Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 103413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
“Is your head still hurting?” Nico asked her.
“A bit.”
“Would it help if I rubbed it?”
She stared at him, and he prepared himself for her to say no.
“Okay,” she whispered.
He moved to the other side of the bed and sat before gently massaging her scalp.
A small noise of pleasure escaped her, making his dick harden.
Fuck.
Liam gave him a knowing look. But this was partially that bastard’s fault.
“Will you be leaving tomorrow?” she suddenly asked.
“No, baby. I told you. We’re not going anywhere.”
“But if Regent doesn’t want you here . . .”
“You let me worry about that,” Liam told her. “You need it, I’ll take over worrying about everything. All you have to do is tell me.”
“Don’t need you to take over my life,” she murmured. “I need to find a way to take control. To find a purpose.”
“We can help with that too,” Nico reassured her. “That’s what a relationship is, leaning on one another, supporting each other. I was lost for a long time too. I get what it feels like.”
“Seems like everyone else has it together and I’m just floundering.”
“Then let us help,” Liam told her. “You’re not supposed to do everything alone, Lottie. We’re here. And we’re not going anywhere.”
“Until you get sick of me . . . can’t let any man . . . touch . . . me . . . ”
Nico’s gaze hit Liam’s, but the other man just shook his head. Nico started singing to her as he massaged and soon, she was asleep.
Liam stepped back, gesturing to Nico. He climbed off the bed. He was slightly surprised that she’d gone to sleep so easily when she had issues sleeping. But he was grateful she had. She desperately needed sleep.
“I don’t think we should leave her, Liam,” he said.
Liam ran a hand over his face. “We have to show her that we trust her.”
“It’s not about trust . . . ”
Liam shot him a look. Okay, that was exactly what it was about. But how could he sleep while worrying about her?
“We have to do this. If we don’t, we start off with mistrust. It won’t work.”
“Fuck. Fuck. I hate this. Maybe you had the right idea. We should just take her. I can’t stand the idea of her . . .” he trailed off, holding in a sob. “She was hurting, and we didn’t fucking know.”
Liam wrapped a hand around the back of his neck, holding onto him with a firm grip, helping him to pull himself together. When he felt he was unraveling, Liam always knew how to bring him back.
Liam drew him forward. Nico wasn’t much shorter than Liam, but people tended to think Liam was much taller because of his bulk.
“Listen to me. I’m not going to let anything happen to her. I promise.”
“Liam, you can’t promise that.”
“I fucking can.”
They both stilled as she rolled over. Liam nodded toward the door. Nico didn’t want to go. But he knew if he stayed, they might wake her.
Liam opened the door and they slid out into the hall. Nico wondered if Regent was downstairs. Considering how loud Liam had been, he was guessing that was the case. They managed to make it to their room where he slumped back on the bed. Liam straddled him, looking down at him. “What is it?”
“What if she hurts herself?” he asked. “Then you’ll tell Regent and she’ll push us away.”
“I’m not going to tell him.”
Nico stared up at Liam who gave him an “are you insane” look.
“You said you would.”
“Of course, I did. Because it’s obvious she doesn’t want him to know. You think I wanted to leave her? I’m thinking about ways I can sneak fucking cameras into her bedroom and bathroom.”
“Liam, you can’t. If she ever found out, she’d never forgive you.”
Liam grunted. “I find out she’s hurt herself again and that’s what’ll happen. But I guess I’ll give her a chance.”
He didn’t look happy about that.
“So, you wouldn’t tell Regent?”
“That fucker had his chance to take care of her. To help her. No more chances for him. You’ve got a problem with me not telling him?”
“Fuck, no. I don’t want her taken away from us. She’s ours.”
“Which means we do whatever we need to in order to help her.”
“Including lie?” He felt uneasy about it. That wasn’t usually Liam’s way.
Liam sighed and lay back on the bed next to him, his arm over his face. “It’s not a lie.”
“But you just said . . . ”
“I’d tell him if I needed to. If it came down to her mental health or having her, I’d choose her health every time. I just don’t think it’s the best move.”
“He’ll fucking kill us if he ever finds out.”
Liam snorted. “I’m not worried about Regent Malone. Besides, if we play this right then he won’t find out. Or by the time he does, she’ll be ours. I’m certain that once Lottie gives herself to someone, she’ll be all in. Her brother won’t have a chance to attempt to come between us.”