Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 44850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“I—”
“And I mean it, it’s not my sex toy. I barely use the desk. I don’t know who that belongs to. Also, for the record, I don’t let men into my bedroom. Even my brothers have to ask for permission.”
“If you barely use the desk then why do I have to buy you a new one?”
“On principal,” she says with a shrug, and I just shake my head.
“Babe, how is a sex toy going to end up in your room if you didn’t put it there? It’s okay to admit it. I don’t care what you did before, I just know that from here on out you’re going to be getting one hundred percent grade-A Slater.”
“God, your ego is unbelievable,” she grumbles.
“Seriously, let’s stop talking about this. Here’s you something to drink, AC,” Ida Sue says, putting a glass in front of me.
“Lovey,” Jansen says, his voice is deep, and he sounds pissed. The only good thing about that is that it doesn’t seem to be directed at me.
“Yes, Jan, sweetheart?” Ida Sue says wringing her hands together.
“You want to tell me why you’re trying to get rubber-dick boy to shut up instead of torturing Mary like we both know you’re great at doing?”
“Jansen Reed! I don’t know what you mean. I don’t torture my children. I love them.”
“I know that baby. Ain’t a woman around with more love in their heart than you do. Your kids and I are all blessed.”
Ida Sue’s face goes soft. “Thanks, Jan,” she utters quietly. When you look at her it is clear she’s in love with Jansen and that’s the moment I realize that I want that exact look on Marigold’s face when she’s talking to me. A man could get addicted to that look. I look over at Marigold now and she’s watching her parents and the woman takes my damn breath. I could fall in love with her easily. I might already be…
“That damn toy is yours, isn’t it, woman?” Jansen accuses, ruining the moment of love between them and suddenly I realize why his anger wasn’t focused on me.
“Jan—”
“Don’t you Jan me,” he growls.
“Dang it, Jansen! It’s not what you think.”
“I think my woman has been get frisky with a damn piece of rubber instead of her man!”
“It’s not rubber, it’s silicone really,” Ida Sue hedges.
“I don’t give a fuck. You tell me what that damn thing can give you that I don’t.”
“It’s not like that. I haven’t used that old thing in years.”
“Slater, I’m thinking we should leave. I’ve heard a lot of things in this house over the years, but I’m not sure I can handle hearing my mother talk about using a dildo,” Marigold whispers in my ear.
Her soft breath warms me all the way through. “We can leave, Ace,” I breathe out, bending down to place a kiss on her neck.
“So, you have used it,” Jansen growls.
“Well, a long time ago. Remember, Jan? You were teaching Allen how to ride bulls and it was stung by that sand hornet? Dang bull bucked you off and you land cross ways on that pile of wood you boys hadn’t put up on the fence yet, remember?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, your family jewels were bruised, and you were out of commission for a good three weeks or longer.”
“Oh, God,” Marigold whimpers.
“And you couldn’t wait that long?” he responds, his voice is monotone and quiet, and I wince because being a man, I know what that means.
“It’s not that at all, baby. I was going through the change. I don’t know if you know this or not but that’s hell on a woman.”
“I remember, believe me,” he mutters. “I just didn’t realize you were using a substitute before you came back to me.”
“It was a poor substitute, honey. I finally gave up and tossed the dang thing.”
“If you got rid of it, how did it end up in a desk drawer in our daughter’s room?”
“Well, she wasn’t using that room back then and when she decided she wanted the empty room, I threw it in that old desk, knowing she’d never use it anyway.”
“Hey!” Marigold yells.
“Well, honey, it’s not like you loved school. You hate studying.”
I look down at Marigold and smile. She shrugs. “I really do,” she mumbles.
“Why not throw it in the damn garbage?” Jansen asks, he’s still mad but he sounds calmer now at least.
“I did!” she defends. “Then I started worrying that the garbage men would see it through the bags. You know how this town is when it comes to me, Jan. I had nightmares about it. So, I grabbed it before the truck ran and decided to hide it instead. I did think about burning it, but I was afraid it would melt in the fireplace, and I couldn’t get rid of it… Damn it! If you think about it, I was just protecting you. If they had found the dang thing, they would have thought you couldn’t satisfy me, and we both know how wrong that would have been. You’ve always been the only man I’ve ever wanted Jansen Reed.”