Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
She’s not mine.
But I still have this urge to be close to her. Bracing my hands on the island on either side of her, I stare into her beautiful blue eyes. “Are you okay?” I don’t know why these are the words that chose to come out of my mouth. Of course she’s not okay. She just bared her soul to us, people she’s known for a short while. Sure, she’s been around more lately, as my sister and Sloane have taken her under their wings, but she doesn’t have that bond that the rest of us have.
Not yet.
She’ll get there.
“Honestly, I don’t know.”
“Talk to me,” I say softly, fighting the urge to wrap my arms around her.
“You have better things to do than listen to me yammer on about my ex.”
“I’m exactly where I want to be.” The words surprise me, but they’re true. I can’t think of a single place I’d rather be than right here with her.
“I’m scared. He’s every bit the asshole his reputation says he is. He’s not going to stop until he gets what he wants, and what he wants is me. Not because he loves me, but because I got away.”
“I won’t let him get to you. Me and the guys, we’re going to be there with you. Maybe we should go to the team and tell them what happened to ensure you never have to work on him,” I suggest.
“No. I don’t want to draw more attention to me. Besides, it’s his word against mine.”
“You have medical records.”
“And I have the lie I told. I was too scared to come forward. All I had was me, and I had to protect myself. I checked out and never looked back.” Her voice quivers. “Why won’t he just leave me alone?” she asks as a single tear slides down her cheek.
Slowly, I raise my hand and wipe her cheek with my thumb. I have the sudden urge to taste her tears, and even in my head, that sounds creepy as fuck, and stalkerish, so I refrain. “He won’t hurt you ever again.” There’s conviction in my tone, and from the way her eyes slightly widen, I know she hears it and she understands: Not on my watch. I don’t know why I’m suddenly feeling so protective over her, but I’ll be damned if I’ll let that asshole touch her. Not a single hair on her head.
“I don’t know why, but I believe you,” she murmurs. “I don’t trust easily, and yet, here I am, letting you convince me it’s all going to be okay when I’m certain it’s going to be a complete shit show.”
“You’re a Rampage now. We’ve got you.”
I’ve got you.
“He’s a Rampage too,” she reminds me, and the sadness in her tone tears my heart to shreds.
“He might be wearing the jersey, but it’s in here”—I place my hand gently over her heart—“where being a Rampage comes from. He’s not one and never will be.”
Rowan tilts her head to the side and studies me. She’s quiet for so long that I fight the urge to squirm under her gaze.
“My heart told me to come back to Tennessee. It’s where I grew up, and the closest thing to home I’ve ever had. I don’t know why my journey led me to Nashville specifically, since this is not where I’m from, but I do know that I will forever be grateful for you and your friends and family coming into my life.”
I don’t tell her that my only family is Corie, well, and now Knox by marriage. We’ve had enough heavy for one night.
“That’s easy.” I shrug. “You belong here.” This time, it’s me who is tossing her a wink, and the smile she gifts me with hits me in the chest.
“Thank you, Landry.”
“Bring it in, Roe,” I say, leaning closer, my cock nestled between her thighs as I wrap my arms around her. She’s hesitant at first, but her body relaxes into my hold, and she hugs me back.
If it were up to me, we’d spend the rest of the night right here. There's just something about this woman that resonates with me. I’ve never felt this protective over anyone other than Corie and my mom when she was alive. Well, Sloane, too, but she’s my sister in my eyes, so that makes sense.
This… my need to ensure she understands that this is where she belongs and that there is no way I will let that tool of an ex of hers lay a hand on her, it’s as if someone else has taken over my mind and my body.
“We should get back out there,” Rowan says, pulling out of my embrace.
It pains me to do it, but I release her and step back slightly. “You good now?”
She smiles and nods. “Thank you. I needed a breather after that information dump I just gave everyone.”