Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 42332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 212(@200wpm)___ 169(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 212(@200wpm)___ 169(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
When we reached his door, I bit my lower lip while he unlocked it to guide me inside. As it shut behind us, I turned toward him, but his expression was unreadable.
“Lucas?”
“Sit with me, baby.” Interlacing our fingers, he tugged me over to the chair, sitting down and guiding me onto his lap. “If we’re gonna talk about what’s going on, I want you close.”
My breath caught. “Okay.”
I shifted until I found a comfortable spot, and he tightened his arms around me. “I hate the idea of letting darkness touch you, Maren. You are so bright, full of trust and sweetness. I don’t want to tarnish that with harsher parts of my life.”
“But being in the dark about what’s happening is scary.”
His expression turned fierce. “I don’t want you to worry because we won’t let anything happen to you. I will keep you safe, and so will every brother in my club.”
“I know.” I wrapped my arms around his neck but continued to watch him expectantly.
“I’m sorry, baby.” He brushed his lips against my temple. “Not used to sharing club business with anyone but my brothers. What I told you already was more than I’ve ever shared with anyone not wearing a Hounds cut.”
My brows drew together. “But I don’t understand what could be so bad that you didn’t just say it then. I mean…I’ve already been kidnapped. It doesn’t get much worse than that.”
“I wish to fuck it didn’t, baby. But it does.” His fingers dug into my hip. “When they couldn’t take you quietly, they put a hit out on you.”
It felt like the world shifted beneath me, but Lucas was my anchor, holding me tight. “Someone wants me dead.”
Saying it aloud felt unreal.
Lucas’s chest expanded, and his lips flattened. “That’s why the compound is on edge. Why no one will give you space. You’re a target until we take the men after you off the board.”
A tremor ran through me at the idea of someone wanting to end my life because I’d accidentally seen something I shouldn’t have. I didn’t even know what I saw, hadn’t even said a word about it to anyone.
It all seemed so unbelievable. And unfair.
I pressed my hand to my stomach as guilt swelled. “I don’t want to be a burden. Or for anyone to get hurt because of me.”
“Baby, no.” Lucas cupped my jaw in both hands, forcing my eyes to stay locked on his. “None of this is your fault. I can’t tell you why, but the Hounds would’ve been in this even if I’d never met you.”
That made me feel a little better. “Oh.”
“You’re not a guest of the Hounds while we watch over you. Or a problem.” His thumb brushed my cheek. “You’re mine.”
The words cut through all the noise in my head. And then he kissed me, putting action behind them. One whose meaning was unmistakable—Lucas wasn’t letting me go.
15
KEVLAR
The second her lips touched mine, the tension I’d been dragging around all day snapped like an overstretched cord. It wasn’t gentle or sweet. This kiss stripped me bare and reminded me what the fuck I was fighting for.
Maren pressed closer, her breath shaky but full of want. I wrapped my arm around her waist to keep her right where I wanted her—flush against my body, soft and mine.
I tipped back in the chair, dragging her with me until she was straddling my lap. She settled without hesitation, her thighs bracketing my hips as she belonged there. My hands roamed without restraint, skimming over her ribs, the dip of her waist, and the curve of her ass. Her breath caught when my palms slid beneath the hem of her hoodie, and she shivered as I dragged it up her back.
“Off,” I murmured against her mouth.
She didn’t speak, just leaned back enough to let me peel it over her head, leaving her in nothing but a pale blue bra and those tight-as-hell jeans. My mouth watered at just the sight of her. I reached for the clasp and popped it one-handed. The straps slipped from her shoulders, and her tits spilled free, full and flushed from how worked up she already was.
“Fuck, baby.” I stared like a man starved. “You’ve got the prettiest tits I’ve ever seen.”
She blushed, but her lips parted on a gasp as I leaned forward and took one nipple in my mouth, sucking deep while my thumb teased the other. Her hips rocked against mine, and my cock throbbed.
Her fingers dug into my shoulders, her breath coming faster, but when I slid a hand between us and started to pop the button on her jeans, her smaller hand caught my wrist.
I stilled and leaned back, surprised at her boldness. She’d always been content to let me lead.
She didn’t push me away but didn’t speak right away either. Just bit her lip and blushed, her eyes flicking from my hand to my face.