Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 111359 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111359 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
So she’d told Rosa what happened to her with Steven. By the end, the other woman was no long standoffish or cold anymore. She’d been in tears. Then Rosa told Hannah what had happened to her. And it was so similar, it had tears sliding down Hannah’s cheeks.
Unfortunately, Rosa didn’t have many people around her, supporting her.
Certainly not a whole town like Hannah did.
“Have you been there the whole time?” she asked Raid, pausing in the doorway.
“Yep.” He opened his arms. “Come here, baby.”
She practically threw herself at him and he lifted her into his arms, holding her tight as he walked out of the house and over to the bunkhouse. She let him carry her without complaint as she wasn’t sure she could walk at this stage.
“You’re trembling. Fuck. Was it too much?”
“No. No, I just . . . I’m so lucky to have you. I have so many people who care about me. She’s got no one, Raid. And she’s so scared.”
“Baby.”
“I told her to come here.”
“What?” he asked as he sat on their bed. He kicked off his boots and scooted them both up so he was leaning against the headboard.
“I told her that in Haven we take care of each other. That she might have to follow some rules, but that she’d be safe. I don’t know if she will come here, but I hope she does.”
“My baby.” He kissed her head lightly. “Always looking out for everyone else.”
Lately, it didn’t feel that way. It felt like everyone had to take care of her. It was nice to do something for someone else for a change.
“She told me what happened to her. And I did the same.”
“Was that hard?” he asked.
“It was actually harder to hear about what happened to her. And after all that, after she’s brave enough to report him, he sends someone to threaten her.”
“Did she tell you who?”
“She didn’t see his face. They wore a mask. But she said it felt like it was Steven who was threatening her. Like he was there in the room. He told her that if she didn’t recant, he’d come back and make sure that she could never talk again. That every time she peed, she’d hurt. And that she’d never take another man in her pussy again.” A wave of anger came over her. “That motherfucking bastard! I hate him! I hate him so fucking much!”
He didn’t try to quiet her as she started to rant.
“How dare he ruin her life? How dare he do that to her? Who does he think he is? And for what . . . money? So not only does he ruin her sense of safety, her self-esteem, her trust in people, but he takes everything she has?”
She heaved for breath.
“He did it to you as well, darlin’,” he said gently, running his hand over her hair.
“Yes, but I’ve got you. And you’re making all the bad stuff go away. I know I’m safe with you. I know you’ll take care of me when I can’t do it myself. You won’t let me disappear.”
“Christ, baby. No. I won’t ever let you disappear.”
“That’s what I was trying to do. I realized it as I looked at her. I wanted to just fade away. To have no one see me again. But you saw me.”
Raid turned her so she straddled his legs and then cupped her face between his hands. She stared up into his gorgeous face.
“I’ll always see you, Hannah.”
She nodded, sniffling.
“No crying. I don’t like it.”
She grinned. “I know.”
“God, your smile. It’s a fucking gift. What can I do to make this better, baby?”
Hannah knew she should tell him that he was making it better just by holding her. But she wanted something more. Needed it.
“I want you to make love to me. Will you do that?” she asked.
She braced herself for him to question whether she was ready. For him to tell her no.
But a slow, sexy smile came over his face. “All right, my precious girl. I think I can do that.”
“You think?” she teased to hide her sudden nerves.
“I misspoke. I know.” His hand brushed over her hair. “I’ve been working all morning, though, so I’m tired. That means you’re gonna have to do most of the work.”
“What?” she asked in a choked voice.
“You up for that?”
Um. Yep. She thought so.
He shifted them around so he was on his back and she was kneeling, straddling his hips.
Good Lord.
This was happening. She had Raid Malone right where she wanted him.
Yum.
Nerves filled her as she stared down at him.
“Darlin’, I hate to tell you, but if you want this, then you’re gonna have to move.”
Right.
Hannah, you big dork. Move.
She started by opening each button on his shirt until she revealed his magnificent chest. Then she explored, using her tongue, her lips, and her fingers. She moved over every inch of his firm chest. Licking his nipples, kissing his neck and collarbone, running her tongue over his abs.