Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
“Maybe you two can stop playing kissy-face and we can finish this discussion.”
Lance nipped her lip, not even bothering to look in Mark’s direction at his complaint. “I’d rather kick him out and fuck you in the kitchen. Shove my fingers deep in this pussy of mine. Sink to my knees and lift one of your legs over my shoulder while I lick you to at least five screaming orgasms.”
Said pussy clenched with desire. “Five? Aiming high?”
“Guys!”
They ignored him. Lance dragged his nose along her skin. “I can more than deliver, baby. Challenge me again and I’ll show you right here. I don’t give a fuck who is in this apartment.”
She believed him.
Chapter Twelve
Sooner or later we’ve all got to let go of our past.
~ Dan Brown
Feet tucked beneath her on the couch, Jasmine exhaled slowly as she stared out of the window to the sunny afternoon. Her navy blue, low-riding, fleece wide-leg pants offered warmth that one may think she didn’t need on a day like today. But sometimes she merely needed the comfort. Even so, she had tugged on a pale pink form-fitting tank.
It’s time for a change. Time to get away from the heat and blazing sun.
Normally she enjoyed it, but right now she could go for something dark and cold to hide away in. Insecurities rising with the speed of the tide, she swallowed back her guilt.
The drugs, using her sister. Her twin. All the other things she’d done in her past after being burned. Part of it was survival, sure, but she couldn’t blame all of her behavior on such a thing.
She readjusted her position and tugged her legs up so she could rest her chin on her knees. Arms wrapped around her shins, she closed her eyes.
Time vanished and she sank into her thoughts, the good, the bad, and definitely the ugly.
A hand on her shoulder.
Without hesitation, she reacted. Lunging up and around in a single move, she struck for the throat, meaning to incapacitate as she wasn’t carrying. Not a mistake she would make again.
“Holy fuck!”
The male went down stumbling back over his own feet, but it wasn’t enough. Touches were bad, they meant things were going to happen to her. She rode him to the floor, landing with a grunt, her legs on either side of his chest, knees bent.
Holding herself over his form, she snarled as she continued to strike.
His mouth moved, but the words blurred and couldn’t penetrate the haze surrounding her. It sank in, finally, that he wasn’t fighting back. Not trying to harm her, but simply deflect her attacks.
She bared her teeth and went for his eyes. He moved to block and flipped her over, pinning her to the ground. Arms stretched above her head, his heavier weight pinning her hips down.
Bucking hard, try as she might, she couldn’t dislodge him. Panic welled up and she refused to give in. Not again.
He smacked her cheek, not overly hard but enough to jar her.
What was happening slammed into her and she lay there beneath Lance, chest heaving as she struggled to ingest the slightest bit of air.
“You with me, Jasmine?”
Sweat dripped down her face, soaked her back and through her tank top. He didn’t rush her, just sat there, watching her, eyes locked on her face as he continued to hold her wrists and keep his weight on her pelvis.
She dragged her tongue over her dry lips, shame rose and he clucked his as he shook his head.
“No, baby. Focus on my voice, not on any shame you may think you deserve to feel.”
He dipped his head, his dark hair falling forward. No anger existed on his features.
“I’m letting go of your wrists.”
He put action to his words and released her. Watching him with suspicion and shame, she brought them to her torso and rubbed. Not because he hurt her, no, merely because she needed to do something with her hands. Lance had been extremely gentle with her given how much she’d been fighting him.
“You with me?”
It was a struggle to even nod but she managed to give him a small one.
“Good girl.” Eyes locked on hers, Lance placed his hands by her shoulder and with a swift move lifted himself off her, settling once more at her side.
She didn’t hesitate, jumped up herself and beelined it straight to her room. She closed the door behind her, and had made it three steps to her bed when it popped open.
“I don’t think so, baby.”
“I can’t… Leave it alone.” She didn’t turn back toward him.
Even as the words left her mouth, she knew it wasn’t meant to be. Lance Baldwin did his own thing. Forged his own path.
“Not happening, baby.”
She felt him near. As always, the comforting warmth that never failed to surrounded her when he was close wrapped her up once more. He skimmed his touch over her bare shoulders and down her arms so he could lace their fingers together.