by L. J. Woods
“Something the matter, Rowland?” His eyes drop to the test in my hand and I pull it behind my back.
“Woahkay!” Allie pipes up, her eyes wide. She definitely saw. “It’s time we all go find Jo a cake. If you’re okay?”
Isaac laughs. “Canadian cake? Yesss!”
Lea scoffs. “You too? It’s like you guys all came here for legal pot.”
Isaac laughs again as Allie ushers everyone outside the loft, Willow looking over her shoulder to ask if I’m okay. I give her a nod, keeping my lips tight but she narrows her eyes as she leaves.
Damien rises from his seat when the door to the loft closes, the song on the speakers changing to another punk rock classic. I see his Adam’s apple bob as he stands in front of me, staring into those kaleidoscope eyes.
“Spit it out, Jo,” he says, his voice a soft demand.
Tipping the test towards him, I point to the results so he can see, keeping my eyes on how he reacts.
His eyebrows rise to his hairline before his face starts to settle into a smile. “You telling me we’re gonna have a little donut?”
My brows furrow. “You seem thrilled.”
Damien walks me back until my back hits the built-in unit. “I am.” Planting his kisses on my lips makes this all feel better, makes me melt in his hold, taking away all my worries, but I still have questions.
“What about my art classes in the fall?”
“You can still go.” He kisses up my neck, his hand coming to my stomach. “Besides, you’re already selling a ton of your art online, it’s only a matter of time before you blow up.”
“You sound confident.”
“I am confident,” he says, forehead to mine. “Always am. Especially about this. Which reminds me.” With another kiss he backs away, heading towards our extra closet.
“Where are you going now?” I ask. “Don’t you have more questions?”
“Nope.” He pulls out a large square canvas. When he turns it around, the test drops from my fingers. It’s the polaroid I found in Damien’s wallet, except … bigger. His hand behind his neck, he glances at it then back at me. “Thought this would be a good addition to our space. To our family.”
“It’s perfect.” A tear blurs my vision, wondering how I got it so wrong about this guy. So wrong about us. “It’s as perfect as you are.”
“Damn right,” he winks, glancing at the photo between us, he’s in my face again. “Now, you can tell them about the little donut in the oven.” Slapping him on the shoulder I chew my cheek, glancing at the floor. He tilts my chin to him. “You don’t have to be scared, Rowland. We got this.”
A smile tugs at my lips. “If your mom was around, she’d be fucking proud.”
“Know what I’d say to your folks if they were around?”
“What?” It’s hard not to laugh when I imagine them meeting him but they were already in their world long before I was.
“Well, I’d thank them for making the most perfect, stubborn, out of her mind girl I’ve ever had the pleasure of coming across.” He’s staring at me the same way he did the first day he met me.
The same way he does every day.
It was never hate. Never pity.
It was love.
Whether he knew it or not.
Whether I knew it or not.
“And I’ll protect her.” With his hand on my cheek, wiping the tear falling from my eye he continues. “I’ll protect her with every fucking thing inside me because I’m a possessive idiot who’s obsessed with his girl. No one hurts her. No one makes her cry. No one breaks her. No one. Except me.”
With his lips touching mine, I speak against them. Soft. Warm. Home. “Said like a true king.”
What’s Next?
Thank you so much for reading PAWN!
Spending time with Damien and Jo has been a wild ride and I hope you enjoyed their crazy story as much as I do!
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About the Author
Love steamy, suspenseful reads that’ll have you gripping your Kindle? You’re in the right place!
L.J. Woods writes contemporary dark romance featuring brooding bad boys and the fierce females who melt their icy hearts.
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Also by L.J. Woods
Love possessive, brutal anti-heroes? How about some fierce and sexy heroines? Me too! My books are just for you! xoxo
KING (Elite Royal Academy #1)
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He’s untouchable. Or so he thought. He might be the King but I won’t be his pawn.
Eden - the other side of the tracks full of elite hacks.
This town is as high-class as he is but it’s far from a garden.
Too many thorns. Way too many pricks.
The Academy alone has plenty of snakes, all serving one god.
Damien King. The devil himself.
He’s as seductive as his smirk. A sinful delight.
And I should know better than to eat from this fruit.
He wants to break me. Humiliate me. Make me buckle under his power.
But I’m not an easy target so now I’m his biggest enemy.
KNIGHT (Elite Royal Academy #2)
https://amzn.to/3ppzqAb
Sinister. Seductive. Sinful … the King of the elites is all three. And now, it’s only a matter of time before he breaks me.
Lay low and get through school?
There’s no going back to that.
No coming back from this.
Push the rich prick away? It’s not that easy.
His friends want to save me but he’s possessive in a twisted way, committed to making me pay.
Buckle up, my delicious, dark devil. Your kingdom’s at war and I’m to blame.
Hell’s about to get a whole lot hotter when I fan these flames.