t. I don’t want her mind going there either.
“You can make yourself comfortable if you want. Are you warm enough?” She has a few layers of clothing on.
“Actually, kind of hot.”
“I might have something you can wear if you want out of that dress thing.” I don’t want her in it, but I won’t make her change. But I do go to my closet to find what I can. I come up with a shirt and a pair of boxers. “You can wear this if you want. It might be more comfortable.”
“Thanks.” She takes them from me. “Do you mind?” Libby glances toward the bathroom.
“You don’t have to ask for anything here, babe. Use what you want. Make yourself at home. You are free to use the fridge and kitchen.”
“Really?” That perks her up some.
“Of course. Anything you want,” I tell her. Fuck, she could ask for anything, and if I don’t have it, I’ll get it. She’ll never want for anything again. Her wish is my command.
“Thanks,” she says again, stepping toward me, my clothes clenched close to her chest. I don’t move, not wanting to spook her as she draws closer. Libby lifts on her tiptoes, and I realize she is trying to kiss my cheek, but she’s still not tall enough. I lean down some for her, anticipating the way those soft pillowy lips will feel on my skin.