Total pages in book: 14
Estimated words: 12431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 62(@200wpm)___ 50(@250wpm)___ 41(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 12431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 62(@200wpm)___ 50(@250wpm)___ 41(@300wpm)
I felt the truth he spoke in his words. I was proud of him for letting Bart go, although he didn’t have much of a choice. He sure couldn’t call the police without getting himself in trouble for assault as well. But now Bart knew that he’d been caught, and that my mate would do anything to protect his land.
The man, physically bested and humiliated, staggered back to his vehicle, glaring at Jersey one last time before slamming his door. I raised my fist and slowly released my fingers, and the knotted vines retreated from Bart’s tires, allowing him to speed away.
Jersey’s face displayed so many emotions; anger in his locked jaw, desperation in his flared nostrils, and guilt in his heavy eyes.
“Come with me, sweetheart,” I told him quietly, and placed my hand on his lower back to guide him. Instead of leading him to his truck, I walked alongside him through the fields. I thought the crisp night air would help him cool down, and the walk would give him time to sort through his thoughts.
By the time we reached his two story farmhouse, his shoulders had lost their tension, and his breathing was back to normal. His face had relaxed as well, but unfortunately, the guilt and remorse it held remained.
I opened his front door and led him across the threshold. I’d been in and out of the house all day as we worked, but I was still taken with its rustic charm. The floors were all hardwood, and dark wooden beams braced the ceilings. Jersey told me earlier in the day that his great grandfather had built the home with his own two hands. It was old, but in beautiful condition. The craftsmanship and care given to it were evident.
But it wasn’t time to admire his home, no matter how easy it was to do. It was time to give my mate the tender loving care he needed and deserved.
I took him into his stark white bathroom and motioned to the toilet, where he sat on the lid. I retrieved a washcloth from the cabinet beneath the sink and wet it with warm, soapy water. I rubbed the cloth across his knuckles, which were coated in Bart’s blood, along with his own, given the tiny cuts and scrapes on his skin.
“I wouldn’t have stopped if you weren’t there,” he said quietly as I scrubbed between his fingers. “I couldn’t; I kept thinking about all of the work my family has put into this place, from building this house to tilling and harvesting. And that selfish bastard tried to take it all away. He could have stolen away everything; not only from me, but the whole community.”
“I understand,” I assured him before taking a break to rinse the cloth. I had to run the faucet for a minute to wash away the red liquid from the basin. When I turned to face him, the worry in his gaze made my breath catch.
“Do you think less of me?”
“Never,” I replied honestly.
“Even though I lost control?”
I placed the cloth on the sink to cup his face in my hands. “You reacted to a terrible situation. Everyone has emotions, sweetheart, and your passion and protection overflowed. You say you wouldn’t have stopped if I weren’t here, but I don’t believe that for a second. You have a good heart, and you should have a clean conscience.”
He gave a half smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He was disappointed with himself and unconvinced by my words. I leaned down until our noses touched. “If you think a few thrown punches could change the way I feel about you, you’re crazy. I love everything about you, Jersey. What can I do to prove that to you?”
Finally, his smile stretched wide as his eyes glistened. “You’re already doing it.”
I kissed the tip of his nose and went back to scrubbing away the blood and bad memories from the night. Once his hands were clean, I cleansed off the red speckles that splattered up his arms. I removed his shirt and tucked it away in the clothes hamper before lowering onto my knees in front of him.
I untied his boots and worked them off one at a time before rolling off his socks. Unlike my hungry grabs earlier, these actions weren’t filled with lust. Of course, I wanted him like crazy, but this moment was about gentle touches and promises of acceptance and care.
I stood up and pulled him to his feet before unfastening his belt buckle and lowering the zipper of his jeans. They were the next to hit the floor, and after retrieving his phone from the pocket, I placed them in the hamper as well. Now every stained piece of clothing was out of his sight, and he could put it out of his mind. I planned on taking care of the laundry later so he wouldn’t have to see it, but for now, I had other matters to tend to.