Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 105803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
“Who else has the anti-biker stickers?”
“Thirteen out of the twenty-one stores.” She slides off her stool and it takes her a moment to find her balance. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go make out with my husband.”
“Which is a mental image I didn’t need right now,” I say as she walks past.
She flips me a middle finger as she leaves the bar in search of Ryder.
I bring my attention back to Belle who has passed out, hanging off my neck.
Lifting her into my arms, I carry her up to our room and gently lay her down on the bed.
She wakes up and looks up at me through heavy- lidded eyes. “I’m going to be such a good old lady.”
She looks cute when she’s drunk and trying to be fierce.
“I don’t doubt it,” I say, removing my cut and hanging it over the back of the chair.
“I’m going to serve my old man like a good first lady.”
I can’t help but chuckle. She’ll probably regret these words when she’s sober. But I’m going to have fun reminding her.
“Is that a fact,” I say, amused.
“Yep, I’m going to be a strong queen.” She sighs and stretches out on the bed. She’s floppy and messy and so damn adorable.
Our eyes meet.
“You know, you can kiss me if you want,” she says.
She parts her dewy lips and all I can think about is kissing the fuck out of them.
And then tasting those tight nipples pressing against her T-shirt.
But I don’t. No matter how much I want to. “How about I take a raincheck.”
She sits up, her hair falling wild around her shoulders. “You don’t want to kiss me?”
Her feelings are hurt.
“Little one, I want to kiss you more than I want to breathe right now. But you won’t remember it in the morning, and I’m not the kind of guy to take advantage of that.”
She pouts. “But I want you to. I want you to kiss me and then I want you to fuck me.”
Fuck.
And I mean, fuuuuuck.
I sit on the edge of the bed and turn her face to look at me. “You don’t really want me to fuck you, and I’m not going to. Not when you’re like this. You need to sleep off the Wildfire.”
I brush her hair from her face and she looks up at me with those big blue eyes. “Will you at least stay with me?”
How can I say no when she’s looking at me this way.
“Honey, there ain’t no other place I want to be.”
She lies down, and I slide in behind her, pulling her into my chest.
I don’t know if I believe what Annika said. That the only thing that happened in town was being denied entry into stores.
But for now, her explanation will have to do.
I could ask Bram to pull up CCTV from town but he’s already working around the clock.
Besides, I have to trust that whatever Belle and Annika aren’t telling me is something I don’t need to worry about.
CHAPTER 30
BELLE
I start vomiting somewhere around dusk.
Waves of nausea crash into me and send me rushing for the bathroom.
I must pass out, because when I wake up again, I’m in Beast’s arms and he’s carrying me from the bathroom back to the bedroom.
He gently lays me back down on the bed, fluffing the pillows behind me so I’m more comfortable.
“Here,” he says, bringing a glass of cold water to my lips. “I had housekeeping bring up a jug of phantasia water. It will help with the nausea.”
He’s right. I gulp down the phantasia water, and it’s lovely and cool, and the nausea eases almost immediately.
“Thank you,” I whisper after draining the glass.
He pours me another, then disappears into the bathroom and returns with a wet facecloth.
Kneeling beside the bed, he gently brushes the damp cloth over my face and lips.
“I must look a real mess,” I say softly, feeling sorry for myself. “Do I look like a racoon?”
The corners of his beautiful mouth tug with the hint of a smile. “Only the cutest raccoon that ever existed.”
I laugh and sob at the same time. “Thank you.”
He chuckles and helps me get comfortable among all the pillows again. Then he lies down beside me and pulls me into his arms. “You should get some more rest.”
I nod and settle against his warm body, feeling content. Feeling safe.
I fall into a deep, restful sleep, knowing it’s because I am in his safe arms.
But when I wake up a few hours later, he’s gone.
CHAPTER 31
BEAST
I stare at the screen and grind my teeth.
My very last nerve has been found.
At my side, my hands curl into fists, my nails biting into my palms.
We’re in the security room at the clubhouse, staring at CCTV footage Bram was able to pull from hacking into the town’s street cameras.