Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 69936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Twink chewed his bottom lip. I took his hand, gripping gently, in the way I knew reassured him, but it didn’t do as much good as it had in the past.
“If I can get on top of this, there’s a good chance we can stop her before she does any real harm.”
“And by stop her, you mean…?”
My gut twisted up. “I haven’t really thought that through.”
“Are you going to kill her? I mean, I know she did terrible things, much worse than anything Carter did to me, but you said you loved her at one time. I can’t imagine that’ll be easy.” He placed his free hand on top of mine, concern all over his expression. This was one of the most beautiful things about Twink—the compassion. I wondered if most humans shared this trait, but regardless, it was beautiful to witness.
“I don’t know that it’s something I could do even if I wanted to,” I admitted. “As much as I despise her, once a Furker has bonded to a mate, there is always going to be some connection that can’t be severed.”
“Then what?”
“I’m still working on a plan. I’m close to fixing my communications panel. Maybe I can send a signal out to the Intergalactic Justice Department, and they could send someone to arrest her.”
“And where would you keep her until they got here?”
“The Kaylog can accommodate a prisoner, but that’s assuming I’ll even be able to capture her. Sheila isn’t foolish, and she’s far smarter than me.”
“You’re very smart.”
“This wasn’t meant to evoke an unearned compliment, as your species sometimes desires. I’m aware I’m intelligent, but I’m also aware of my limitations, and Sheila’s brain is perfectly suited for critical thinking and strategy. It will make her exceptionally difficult to catch.”
“Oh…well, you’re still very smart.”
Seeing his cute little dimples again set me at ease somewhat, but it couldn’t completely quiet the discomfort and anxiety I’ve been experiencing since discovering that Sheila was running around Harmony Springs, searching for me. Which brought with it other considerations.
“While I’m looking for her, I don’t want you by yourself. I think it’ll be safe if you go to work, but I would prefer you come back here when you’re finished. I don’t like the thought of you being out there while she’s lurking around.”
His cheeks pinkened. “I like when you get protective like this, Daddy.” He scooted across the sofa and put his hands on my biceps, surely not realizing how inferior these muscles were compared to the ones of my real form. “And I’m not gonna fight you on it,” he added, “because I’d rather keep my head on for as long as I possibly can…which is always.”
I trailed my finger under his chin, tugging it up so his lips were inches from mine. Leaning close, I took a kiss, which he accepted with ease, igniting that chemistry that had the power to settle some of the nerves that had been worked up since he’d revealed this news. Our kiss reactivated the connection that was steadily intensifying between us, pulling at all those primal impulses to guard my mate.
When I finally pulled away, I tried to reassure him. “I told you what happens when Furkers bond with someone. Sheila can have you over my dead body.” I felt his visceral relief at my words, but at the same time, I knew in my heart that her intention might be to do just that.
18
TWINK
That evening, Daddy and I headed to my apartment and packed my things. On our way back to the Kaylog, he kept close to me, as though he was my personal bodyguard, ensuring that I made it those short few blocks away safely. Considering I could still go to work, this seemed like an overreaction, but maybe that was only because I couldn’t fully process the danger I would be in if Sheila got her hands on me. Well, maybe not hands…maybe claws or talons…whatever Vorcons had.
When we arrived at the ship, Daddy had me reorient the room I’d made to include a bedroom, where we could spend nights together. While adding an en suite, I couldn’t help thinking that if Daddy and I wound up dating and moving in together, I could save so much on rent. Of course, that wasn’t something I should’ve even entertained. He had already explained he had to return home—something I tried not to think about too much because it made me nauseous. We hadn’t known each other that long, and it was silly for me to get so worked up for him when we’d really only gone on one official date and then messed around for a couple of weeks, but…I wanted to know him so much more.
That night, unlike most when we couldn’t keep our hands off each other, Daddy was distant when we got into bed. I tried to give him his space, watched some TikToks on my phone, noticing maybe half a foot between us, which felt like a hell of a lot more.