Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45515 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45515 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
“For Christ’s sake, Lemon.” He chuckled. “Stop assuming the worst of me. I’m not rejecting you, and I never will.”
“Then what did you mean?”
“Honey, you have me.” He stood, bringing my hands to his chest and holding them there. “I knew the first time I saw you. You stood by Scarlet, holding her hand and refusing to leave her side when Claw killed himself. Even when Mars took her away, you stood in her stead. You did it because you knew she couldn’t. That is courage and loyalty. I didn’t even admit it to myself at the time, but the truth is, I wanted that loyalty you showed Scarlet for myself, and I wanted it from you, Lemon. You.”
He pulled me closer to the edge of the counter, one arm around my back, one between us, guiding his cock back inside me. I gasped and clung to him even though I felt like I should be strong and push him away. Heaven help me, I couldn’t do it.
We’d just made love. I was feeling the effects of post-orgasmic let down, yet he was expertly building me up again with little effort.
“Don’t hurt me, Rocket,” I blurted out. A small sob escaped before I could stop it. “Please.”
“Hush, baby.” He whispered his command as he caught my mouth in a hungry kiss. As the emotional turmoil between us raged like a tempest, he whispered, “You’re safe with me,” and I believed it was the truth. I just wasn’t sure he was ready to hear what I had to say. If he rejected my observations, if he refused to see how wrong things were that his club could leave him to fend for himself even knowing he was wounded, I wasn’t sure what I’d do.
Then he reached between us and found my clit with his thumb, and I let the pleasure he created in his wake have me. My head fell back on my shoulders and Rocket found my skin with his lips. He sucked gently, leaving little stinging kisses in his wake. The slight pain in such a sensitive area tipped me over the edge.
With a shuddering cry, I came in his arms. Rocket moved inside me in short snaps, his breathing as ragged as mine. It wasn’t long before he came inside me again. Part of me rejoiced while another part, once again, reminded me how in over my head I was.
He rested his forehead against mine as we both caught our breath. I was gratified to realize he was sweating with exertion as hard as I was.
Rocket kissed me again, this time, with tender feeling, coaxing me to take comfort. It was a kiss to heal, not to arouse. It felt like a new beginning. Like everything I’d experienced with this man had been leading to this point. Most of my life, I’d used my snarky personality to keep everyone in my life off-balance. The snark now deserted me. All I had was my belief in Rocket and hope that I could get him to understand the truth as I saw it. And how dangerous it was for everyone.
Again, Rocket cleaned us both before lifting me and taking me back into the bedroom. He tossed me a shirt, and he slung on a pair of jeans, then indicated I should sit at a table in the corner of the room. It was big enough for two people with chairs on either side so that we faced each other. I laced my fingers and twisted them nervously as I rested my forearms on the smooth surface.
Rocket reached out and covered my hands with his bigger ones and smiled at me. “Don’t look so nervous, honey. I’m here to listen to you. We’re going to listen to each other. So I’m going to start so you understand how and why Grim Road is different from Iron Tzars or any other MC you’ve been around. When I’m done, I’m going to listen to your concerns.” Rocket looked as serious as the situation called for. It was a little unnerving when I was still reeling from my first sexual encounter. But this was the life I’d signed up for. I could do this. In a way, I’d been training most of my life for this.
I took a breath and squared my shoulders, meeting Rocket’s gaze with a steady one of my own. Rocket nodded slowly before giving me a small smile.
“Good. I knew you were up for this.” He squeezed my hands once before sitting back and scrubbing a hand over his face. When he looked at me again, it was as an equal. I knew in my heart what he was about to tell me would change my outlook on everything in my life I wanted to build here. I only hoped I could handle it because I had no intention of leaving Rocket without a fierce fight.