Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Clara climbed off my bike and removed her helmet, her cheeks flushed from the ride, her amber eyes warm as she looked up at me. I tugged her against my chest and lowered my mouth to hers, kissing her hard…and no less possessive than I’d been last night when I’d taken her over and over again.
The second I lifted my head, she drew in a shaky breath, her eyes hazy and lips swollen from my kiss. She reached up to touch my jaw. “I’ll see you later?”
“Gonna get this shit handled as fast as possible.” My thumb brushed possessively over her bottom lip. “Don’t think I can go too long without having my mouth on you.”
She blushed and bit her lip as she pulled away. Then her expression sobered. “Be careful, Ronan.”
I inclined my head. “Always, baby.”
I watched her turn toward the store, her hips swaying seductively with every step. I was so damn distracted, I didn’t notice her siblings approaching until Harper’s amused voice broke through my thoughts.
“Well, good morning, Rebel,” she called out, her eyes gleaming with humor “Looks like you and Clara got an early start this morning.”
I raised a brow, feeling a hint of amusement despite myself as Clara’s other siblings joined her. Greg was grinning widely, nudging his twin with his elbow. “Except I don’t remember seeing them come back last night.”
Ella’s giggle was barely contained, her gaze flicking between me and the retreating figure of Clara. “Is our sweet sister doing the walk of shame?”
Shawn glanced up at his sister, then back at me, confusion on his face. “The what?”
Harper hushed him, then looked back at me expectantly. “So?”
I stared them down, my voice dry as desert sand. “You three gonna grill me every time you see me?”
Greg laughed and shrugged, completely unrepentant. “Pretty much, yeah.”
Harper tilted her head and grinned at me. “What else is family for?”
I shook my head slowly, muttering under my breath. “Fuck me.”
Greg snorted, clapping me on the shoulder. “No thanks. Pretty sure Clara’s already got that covered.”
“What do you mean?” Shawn piped up. “What’s Clara got covered?”
Clearly having forgotten he was there, chagrin seeped into the expressions of his older siblings.
“Um, the pies. Clara’s going to make them as usual. Rebel was just offering to help, and Greg was letting him know that Clara’s got it covered.”
Shawn frowned. “But he didn’t ask—”
Ella cleared her throat and nudged her little brother in the direction of the store. “Mom’s calling you.”
“I didn’t hear anything,” Shawn insisted, his frown even deeper.
“I mean earlier. She told me to send you to the store.”
“That doesn’t make sense—”
“Geez, baby brother, just go find mom,” Harper groaned.
He spun around to face her, glaring as ferociously as an eleven-year-old could. “Don’t call me a baby!”
“Then get to work like a grown up and prove me wrong,” she snipped.
His gaze darted to the twins, then to me, but seeing that no one was going to take his side, he threw up his arms in disgust. “Whatever.”
Then he stomped off, kicking up dirt with each step.
I raised a brow, my lips twitching despite myself. “Good luck with that.”
Ella winked, eyes dancing. “Considering how many times I’ve caught you and Clara practically making babies around here, maybe you should handle it. You could use the practice.”
With an exasperated sigh, I shook my head and turned back to my bike, leaving them laughing behind me as I pulled away from the orchard. The kind of teasing and casual warmth I’d never really experienced before Clara felt good. I was completely at ease with my brothers, free to be my real self, and there was definitely a deep sense of family, but it wasn’t the same as what I felt around Clara’s family. They were quickly becoming an extension of what I felt for her.
Hopefully, we’d add to the family soon. I’d certainly been putting forth my best efforts. Although, I was glad the awkward shit, like explaining the birds and bees, was far in the future.
As I neared the compound, my amusement faded as my mind shifted gears. I focused on the coming meeting and what had been discovered.
When I strode into King’s office, tension immediately crackled across my skin.
Wizard was sprawled on the couch in the small sitting area, tapping away at his tablet with his boots propped up on the armrest. He looked up briefly, shot me a chin lift in greeting, then immediately went back to work.
Blaze leaned against a bookshelf near the window, his arms crossed over his broad chest.
And King was barking rapid-fire Italian into the phone. His eyes were narrowed, focused on something none of us could hear, his voice shifting smoothly into Russian as he paced restlessly behind his desk. Then he switched to Hungarian, yet another of the eight languages he was fluent in. His mastery was impressive, but his wife had him beat now that she was fluent in Mandarin.