Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
He takes my hand, gently stroking my palm with his thumb. The comforting gesture fills me with warmth. “Not easy when you’re always behind everyone else.”
“My parents were mortified when they found out. My mom told me that…” I swallow hard, embarrassed to admit this. “That there are plenty of kids at orphanages who would be grateful to trade places with me. She threatened to trade me in if…if I couldn’t catch up by the end of the year.”
Blade slips an arm around my shoulders and pulls me close. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”
Sweetheart. The simple nickname soothes an ache deep in my heart. I’ve never been called by a pet name. “I know it’s stupid. But there’s part of me that always worries that if I displease them too much, then they’ll disown me. After I dropped out of college, my mom wouldn’t invite me to Christmas that year.”
“And your dad?”
“He does whatever my mom wants,” I say. “He’s more interested in writing papers that his academic peers can admire than he is interacting with his daughter. Even when I’m there, he disappears into his office and doesn’t talk with me.”
“You deserve better. You deserve people that remind you of how special you are every day, that celebrate your successes and cheer you on in your failures. You deserve parents that are there for you.”
I swipe at my face. Since I’m being honest, I might as well put it all out there. “That’s why finding Landon was such a big deal to me. I want…someone to love me. I even bought the perfect fuck-me heels to wear for him. I know you probably think that’s pathetic.”
“I think that Landon is the stupidest bastard in the world.” Blade leans close and then his lips are on mine, soft and sweet. His kiss tastes of pent-up longing and new beginnings.
When I open my lips for him, he sweeps his tongue into my mouth. He teases me with long strokes, almost as if he’s savoring this as much as I am. My nipples are pebbling beneath my lacy bra, and I arch toward him. I need to feel his chest against mine. Need to feel all of his solid places.
He lets go of my hand to pull my hair free from my ponytail and threads his fingers through it. He murmurs against my lips, “Love your hair.”
I’ve always thought it was too thick and unmanageable, requiring multiple anti-frizz products and a careful shampoo regimen. But when Blade says he loves it, I feel it’s beautiful.
“Do you still want Landon? Is he the only guy for you?”
I pull away from him long enough to suck in oxygen. Nervous energy flows through my veins. There’s so much I want to do with this man, and it’s time to let go of my fantasy Landon. “I like you, Blade.”
A soft smile lights up his features. “I like you, too. Now, come here and let me make you feel good tonight.”
10
GWEN
At his invitation, I scramble into Blade’s lap, putting my hands on his shoulders for balance. I glance at his arm, studying it. I’m not sure how to ask the questions that are swirling in my mind.
Something flickers across his face, the slightest show of insecurity. “Is it disgusting to you?”
I put my hand on his face, feeling his stubble underneath my palm. It’s so scratchy and tough, just like my man. “Not for a second, sailor. Just wondering how…well, if there’s anything special I need to do for you?”
He swallows. “Touch it.”
Slowly, I run my fingertips from his shoulder to his...I’m not sure what to call it. I study his expression as I do, looking for any sign of pain.
He seems to sense my worry because he says softly, “This is my stump. It’s what amputees call their residual limb.”
I touch the puckered scars lightly. I’m not a surgeon or doctor, but even I recognize that someone skilled stitched my man back together again. “Does it still hurt?”
“It’s desensitized now, so only when I bump it on something. Then it hurts like I’ve hit my funny bone. The only thing that’s strange is sometimes, I swear I can still feel my hand moving. Like when I’m driving and think that my fingers are drumming on the steering wheel.”
I lean forward and press a soft kiss to his arm. I don’t ever want him thinking that it grosses me out or makes me think less of him. In my eyes, he’s an amazing guy, and he always will be. “I’m so glad you stopped on the side of the road for me.”
He opens his mouth like there’s something he wants to say. Maybe he’s going to apologize for being gruff or for teasing me about my nonexistent boyfriend. But whatever it is, I don’t want to hear it. “All that matters is that me and my sexy mountain man are together now.”