Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
His smile widened until his look bordered on arrogance. He had every right to be arrogant where she was concerned, she conceded. He didn’t have to do much, just smile at her and she was ready, but that wasn’t the point. She refused to smile back. “You’re having me followed.”
“Of course.” He didn’t deny it. He leaned his butt on the desk, arms folded across his chest, faint male amusement evident in his eyes.
“That’s your answer? ‘Of course’? Be serious, Joshua. Why in the world would you have two men follow me around? Don’t you have jobs for them to do? Are you getting desperate because Donovan Security has no work for anyone right now?”
“Their sole job is to follow you. Their sole purpose is to keep you safe at all times.”
She shook her head. “No, their sole purpose is to keep you safe. You, Joshua. For whatever reason you’ve acquired enemies, and I get that, someone would be after you, not me.”
“Someone tried to kill you, not me.”
“I’ve seen the scars on your body. You have more than slashes from a leopard fight. You have knife scars and bullet scars. I don’t have any of those things. In fact, I doubt you’d find too many scars on my body.”
“You have one just above your left knee. A small indentation.”
She made a face and waved that away. “I fell off my bike when my father was trying to teach me to ride.”
“And the larger one on your left forearm?”
She was silent for a moment, and then she sighed. “Really, Joshua, don’t change the subject. We’re talking about why you have Kai and Gray following me.”
“No, you’re talking about it. I’m looking at you. My God, you’re beautiful. I’m a very lucky man. Come over here and kiss me.”
“I’m not going to kiss you. We’re going to talk about Kai and Gray and you’re going to call them off.”
“Come here and kiss me. You wouldn’t want me to be so distracted that I’m ruined for the rest of the day.”
“I’m working. I’m not your girlfriend when I’m working. Those were the rules we set down. We talked about this.”
His smile widened. The lines of strain instantly disappeared. He looked young and almost carefree. He also looked so hot she thought about stripping for him, seducing and claiming him right there, draped over his desk. Instead, she gave him her deadliest glare.
“Baby, I listened very carefully to the nonsense you laid out, but if you remember, I didn’t agree. I just listened.”
“Silence is agreeing.”
“Silence means I think what you’re saying is bullshit, I won’t agree to it in a million years, but you’re cute as hell and I want my cock buried in your body with every breath I take.”
“Bullshit? You think my rules are bullshit?” She wanted to pull her hair out; at the same time, she thought having his cock in her mouth and driving him insane might be another alternative.
“Yep, total bullshit. Come and kiss me.”
She put her hand on her hip, deliberately scowling, trying to appear as if his demand didn’t slice through her, as if her blood wasn’t already hot and her body aware of him. “Not. Going. To. Happen. Well” – she held up her hand when he shifted his weight on his feet and set her heart pounding – “it might… might… if you agree to call off your men. Otherwise, kisses are going to be out until you do.” She could never go without kissing him, and that was a fact.
He moved then, fast like he did, blurring speed, catching her around the waist as he sprinted, tossing her over his shoulder, his momentum taking him halfway across the bedroom before she even realized she was over his shoulder, upside-down. He had a very nice butt and she swatted it hard, trying not to laugh. She loved the way he played. Sasha had not been playful, but she’d put it down to his being older than she was. She guessed that Joshua was at least ten years older than her, but he took the time to play and laugh.
He tossed her on his bed and came down over her, pinning her there with his superior weight. She pressed her lips together and turned her face to the side. “Not kissing you, Joshua Tregre. Not now. Not ever. Unless you call those men off.”
“They stay, and you’re kissing me.” His warm breath stirred the tendrils of hair escaping her fishbone braid. He’d shown off his skills in the morning after they’d showered.
“It’s against the carpenter code. There is one, you know. The third rule is no kissing on the job.” She did her best to sound superior and snippy.
He blew warm air in her ear and then caught her earlobe between his teeth, biting down gently. “I call bullshit on that one as well.” His lips moved against her ear as he whispered to her.