Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 43689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
“Should you?” The question slipped out before I could stop it, breathier than I intended.
His jaw tightened, and I watched the internal war play out across his features. Whatever battle was being fought behind those steel-blue eyes, I found myself hoping the side that wanted to stay would win.
“Thanks for letting me meet them properly,” he said. “Even if that one still wants to claw my eyes out.” He nodded toward Lucifer, who hissed on cue. Binx, as if sensing the change in mood, stood up and stretched before hopping off Chains’ lap. He gave the man one last rub against his leg before sauntering over to join Lucifer in the corner.
Chains stood, his height even more impressive as he unfolded from my couch. I rose too, not wanting to feel smaller than I already did beside him.
“Thanks for coming in,” I said, moving toward the door. “Not many people would humor my invitation to meet three cats they clearly didn’t like.”
“They’re not so bad,” he admitted, following me. His voice had dropped lower, rougher around the edges. “Even the demon one.”
I laughed. “Don’t let Lucifer hear you say that. He has a reputation to maintain.”
We reached the door, and I was painfully aware of how close we stood. I could smell the leather of his cut, the faint scent of motor oil, and something warmer, something spicy and uniquely him. My pulse quickened, blood rushing in my ears as I looked up to find Chains staring down at me.
His full attention sent a thrill through me. The silence stretched between us, heavy and electric. I felt myself drawn to him like gravity had shifted in the small space between our bodies. His steel-blue eyes held mine, and I saw something flicker there. Want, maybe? Confusion? My heart hammered so hard I was sure he could hear it.
“Ellie,” he said, my name rough on his tongue.
“Yeah?” I breathed.
His hand came up, fingers hovering near my cheek like he wanted to touch but wasn’t sure he should. The hesitation in his movement made my chest tight. This big, intimidating man who could probably break someone in half was being so careful with me.
“I should go,” he repeated, but his hand didn’t drop. If anything, he moved closer, his body heat radiating against my skin.
“You keep saying that,” I whispered.
“Yeah, well.” His thumb brushed across my cheekbone, so light I might have imagined it. “I keep meanin’ it.”
But he didn’t step back. Neither did I. We stood there in my doorway, caught in some kind of spell that neither of us seemed willing to break.
Finally I eased back a half step and smiled up at him. “Goodnight, Chains,” I whispered, not trusting my voice at full volume.
He nodded, turning toward the door. His hand closed around the doorknob, but he didn’t turn it. I watched the muscles in his back tense beneath his shirt, saw the slight rise and fall of his shoulders as he took a deep breath. For a moment, he stood frozen, caught in some internal struggle I couldn’t see.
Then, in a movement so sudden it took my breath, he turned back to me. His eyes, which had been so guarded to this point, burned with an intensity that made my knees weak. In one long stride, he closed the distance between us, one hand coming up to cup my face while the other slid around my waist, pulling me against him.
“Tell me to stop,” he murmured, his breath warm against my lips.
I couldn’t speak, couldn’t think past the thundering of my heart and the heat of his body against mine. Instead, I tilted my face up to his, an invitation he didn’t hesitate to accept.
His lips met mine with unexpected gentleness, soft and questioning. His kiss was achingly tender. My eyes fluttered closed as I leaned into him, my hands finding purchase on his solid chest as I sighed in contentment and growing desire. My clit throbbed in time with my heart as he deepened this kiss. Chains slid his hand from my face to tangle in my hair, cradling the back of my head. I parted my lips, inviting him closer, and he accepted with a low grunt that vibrated through me.
When he finally pulled away, it felt like surfacing after being underwater. I opened my eyes to find him watching me, his expression completely unguarded for the first time since I’d met him. Vulnerability shone in his gaze, raw and unexpected, before shutters came down, closing it off as quickly as it had appeared.
He stepped back, his hands falling away from me. The loss of contact left me cold.
“I shouldn’t have done that,” he said, his voice rough.
Before I could respond, tell him that he absolutely should have and that I wanted him to do it again, he turned and yanked open the door. Without another word, he strode down the hallway with purposeful strides.