Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 120031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
“My world is a good place to be, that’s true. Especially now that you’re finally in it.” He brushed his mouth over hers. “Tell me, Casey. I get that we don’t know each other well and it may feel strange to trust me with this, but I’m your mate. You don’t have to deal with this shit alone anymore. I’m here now. I protect what belongs to me, I keep it safe—it’s my right. Don’t try to take that away from me. Let me help you with this. You’d say the same thing to me if the situation was reversed.”
Unable to argue that, Casey sighed. As his mate, she saw it as her right to defend and protect him, so she could hardly deny him this. “Four-hundred dollars. It’s not about the amount for Ignacio. It’s the principle. Miles doesn’t always leave me to take care of his debts. Sometimes he pays them. Other times he disappears so well that not even Ignacio can find him.”
Eli twisted his mouth. “I’ll pay Ignacio the four-hundred. No, don’t argue, just listen. I will pay it, and I will make it clear to him that it will be the last time you take care of Miles’ debts. I’ll also make it clear that if Ignacio comes at you in any way, he’ll deal with the kind of blowback from which he’ll never recover.”
“If you want to talk to Ignacio, fine, but the only way you’re handing him the four-hundred dollars is if I give that money to you.”
“All right.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I mean it, Eli.”
“I know you do.” Eli closed his hand over one perky, creamy breast and gave it a possessive squeeze. It was enough to make her nipple bead. “I have no idea how you can get your skin this soft.”
“You’re trying to distract me,” she accused.
Of course he was. Eli skimmed his fingertips over the folds of her pussy. “You sore?”
“Not in a bad way.”
“Good. Because I want you again.” Eli rolled her onto her back. “This time, we’ll take it slow.”
CHAPTER THREE
Casey woke five minutes before her alarm was due to go off. She always did. Her internal body clock operated like … well, clockwork. Still, she always set the alarm just in case, and she never rose until it went off. She liked to spend those minutes just lying there as the sleep-fog cleared from her brain. That morning, she intended to spend those minutes snuggled into her mate, who was presently wrapped around her like a clinging vine.
God, she was mated.
It was a little surreal. In just one evening, her life had changed. Before, she’d only really had herself to think about. Her days had been dedicated to her enforcer-role, and her loyalty had been mostly toward her Alpha.
Now, she was part of a couple—something she hadn’t been good at in the past. But it was no simple relationship. Her soul was bound to this male. Her loyalty would always be primarily to him. He had access to her emotions, which probably should have felt at least a little uncomfortable, considering he was a practical stranger. But he didn’t feel like a stranger.
Her mink didn’t take to people easily; there were few that she trusted. Like Casey, she felt more at ease with Eli than she ever had with anyone else. Not just physically, but emotionally.
Both woman and animal sensed that although there might be times in the future when he’d do or say something that would hurt them, he wouldn’t purposely cause them any pain. Would never betray them, tire of them, or leave them for another. How could they not feel one-hundred percent safe with him?
And how could Casey not feel damn lucky to have this lethally sexual male in her bed?
When he’d said they’d go “slow” the second time around, she’d thought he meant he’d take her soft and easy. She hadn’t thought he intended to indulge in a very long, thorough exploration of her body that seemed to go on for hours. He’d left no part of her untouched. Had discovered every hot spot she possessed. Had licked, bit, scratched, and kissed her until she was a quivering, whimpering mess.
Then he’d fucked her, and there’d been nothing slow about it. His pace had been feverish. His thrusts had been rough and deep. And she’d come so hard she’d lost her breath.
He’d woken her sometime in the night and then, just as rough and furiously, he’d taken her all over again. And she’d totally loved every second of it.
Her alarm went off, snapping her out of the memories. Casey grabbed her cell phone and swiped her thumb over the screen to switch off the horrendous noise. He stirred behind her and pressed a soft kiss to her nape. Before he could work his magic on her body and lure her into staying in bed, she slipped out of his hold and edged off the mattress.