Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
“Ouch!” I squeal when I stub my toe on something. So much for the sneaking around part.
I don’t get the chance to see anything. One second I’m hopping around on one foot, and the next, I’m pinned to the bed. I know it’s Leone. His warm, comforting smell surrounds me. Who knew a smell could be comforting, but it is. I relax immediately. His massive body on top of mine makes me forget all about the pain in my toe.
“Lights on,” Leone says. The room fills with light, blinding me momentarily.
“Morning,” I chirp when his face finally becomes clear. He’s even more handsome than I remember.
“What are you doing?” He doesn't look mad. If anything, I’d guess he’s more amused.
“Coming to see you.”
“Sir!” someone shouts a second before his bedroom doors swings open and three men come rushing in with their guns drawn. Leone grabs the blanket, yanking it over me before he sits up.
“Get the fuck out of my room,” he bellows at them.
“We heard a scream,” one of them says, but I can’t tell which with the blanket over my face.
“Why are you so mad?” I yank the blanket from off my face. “They came to protect you. I could be a ninja.”
“A half-naked ninja?” he growls.
The three men depart as quickly as they entered.
“I have your shirt on. It’s like a dress.” I sit up. “Sorry I snuck into your room.”
“You’re always welcome in my room, Zoey. I told you that last night.”
“Careful. I’m a cuddler, and you might wake up to me wrapped around you like a koala.”
“Feel free to wrap yourself around me whenever you like.” He grabs me, pulling me into his lap. A rush of heat floods my body. “How did you sleep?” He tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear. How does this man seem scary at times and at others a sweet teddy bear?
“Good, until I started remembering the mess I’m in. That's why I wanted to talk to you.”
“No one can hurt you as long as you’re here. I promise you that. There is no safer place for you than at my side.”
It might be crazy of me, but I actually believe him. Being near him is the safest I’ve ever felt in my life. Even when everything was somewhat normal with Xanny and me living in the trailer park, there was always a trace of fear for our safety. Two girls living alone in not a great area. I always worried when Xanny went to work at night.
“I might be safe, but Xanny isn’t.”
“She seems like a girl that can take care of herself. You shouldn’t let her pull you into whatever mess she’s in.”
I glare at Leone as I try to wiggle out of his lap, suddenly not feeling so warm and cuddly about him anymore.
“But I thought we were going to make a deal.” He smirks.
“I have to find Xanny. Without her, God knows what would have happened to me long ago.” I wiggle harder, but it’s really useless. Leone keeps a firm hold on me without even trying. “You have no idea how many times she’s saved me from the weirdo people that my parents would bring around.” Leone’s hold on me tightens a fraction, I can sense something dark rise up inside of him. I stop moving around. “I’m okay. No one hurt me,” I rush to say. “But that’s because of Xanny. She’s always protected me. Now it’s my turn to save her. Please. I need your help,” I plead. I don’t know what I’m going to do if he decides he’s not going to help me find her.
“All right,” Leone says.
“Really?” A sense of hope rises in me.
“I am a man of my word, and I told you we could make a deal. I just wanted to be sure this is something you really want to do.”
“I do.” I nod my head. “A sweeter deal,” I add, recalling what he’d said last night. My eyes drop to his mouth. I know nothing about seduction. Not like Xanny. She could get men to eat out of the palm of her hand with only a smile.
“How are you going to make it sweeter, little one?”
“Would a kiss from me be sweet?” I ask, not really knowing what he’s looking for.
“I think any part of you that you let me put my mouth on will taste sweet.” I suck in a breath as my mind thinks of his mouth all over my body. I lick my lips as I lean in to kiss him.
“I might be terrible at this. I’ve never kissed anyone before.”
A deep, sexy sound rumbles from him as he sinks his fingers into my hair and pulls me forward. My mouth meets his. I’m shocked at how soft his lips feel pressed against mine as he kisses me.