Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 144435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
I make a sound I've never made before. One I didn't know I was even capable of making. It's want and need and Oh god, please. His wicked voice, his filthy promise, the way his stubble scrapes the sensitive skin on my throat, the heat of his body against mine…everything about him overloads my system, sending it spiraling into an erotic frenzy.
I didn't even take Mina's crazy dare last night and I think I might win it anyway.
Cord scoops me up into his arms and carries me out of the bathroom. I cling to his broad shoulders, my head spinning. His seems to be working just fine. Naturally. Disappointment flows through me when we cut through the bedroom and head back downstairs.
"You're not tying me up in your basement."
"Pretty baby, I don't even have a fucking basement," he says with a chuckle, carrying me into the living room. "I'm putting you on the couch so you can rest your ankle while I deal with that fucking bull."
"Oh," I breathe, relieved. And then worry sets in. "Wait, what do you mean by deal with the bull? You aren't going to hurt him, are you?"
"He charged you, and you're worried about me hurting him?"
"He's a bull. He was just being a bull," I point out.
"He's a menace is what he is," Cord mutters.
"I was in his territory. It's not his fault." Tears fill my eyes at the thought of him putting the bull down because of me. It's a ridiculous reaction. This is a cattle farm. I'm sure they probably lose cattle every day. But Hamburger is different. Sure, he's the devil. But he feels a little bit like…well, like family. I've been reading about his antics every day for the last six weeks.
"Hey," Cord says, depositing me on the couch. He squats in front of me, frowning. "Don't cry, princess. I'm not going to hurt the damn bull."
"Promise?"
"You're really crying over the bastard?"
"No," I say, wiping my eyes to hide the evidence. "I don't cry, Cord Decker." I don't even know why I'm crying. This day has been one for the books. If I ever tell the girls this story, they're going to laugh themselves to death. I will never in the history of ever live it down.
"You're the cutest goddamn cattle thief I've ever met." I don't miss his soft expression. He thumbs my tears away, watching me intently.
"Cattle liberator," I sniff.
"I'm not going to kill him," Cord says, shaking his head. "I'm going to reinforce the damn barn door so the bastard doesn't break out and get himself killed in the storm, that's all."
I believe him. It's hard not to when he's looking at me like that.
"Hey, Cord?"
"Yeah?"
"Um, I'm glad you don't spend all your time in the basement playing video games and knitting socks for kittens," I whisper, and then hold my breath, waiting for his reaction.
A slow grin spreads across his face, his eyes lighting up. "We're done pretending now, Cassia?"
"Maybe," I say. "I'm still deciding."
He laughs quietly. "Where's your phone?"
"In my coat."
"Prop your foot up and watch TV," he orders me, standing up. "I'll go get your phone so you can let your friends and your brother know you're still alive. Guess I'll throw your shit in the washer while I'm at it."
"Thank you, bossy."
"Maybe I'll throw it in the trash instead," he mutters, his gaze raking over me.
"You better not!"
"Why not? You look better in my clothes anyway."
His comment lands like a blow. People have been making fun of my weight for most of my life. My own mom makes snarky comments all the time. It stopped bothering me a long time ago. But this one…hurts. And that pisses me off.
"Why? Because they hide my body?" I snap, scowling daggers at him. "The whole world doesn't look like supermodels. Some of us actually have real bodies. And you know what? I'm proud of my curves, even if they do offend you."
"What the fuck?" His dark brows slash together, a thunderous scowl overtaking his face. "You think your body offends me?"
"You said it, not me," I snap, wondering if I could get away with smothering him with a pillow. I mean, he'd probably put up a fight. But would a jury really convict after reading his ridiculous emails and hearing all about my morning at his ranch? Probably not. It's almost worth the risk.
"That's not what I meant, Cassia," he says, anger roiling like storm clouds in those gray eyes. He's intimidating as hell when he's mad, yet I'm not intimidated. "You've had my cock hard since I started stalking your social media weeks ago, princess. But seeing you cuddled up in my clothes in my house has him ready to break in half. So unless you're ready to do something about that, I suggest you settle your pretty little ass down before I fuck the attitude right out of you."