Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“You. Left. Me.” Accusation shot out of his eyes.
She was breathless, heaving. His proximity, his smell, the electricity coming off him…it was revving up every nerve in her body. Her blood felt hot inside her veins but her skin felt cold on the outside. She was practically salivating to have him inside of her every way he could be. She wanted inside of him the only way she could be, through connecting via his teeth.
“You almost murdered me,” she took a deep breath, “do you have any idea how frightening you were? My body was full of bruises. My arms, legs, my throat, my… soul,” she choked up, “and Sam? How was I supposed to stay? He wanted me for breakfast as soon as I stepped into that, that fucking dog run. And you, you finally went down and not a moment too soon because I could’ve died and he was down and I… I did the only thing that made any sense in this totally nonsensical situation. I ran…”
Despite those being her words coming out of her mouth inside her head she was practically screaming I’m sorry.
He let go of her wrists and leaned back, still on top of her. One hand landed on the wall and the other on his forehead. His eyes were closed, his face full of pain.
“I waited,” he said softly, not opening his eyes, “I made myself wait. And you don’t know how hard it was. You can’t begin to fathom how torn up I was not feeling you. You should’ve fucking called me. I could’ve got and kept you safe instead of wondering if you were taken or dead.”
“And say what? I’m fine but don’t come look for me because I’m afraid you’ll kill me? I only stopped bleeding a few days ago. Did you know that? I thought it would never stop. If you found me when I was still bleeding? What? What the fuck? And what about when it starts again?”
His proximity was making her tingle. His thighs holding her down, his warm sweet breath so close to her face.
“So you had to run to the other side of the country? Could you not have gone somewhere and called me? I could’ve left the apartment, kept you there safe. I could’ve done something other than want to claw my heart out because it almost killed me to worry about you non-stop for all that time! I was in hell. And these will make sure it doesn’t come back.” He pulled an unmarked amber prescription bottle of pills out of his jacket pocket and slammed it on the small table beside the bed.
She shook her head, “You can guarantee that, can you?”
“No, but it’s all I have at this fucking second.”
“What about everything else? The danger? The missing blood? The addiction? Your rage? How was I to know if you’d ever be you again? I can’t, Tristan; I love you but…”
He gasped, his lips crashed into hers and his warm hands were on her face. His breathing was ragged and she tasted peaches, and grapes, and pineapple, oranges, cherries, marshmallows, and cream. His lips possessed hers, his tongue stroked hers. He held her possessively and it was heaven.
Ambrosia fruit salad…
She moaned into his mouth. Her body was like jelly. She hadn’t meant to blurt that, hadn’t even thought about it. It just happened.
“Say that again,” he demanded softly.
“Say what? Ahh!” she gasped as he tugged on her earlobe with his teeth.
“You know what,” he growled, rolled so she was on top of him, and caught her face in his hands. The anger melted away from his expression as his eyes scanned her face.
“That’s not the first time I said that to you.” Her lower lip trembled. She balanced on her palms, hovering over him, looking down at his gorgeous face, feeling tingles all over.
“I know,” he whispered and sucked her bottom lip into his mouth and moaned, the vibration of his moan sending a wave of euphoria through every inch of her.
Her world stopped. “You know? You heard me?”
He nodded slowly, his eyes softening, warming. His fingers massaged her scalp. “I wasn’t sure if I dreamt it. You just confirmed that I didn’t.”
A sob tore out of her mouth. She choked on it and then asked, “You really heard me?”
Did my love really break through and stop the monster? I broke through. I did.
“So, you love me but you can’t?” His eyes were filled with warmth and they pleaded with her.
She said nothing. She was sinking, getting lost in a sea of blue.
I could try.
He seemed to understand her unspoken thought and touched his lips to her nose, “Say it again,” he said softly.
“I love you,” she blurted, feeling all the air leave her lungs.
“With my name,” he whispered.
“I love you, Tristan.”
He gave her a brief squeeze and then abruptly flipped her onto her back, let go, and got up to his feet.