Page 88 of Rugged and Filthy

The way she was blushing was absolutely adorable. Too much so. “I don’t want to be that person any longer. Bitter. Angry. I used to love life.”

“Before all the shit.”

“Yeah. But life is what we make it. You know? How did you tolerate prison? I can’t imagine.”

I threw back a gulp of my drink before answering. “You learn not to get in anybody’s way. I admit it’s not something I’d wish on most of my worst enemies. Eh. There are a few.” At least I was able to laugh about it now.

“Still, the way I reacted was uncalled for.”

She closed her eyes, her body quivering from being completely wet. “You miss your son?”

The smile crossing her face could light up a room. “Always. He’s so special, such a little light in a dark world. You’d like him.”

“I always wanted kids. You know?”

“You’d make a great father.” She’d opened her eyes once again, staring at me intently. The three of us definitely had a strong connection with her. My thoughts weren’t just about the hunger that remained unsettled and unsatisfied, but also the need to have something special in my life. “I don’t know about that but I wouldn’t mind trying.”

“Aiden would adore all three of you. I know he would.”

“Who knows. Maybe we can start a little nuclear family together.”

She glanced at me sheepishly and my cock twitched all over again. Damn, the woman had a way about her that thrilled me. “Maybe we can,” she whispered, even nodding afterwards as if deciding that would be a fabulous future.

Hell, now all I wanted to do was leave this shit behind, heading to some tropical island. Sadly, we’d see it through to its conclusion, even if I had a feeling when all the ugly truths were revealed, one or more of us would end up hurt.

I casually walked toward her, stopping just out of my possibility of dragging her against me. Being inside her sweet pussy had been incredible, more so than the time before. I’d sensed our closeness increasing like the needs had done, but we couldn’t play games of passion any longer.

Madden was a bastard and would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. That much I already knew.

“Can I ask you a question?” she said, the slight smile heading toward being mischievous.

“Sure thing.”

“Why didn’t your attorney get you off? You were protecting a woman. That sound like self-defense.”

I shrugged. “Because my parents couldn’t afford to hire anyone but a shithead right out of law school. And because there was far too much influence to use me as a scapegoat.”

“Bastards.”

“I said that more than once. It killed my dad.”

Her face fell. “I’m so sorry. That’s terrible.”

“All I ever wanted was for him to be proud of the man I’d become. You know?”

“I have no doubt he’s looking down from the heavens smiling because you are a fabulous man.”

“Careful, darlin’. I might just be unable to let you go.”

“Then don’t.”

That was the only invitation I needed.

I finished off my drink, setting it down on the counter with a hard thud then closing the distance. When I palmed the wall on both sides of her head, I noticed her eyes raked over my bare chest appreciatively.

“Is the rig safe?” she asked, taking another sip of her drink.

“The sabotage was almost effective, but for now I think the rig is okay. However, there needs to be a lot of money put toward maintenance. I could do the work along with Cormac, but it’ll be expensive.”

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