Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45901 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45901 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
“No, I’m not risking getting you overloaded again right away,” Tark said firmly. “It’s pretty fucking clear something is going on with your magic—we need to wait until it settles down before we do anything else.”
“But we don’t even know what it’s doing or when it will be done doing it,” I pointed out. “I don’t want to live my life waiting on some weird thing inside me to finish whatever business it has before you and I really get together!”
To be honest, the intense orgasm he’d given me had made me hungry for more. I still felt hot and wet between my legs and I also wanted to see his equipment—which he had yet to show me. Not to mention I was extremely eager to feel it inside me.
But Tark wasn’t backing down.
“No,” he said firmly, frowning. “I’m not taking any more risks with you, Babygirl.”
I sighed because I could tell he meant it. He could be very stern at times—maybe because he was so protective of me.
“Will you at least cuddle me then?” I asked in a small voice.
He rumbled laughter.
“What do you think I’m doing?” He nodded down to where his arms were around me and I was pressed against him.
“I meant without the blanket,” I clarified, wiggling against him. “Please?”
“Well…all right.”
“And could you take off your jeans, too—so we can cuddle naked?” I asked hopefully.
Tark shook his head but there was a spark of amusement in his golden eyes.
“Determined little thing, aren’t you? No, baby, I’m not taking off my jeans. You’re too damn tempting and holding you naked is only going to make it harder to resist you.”
“All right,” I sighed. At least he still had his shirt off, showing his mouthwatering bare chest. I would just have to be happy with what I could get.
Tark got up and I held open the blanket for him to climb in beside me. As soon as he did, he took me in his arms.
I sighed happily as I pressed against his big body and laid my head on his shoulder.
“Mmm, you’re always so warm,” I murmured as I breathed him in. His spicy, masculine scent was so comforting—he smelled like home, I thought.
“And you’re so soft,” he rumbled, stroking my hair. “Love you, Babygirl. I’m glad you’re all right—you really had me worried for a while there.”
“Sorry,” I said and yawned. “Mmm, I’m sleepy now.”
“Close your eyes and take a nap,” Tark told me. “Don’t worry—I’ll wake you up in plenty of time to get back to work.”
“Okay.” I sighed deeply and let my eyelids drift closed. I had never fallen asleep with another person before—my two other brief encounters with men had been exactly that—brief. But with Tark, I felt safe and loved and cherished.
Yes, that was the word—cherished, I decided. That was exactly how he made me feel. Despite the awful time I’d had at work and the embarrassing encounter with Madam Healer, I still felt good. I felt happy because I knew instinctively I was safe in the arms of a male who would kill or die to protect me.
Those were my last thoughts as I finally drifted off.
I had no idea how soon my comforting bubble of safety would burst.
12
HARMONY
By the time I finally drew the magical doorway that led back to the ladies room in the Bentley Pharmaceuticals office, I was feeling calm and relaxed. I wasn’t going to let Mr. Price get under my skin again, I told myself. He was just a spiteful, nasty man and who cared what he thought? I had Tark and he loved me and thought I was beautiful. That was enough for me.
I was so determined to let my boss’s nasty comments roll off my back that he actually noticed it.
“What’s wrong with you, Miss Ward?” he demanded, after he’d called me an ‘idiot’ for letting his coffee get cold and I didn’t react. “You don’t seem as sharp as usual—not that you’re ever very sharp,” he added. “You have the IQ of a slice of toast!”
“I aced Organic Chemistry,” I said coolly. “I don’t know many slices of toast that can do that.”
“Well!” He looked at me, his pale eyes going wide with shock. “What’s gotten into you? You’re not the same since lunch.”
“That’s because I went home,” I snapped. “And spent some time with decent people who care about me. Which is something I very much doubt you have—maybe that’s why you’re so nasty all the time.”
I had gone too far—I knew it as soon as the words left my mouth. But I couldn’t take them back—nor did I want to. I’d been a limp dishrag long enough, just soaking up my evil boss’s abuse. It was high time I stood up for myself!
Mr. Price seemed so surprised by my words that he didn’t know what to say or do at first.