Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 41621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 208(@200wpm)___ 166(@250wpm)___ 139(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 208(@200wpm)___ 166(@250wpm)___ 139(@300wpm)
I freeze.
Frida doesn’t weigh much, but her claws prick through my arm hairs as she climbs up to my shoulder.
“What’s it doing?” I ask, barely able to keep my voice from shaking. I don’t want my woman to see me scared.
Tess giggles. “She thinks you’re a very big cat tree. She’s just playing.”
The furry little razor-ball bounces across my shoulders. I’m frozen, terrified. I squeeze my eyes shut and pray for it to be over. I don’t understand this little thing. It’s bouncy and unpredictable, and I don’t know if it wants to whisper those little kitten sounds in my ear or pop my eyeballs out with its talons.
But it makes Tess look so happy to see her kitten on me, so I can push the fear down.
“Nice kitty,” I say, reaching up to touch her head with one finger.
Tess molds against my bare chest, breasts pressed against me. “This is perfect.”
“I love you,” I say abruptly. I’ve got no words other than that. Doesn’t feel like enough, but it’s what I’ve got.
The light of joy dawns over her face. “I love you too, Rutger.”
I haven’t been able to read books since my grandma stopped reading to me as a child. She loved fairytales. This reminds me of one of those fairytales, where the beautiful perfect woman somehow heals the monstrous beast.
I think this is supposed to be happily ever after now.
Right?
The next day, when Tess is off at drawing class again, the developers show up at my door.
“What do you want?” I grumble, baring my teeth like a bear, stepping out onto the porch because I don’t want them in my house, especially now that it’s going to be my home with Tess. I don’t want their filth anywhere near her.
It’s two little assholes wearing business suits. Hair slicked back, fists clutching briefcases. One of them has sunglasses on. The other one’s got them in his pocket. Otherwise, they’re both just human turds and I can tell it at a glance.
“Time’s up,” says Turd One.
“We said we’d be back, and here we are. What? You thought we weren’t serious?” Turd Two waves down at the other cabins. “You had your chance to sign, now we’re here to begin option two. This is for you.”
He holds out yet another sheaf of paper covered in more big, stupid words and I just snarl at him and snatch it away.
All the time I’ve spent with Tess has fixed something miserable and broken inside of me.
But it hasn’t fixed everything. “This is my land,” I growl.
“Not for much longer.” Turd One and Turd Two practically snicker as they say the words in unison.
“Unpaid taxes.” Turd One adds, and receives a glare from Turd Two.
If I was thinking clearly, I’d find that glare interesting. Instead, I explode.
“Taxes?” I hold up the paperwork in front of my eyes and will myself to be able to read it. I can’t.
These two could be fucking lying to me, and I don’t have any way of knowing. I don’t read the tax letters I get. I know I need to go to the building with the lady with the stamp, but I don’t. I don’t want to look stupid showing up with handful of money not knowing what I’m supposed to do with it.
It feels like I either gotta throw up or bash the Turds’ heads together. One or the other. But I think of Tess, and I don’t think if I kill them that makes the problems go away. So instead I say, “Get the fuck off my land.”
“We’ll give you time to look it over,” Turd Two says with a grin.
A knowing grin.
These two fuckers know I can’t read. I don’t know how, but they do. And there’s something on this paper that they don’t want me to know.
I toss the paperwork into my cabin, then chase them down the trail through the Paint Forest Program to make sure they get in their car.
There’s no hiding Tess from them, no matter how much I want to. She’s modeling outside today. She’s got a cute flowery dress this time. I like her in dresses—I like how fast I can get inside her—but the idea that these scumbags can see her legs makes me wanna turn serial killer.
They pause by their car and whisper.
They’re definitely looking at Tess. Nodding toward her. Smirking.
I hate them. I have never felt hate like this before, but right now, it’s rigid inside me like it’s become the very thing that’s holding me up.
I slam my fist down on the hood of their car without thinking. Crunch. Both of them leap and stare at me—away from Tess.
Good.
“Get. Off. My. Land,” I bite out.
“You’re gonna pay for that,” says Turd One, looking at the dent on the hood of the car like he might cry. It’s too shiny for the woods, and it’s got curves almost like a woman.