Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 101872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
“Yep. Problem?”
“With spankings? Nope. However, not sure I could handle anything hardcore like whips and canes.”
He tilted his head to the side. “Hmm. The cane isn’t really my thing, but I get a lot of requests at the club for my whip skills. Using a whip isn’t always about inflicting a lot of pain or blood and scars and screams. Sometimes it can be a sting then a kiss of heat. With the right person wielding it.”
“You think I might like it?” she asked.
“Can’t say, Gem. Only you can know that. But being with me isn’t contingent on taking more pain than you want or can handle. Got me?”
“Yeah,” she replied. “If there’s one thing you are, it’s plain-speaking. I appreciate that.”
“Good, Gem. Because that’s what you’ll get a lot from me. I speak my mind and I prefer that people do the same with me. Especially you. Lie to the world, if you want, I don’t give a fuck. But never to me. All right?”
“Yes, all right.” She had to tell him about the painkillers. Maybe about all of it.
“I want you to tell me it all, Gem. But not while you’re sitting there in pain. So how about we get you someplace where you’ll be more comfortable and I won’t feel like punching a wall every time you wince.”
“Please don’t punch any walls. I don’t own this house.”
“Pretty sure Alec Malone has seen plenty of punched walls in his time, but I will try to refrain. If you’re sure you’re not going to take any painkillers, then let’s get you into bed.”
12
Renard helped her into her bedroom.
Fuck.
He hated that she was hurting so badly. He stood for a moment and just breathed, trying to keep himself from doing something stupid.
You cannot force her to take painkillers.
You cannot punch the wall because you’re frustrated that you can’t help her.
You cannot go punch Dean because you’re angry that he’s a dick who hurt her.
Well, he could.
That would likely bring him a lot of joy. But it wouldn’t help Opal. And it would mean leaving her, which he wasn’t going to do.
So he’d just have to keep himself under control.
“I think I’ll have a shower,” she said. “Hot water seems to help.”
He narrowed his gaze as he studied her. “Don’t like the idea of you showering on your own.”
Opal raised her eyebrows, pursing her lips. “Now, darlin’, normally I’d love to take you up on a shower together, but not sure I’d be much fun right now.”
“I didn’t say you had to be fun,” he replied. “This is about me taking care of you. About me making sure you don’t slip in the shower and hurt yourself worse than you already are.”
Her face grew soft and he could easily see there was shock there.
“That’s really kind.”
He snorted. “I’m not kind.”
“I think you are,” she countered. “And sweet.”
He scowled and pointed at her. “Don’t be spreading that shit around, Gem.”
“Why? You think the secret will get out and everyone will find out how sweet and kind you are?”
“You know that if you didn’t have a sore back, you’d be going over my knee right now.”
She giggled, then groaned. “Promises. Promises.”
He shook his head. “Stop laughing. Just stop doing anything that makes you sore.”
“Pretty sure I’d have to stop breathing, then,” she grumbled.
His frown deepened. “I don’t like hearing that. I’ll wait in the bathroom without coming into the shower with you. So long as you tell me if you need me.”
He followed her into the bathroom where she started to undo the buttons on her shirt. He brushed her hands away.
“You really don’t have to do that,” she told him.
“I do. And you’re going to let me.”
“I’m not very good at accepting help.”
No kidding.
Anyone could see that.
“Someone must have taken care of you in the past.”
They better have.
Because he didn’t think that he could bear to think of the alternative. That she’d never had anyone look out for her.
“I grew up mostly taking care of myself. It wasn’t until I met Lilac and Ryleigh that anyone took care of me.”
“What about your boyfriends?”
She scoffed. “Men are the ones who hurt me the most.”
There was a bitter note to her voice that made him pause. “Then they weren’t men. Not decent men.”
“No. None of them were decent,” she agreed. “None of them would have undressed me without having one thing on their mind.”
He cupped her face between his hands. “Well, I’m not them. And the only thing on my mind is making sure that you’re all right.”
He was killing her.
It seriously felt like her insides were melting.
How was it possible for a man who scowled so much to be so . . . damn . . . sweet?
To make her want to wrap herself around him and never let go?
It didn’t make much sense, but here she was staring at him like he hung the moon.