Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 67967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“I feel like a princess,” she says with that smile that makes my heart beat faster.
“You look like a queen,” I reply, bending to kiss her temple.
I take my own seat across from her. I feel lighter than I have in years. Hopeful.
At peace.
I gesture for the waiter to bring us champagne, and when our glasses are full of the golden, bubbly liquid, I take the small velvet box out of my pocket.
“Your hand, please.”
She trembles as she puts her hand out. I’ve already proposed. Now we seal the deal.
I slide the ring onto her finger.
“It looks beautiful,” I say, clasping her hand. “Like you.”
A powerful sense of ownership flares within me, and I almost want to skip dinner, toss her over my shoulder, and pound my chest as I take her to the penthouse to claim her.
“It is,” she says with a smile. “Thank you.”
“Move in with me, Katie.”
She quirks a brow at me as she sips from her flute. “Is that an order?”
I grin at her. “You bet your ass it is.”
She grins back. “Yes, daddy. I would love that. Could I have a desk overlooking the pools and lights below?”
“Baby, you can have anything you want.”
And I mean it.
We eat the house salad with mixed greens, candied pecans, and thinly sliced pears, followed by the main course of filet mignon, wilted spinach, and creamy mushroom risotto. I order flourless chocolate cake and house made vanilla ice cream with ripe berries for her dessert.
“That dinner was perfection,” Katie says, patting her lips appreciatively with the cloth napkin.
“It was,” I say. “But I hope it didn’t make you sleepy.” I lean across the table. “I have so many more plans for you tonight.”
She flushes pink and takes my hand.
We make our way out of the restaurant, thankfully away from the flashes of cameras and intrusive questions. After what we’ve gone through, this feels like a dream come true.
Though dinner passed in a blur, my levels of excitement are unparalleled now that she’s wearing my ring and she’s home, I can’t wait to get her alone again.
“Missed you, daddy,” she says softly, just before the elevator doors open to our floor.
“And I missed you, babygirl.” I bend and capture her lips for a brief kiss. My heart surges in my chest when we meet, as if I haven’t breathed fully with her gone, and I can now draw a deep breath again. She turns to me, right in the middle of the hallway, and wraps her arms around my neck.
I lift her straight up into my arms, gown and all, and carry her to the penthouse. My need to take her, to make her mine again, to heal the divide between us, consumes all. I open the door, and she’s still tucked up against my chest. Our lips still joined, I bring her to the bedroom and lay her gently on the bed.
“Time to get these clothes off,” I rasp in her ear. “Let daddy undress you.”
She watches me in wide-eyed wonder, her rapt attention on me as I slowly undress her. First, the shoes, then her silky gown. Her undergarments meet her dress in a pile as I slowly strip them off, relishing every detail. Her sigh when I unfasten her bra. The way she pants a little when I slide her panties down her legs. The way she arches into me when I bend and nip one stiff, hardened nipple.
I undress quickly, my clothes joining hers, before I kneel next to her on the bed. I take her wrists and capture them between my fingers.
“How I missed you, Katie.”
Her eyes are wide and troubled. “Darius?”
I’m kissing down the column of her neck, relishing her sweet taste. “Mmm?”
“I… how do I… I’m not sure how to say it.”
“Out with it.” I tweak her nipple, as if emphasizing my instruction to her.
“Do you forgive me?” she says, all in one breath.
“There’s nothing to forgive.”
She sighs. “You hated that I used our story—”
I shake my head sharply. “I did not. I misunderstood. We were tricked. Set up. I’m honored you were inspired by our story.”
She sighs and smiles happily, then her eyes go half-lidded when I nip her second nipple. I kiss and suckle and kiss and suckle, until she’s keening with pleasure and practically begging for me.
I lean down and whisper in her ear, “No coming without daddy’s permission. Do you understand me?”
She gets a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “Or what, daddy?”
I growl low in my chest. “You know exactly what happens. You’ll end up over daddy’s knee for a good spanking.”
She melts beneath me. “Noted, daddy.”
I can’t wait any longer to take her. I need her. We need each other.
Still holding her wrists in my hand, I line up my cock at her entrance. Her hips rise to meet me, and I gently glide between her folds.