Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
She sobbed.
“Three men attack her and she handles it like a pro. But she realizes she smells and she falls apart,” he muttered. He didn’t get it. Sure, she’d been a bit shaky after the attack, but during it she’d kept her head. She’d even tried to help him.
Not that he’d needed her help, and she would have been far safer staying out of it. Using her shoes as weapons . . .
Okay, that was surprisingly resourceful. But he still didn’t approve.
Christ. What did he say to her to get her to stop crying? He should know what to do. He’d given aftercare before. But that was different. It wasn’t like he had to say much, just ask how they were doing and if they needed anything.
All right, that could work here.
“Are you all right?”
“N-nooo,” she sobbed.
Shit. Good job, asshole. Now, she’s crying even more.
“Um, well, what would you like? Water? Do you want me to get you something to eat?”
“Nooo.”
Fuck.
He was just going to have to do it. Sure, he might be out of practice, but when a sub asked for one during aftercare, he stepped up and did it. Of course, they didn’t ask for one very often . . . if they wanted one, they usually went to someone else.
Just do it.
“Would you like a hug?”
She sniffled, running her fingers under her eyes and smearing the mascara even further.
Do not tell her that.
There are times when honesty is not appreciated.
He was slowly starting to learn that at the ripe old age of thirty-five.
“I stink!”
“Well, uh . . . yeah, you’re a bit smelly.”
Another sob.
Fuck. Wrong thing to say.
“But it won’t last forever. You can shower and wash your clothes and your face, because you have a little something here . . .” He waved his hand toward her unbruised cheek.
She turned away, curling into a ball on the seat.
Right, so much for not saying something, you freaking asshole.
Now what?
He placed his hand on her back. She flinched and he pulled it back.
“Girl, it’s not that bad.”
Sniffle. Sniffle.
Damn, maybe he should start carrying around a handkerchief like Markovich.
He searched for a napkin, finding a couple in a seat pocket. Then he wet some with a bottle of water.
“Maeve, you don’t smell that bad. It’s just a bit of garbage.” He hoped. “There are worse things that could have happened. You could have been hurt. Raped. Killed.”
She let out a deep, shuddering breath. He wondered if that was why she was really crying. Because everything was hitting her now. The fact that she’d been hit, attacked, and threatened.
She was actually a brave little thing, wasn’t she?
“Girl, turn around.” He attempted to sound as gentle as possible. It wasn’t that easy.
She shook her head.
Fine. Perhaps that was the wrong tact to take.
“Maeve.” He made his voice go deeper, putting in a command. “Turn around and look at me.”
Surprisingly, that worked. He gently grasped hold of her chin. She tried to pull back, but he shook his head at her. “No, stay still. I’m going to clean you up.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Hush, girl. Stop protesting and let me do what I want.”
“Do you usually get what you want?”
“Not all the time.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“Trust me, it’s frustrating.” He wiped away the mascara and other grime off her face. He was careful to avoid her sore cheek. Damn, he’d like to fuck those assholes up.
“You mean you don’t just order people around?”
“Yeah, as often as I can. Doesn’t mean everyone listens.” He wet another napkin and cleaned her neck. She really was a mess. A sweet, sassy, walking disaster.
So why did he find that attractive?
Why did he think she was cute?
You’ve never wanted cute. Cute is for people who have normal lives. Not criminals like you.
She gasped, placing her hand on her chest. “Some people don’t jump immediately when you tell them to? How dare they! The philistines.”
Definitely had a lot of sass. But he didn’t care. Her tears were disappearing and there was a hint of a smile on her face.
“I’m glad you understand my pain. It will make things easier between us.”
“What will?” she asked, giving him a suspicious look.
“That you understand that you should do everything I tell you.”
This time her gasp was genuine.
“I did not agree to that.”
“Sure, you did. You agreed that people who don’t listen and obey me are philistines, so in order for you not to be a philistine . . .” he trailed off as he used yet another napkin to clean her hands. He could attempt to clean up her feet, but it would take more than a few napkins.
“Oh, you’re good.” She waved a finger at him. Her eyes twinkled with amusement. “Unfortunately for you, I’ve never been good at being obedient.”
He ran a thumb over her chin. “Maybe you just never had the right incentive.”