Owned by Scott Hildreth Read Free Book Online Page A

I’d done. Tears dripped off her lips onto my face. She started to talk - and although her mouth was workin’, her voice couldn’t escape her lips.
    I got ahold of her shoulders and pulled her dow n on top of me. I reached up, put my hand behind her head, and rested it on my shoulder.
    “I know by a lot of people’s standards this might be a bit early, but there ain’t any sense in lyin’ to myself, babe. I ain’t ever gonna find anyone that makes me happier than you. Whenever you’re willing, we’ll get my truck and move your stuff over,” I said softly into her ear.
    It coulda been the belly full of breakfast, the fact we was up all night fucking, or just that we were both happy with the idea of her movin’ in, but we stayed right there on that damned floor.
    Until we fell back asleep.
    KELLI. There are things a man can say that make you think he cares for you. There are things he can do that make you pretty certain. There’s absolutely nothing about a man defending your honor - being willing to stand up and actually risk his life in a fight – that does anything but confirm what he feels inside.
    Erik. Made. Me. Melt.
    “You sure you’re okay?” I raised my eyebrows as I turned the bolt on the door.
    “I’m fine, I didn’t hit him that hard,” he responded as he inspected his elbows and hands.
    “Do you need anything for your hands?” I asked as I walked toward him.
    “No, they’re not cut, just sore,” he assured me.
    “I want you to understand something, Kelli. I’m not a violent person. Understand that. I don’t get into bar fights, or any fights for that matter because I like it. But there’s one thing I will never stand for – and that’s someone being disrespectful toward you. Do you understand, baby girl?” he said as he reached out and placed his forearms over my shoulders.
    “Yes, I understand,” I relaxed as he placed his arms around me.
    The thought of him fighting for me, mentioning defending me in the future, and finishing his sentence with baby girl made me tingle all over. I slid my arms around him and gave him a hug. My face buried in his chest, I drew in a slow breath through my nose. His distinct smell made me sigh in comfort.
    I want you.
    No matter how much time we spent together, I always feared doing something that would be the wrong thing. Erik never gave me a reason to think I had done anything that would make him angry, but I always feared doing something he didn’t want me to do. Right now, more than anything, I wanted him to fuck me. I wanted him to toss me on the floor and just take me.
    He had told me at the airport right after we had met, that I had only seen a facet of what he prepared to do to me - a facet. I was ready for the entire diamond. Most of what he had done was focused on mind-fucking me. He had crawled inside of my head for sure, but I wanted him somewhere else.
    I wanted him inside of me.
    “Did you wash the clothes I left over here the other day?” he asked as he slowly pushed me away from his chest.
    “Yes. They’re in the laundry room, washed and folded,” I answered, wishing he hadn’t pushed me away.
    “I’m going to take a quick shower. I’ve been on the bike all day, had that damned meeting, and then to the bar. I feel filthy.”
    “Ok, I’ll grab them for you.” I said as I turned toward the laundry room.
    When I returned from the laundry room, he was already in the bathroom. I speculated what he may be thinking, what kind of mood he might be in. I always wondered what he was thinking. I wanted more than anything for this relationship to work, and sometimes it was difficult to convince myself it would.
    Communication is key , Erik had told me. He had told me that many times. He was not always willing to volunteer his feelings or thoughts to me, and left me to guess what he was thinking or feeling. I haven’t much experience with figuring out men, and sometimes I just wish he’d tell me what he wanted me to do. If he did,