Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 65872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 329(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 329(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
“I was just thinking the same about you, King.”
“But …” I murmur.
Gabby slowly sits up and gives me a sad smile. “But …” She lets out a disgusted sigh, pulls herself up on the bed, and looks at me. “I want to, I swear. It’s just … I think it would be a mistake to do this.”
“Are you scared?” I ask, frowning as I stare at her. Truth is, I don’t want to stop. I want her. It doesn’t matter that it won’t go anywhere past tonight. I want to be the man who shows her she can enjoy sex again. I want to give her the tenderness that she deserves right now.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t,” she admits quietly, holding her head down.
“Damn, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to remind you of the rape.”
“It’s not that. I actually feel very safe with you.”
That makes me smile and I reach out and push a small portion of her soft hair behind her ear, allowing the pad of my index finger to caress her cheek. “You’re going to have to explain that one to me, honey.”
“I’m fucked up, King, and I don’t mean just from the rape. Besides, I’ve already been involved with two of Dragon’s sons. I don’t think I’m brave enough to tackle a third.”
“If it helps, I don’t consider myself one of his sons,” I respond. Her reasoning irritates me, but I don’t want that to show. She couldn’t guess what a sore spot Dragon is right now. I am warring with myself when it comes to him. The way Kayden and the others are claiming me as a brother has thrown me for a loop.
“Well, you should. It’s clear from just watching you tonight that they want you in their lives—”
“Wildcat—”
“They should, too. You’re a good man, King. One of the best I’ve ever known. You’re definitely too good for the likes of me.”
“Stop that, Gabriella. I don’t like it when you put yourself down. You have enough people around you that seem to do that as it is.”
“I’ve given them reason to, King,” she responds so quietly that I have to strain to hear her. I pull her into me and hold her against my chest, as I let my hand slide back and forth on her back. “Maybe you have, but you are not just your mistakes, Gabby. We all make those—”
“Mine are bigger than the normal mistake, King.”
“Well, you haven’t made them with me. I want to be your safe zone, Gabriella. When you’re with me, I’m not going to judge you on your past. I will not judge you at all. There is only you and me, and the rest of the bullshit doesn’t matter. What happens between us is just us. No one else is involved.”
“Having me involved is enough. I can barely look at myself in the mirror.”
“I think I can understand some of that feeling. I mean, hell, I just got my divorce papers fast tracked in a week because my ex couldn’t wait to get married to the man of her dreams. It wasn’t so long ago, I thought that was me,” I laugh bitterly. It might sound superficial, but my ego has definitely taken a hit.
“It’s okay, King. It will get better for you. I know it. Besides, you have a lot of good karma on your side. You have a bright future.”
“You’re really big on this karma shit, aren’t you?”
“Get on the wrong side of her and you’ll understand,” she mutters.
“Gab—”
“King, I’m not even sure I could be with another man after what happened. I’m having panic attacks constantly. I don’t sleep because the nightmares are always close by. I really want what you’re offering, but I just … can’t.”
I study her and let out a breath. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to being disappointed, but strangely, it makes me respect her, too. “Okay, then,” I mutter as I get up. I walk over to my duffle bag that I saw on top of the chest when I came in. I’m not sure how Gabby decided all the rooms and had our overnight bags brought to them, but I have to say, I’m pretty damn impressed. When we got here, the club just had us put our duffle bags—if we had them—in the main room for later. I’d actually forgotten all about mine until I got in this room. I take it and throw the bag on the bed, unzipping it.
“You’re really good at organizing. I’d forgotten all about my bag.”
“Well, it wasn’t hard. Only you and Lyla brought one. So, your club was kind of easy,” she laughs. “I should probably get going so you can rest. I won’t be here in the morning, so I’ll say my goodbyes now. Have a safe trip back, okay?”