Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 139934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 700(@200wpm)___ 560(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 700(@200wpm)___ 560(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
He even understood why. Her parents had raised her off the grid. They’d kept to themselves, excluding her. The love they’d showed her was teaching her to survive in any situation. They’d taught her not to trust anyone and to get out if she was uncomfortable. She’d told Evangeline quite a bit about her parents. While they’d clearly loved each other, they’d been no more than children when they had Ashe. They had no idea how to be parents, not any more than his parents had.
“I would, Ashe,” he reiterated. “I would come after you. And if I found another man with you, I can tell you, without hesitation, there would be no holding my leopard back.”
Her fingers moved through his hair, the nails feeling good on his scalp. For just one moment they were both at peace, their hearts beating the same rhythm. He let himself relax into her. He was always careful to keep himself strong, disciplined and in complete control because his leopard was so dangerous. With Ashe, he had the luxury of completely letting go.
He’d poured himself into her. Emptied himself. He was able to let go of his past, forget his horrendous childhood for a short period of time. She’d done that for him. She thought it was just sex, but he was far more experienced than she was. Maybe she really didn’t or couldn’t recognize that what they had was different and completely out of the norm.
“I won’t be a prisoner for you, Timur. I came here with the thought that I could use one criminal against another. I thought you and your brother were powerful, dangerous men who could wreak some sort of revenge for me. All I did was lead trouble to your doorstep. While I’m very sorry about that, I have no intention of selling my soul to make up for it.” Her fingers closed around his hair in a tight fist. “I’m worth more than that.”
He lifted his head to look down at her face. At the beauty that belonged to him. He planned on making her happy, not keeping her prisoner, but he was a man of few words. He’d always preferred to let his actions speak for him. He framed her face with his hands and kissed her. Kissing melted her. Kissing made her catch fire. Kissing stopped her from thinking about running from him.
He spent time, savoring every moment, every exchanged breath. The flames. The fire. The storm that kissing her generated in his body. He never moved from between her legs, locked inside her, the sweet haven of her body. The longer he kissed her, the more his body responded. The more hers did. He felt a fresh flood of liquid heat surround his cock. The bite of her muscles, the almost languid way his mind slipped down that road of craving.
He threaded his fingers through hers and lifted her arms above her head as his hips began a slow grind. This was no fast and hard ri;e, this one was a slow burn that built and built. He didn’t try to hurry it. He wanted slow. He wanted to feel every inch of her and let her feel what he was trying to tell her with his body. He might not get the words she needed to hear out, but he was good at action, good with his body.
Her fingers tightened around his. She murmured his name. He lifted his head to look into her eyes. That might have been a mistake on his part. She might not be feeling overwhelmed by the way the two of them were coming together, but he certainly was. His heart contracted in his chest at what he saw there. She wanted him. She wanted him to be hers. Triumph burst through him. She might think she wanted to run, but he was her choice.
Her lashes fanned her cheeks as his body couldn’t stop moving just a little harder and faster. Her breath caught in her throat and then he felt the rise and fall of her chest beneath his. That drew his attention to her breasts. The soft mounds were pressed tightly against him, the small hairs of his chest rubbing over her nipples.
“Stay with me, Ashe,” he whispered enticingly. “Take a chance on me.”
She stared into his eyes for a long time, searching for something, but he wasn’t certain what that was. Reassurance? What man could give that kind of reassurance to his woman when they had the role he had?
“Come away with me,” she countered. “Leave this all behind.”
He closed his eyes and began to pick up the pace, his body insisting on moving faster and harder. He couldn’t have stopped himself if he wanted to. “Stay with me, baby,” he repeated.
“You’ll live this way forever. Outside the law. You saw those cops today, Timur. They aren’t going to stop. Evangeline is innocent. They know she hasn’t committed a crime. They know that, but still, they harassed her. They deliberately questioned you in her shop. Had you not stayed away, they would have done so in her busiest hour, on purpose.”