Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58747 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58747 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
“So he gave you a castle.”
Logan shrugs. “His wife had died a decade earlier and they had no heirs. He brought me on as a partner in his business, I helped expand it—”
With the help of my father’s patents, I almost say, but bite my tongue. We’ve come so far in the past few days. I don’t want to break the spell just yet.
“—One thing led to another and…” he shrugs again. “Castle.”
“Just like that.”
My dry tone makes him grin. “Just like that. Do you doubt me, kitten?”
“No.” I retreat until my back hits the shelf. He looms over me, one arm over my head, so he can cage me against the bookshelf.
“I just…we didn’t have to wait. I know you wanted to…prove yourself or whatever,” I flap my hand, my voice faltering as his eyes glint. “but you were it for me. It was always you.” I twine my hand in his thick black hair and tug his face closer.
“Daphne,” he groans against my lips, and then we’re kissing. He lifts me, propping my hips against the shelves. Holy hell, Imma about to get hot and heavy in a library…
My stomach growls, though, ruining the moment.
With a curse, Logan sets me down. “I need to feed you.”
“I’m all right.”
“You’re still recovering,” he says in his no nonsense my will is law voice. “I forget myself around you.”
I bite my lip to hide my smile. If I can make him forget himself, can he forgive the past?
I sneak a smile at Logan over my spoonful of grapefruit. He’s reading the paper but he catches me glancing at him and our eyes catch over the centerpiece bouquet of roses. He lowers the paper slightly, just enough for me to see his smirk, then he snaps it back up and continues to read.
Jackass, I shake my head with a smile. But I know better than to say it aloud. My ass still smarts from last night. I shift on the padded chair he thoughtfully brought out for me for this morning’s breakfast.
He’s always so thoughtful. Yes, he’s also the Master who loves to command my pleasure...but I love that, too. It’s something we share. The past few days…our intimacy has gone to levels I didn’t even know was possible. I’ve never felt more connected to another person in my life. If I’d known that two people could…but maybe it takes the right person for this kind of magic to happen. And maybe most people don’t find it.
My eyes trail over Logan’s strong hands and then back up to his face peeking over the top of the paper. I can just make out his eyes. Thank goodness he’s taken out those ridiculous contacts. I can see my Logan’s eyes again. And he hasn’t put the mask back on, which I consider a victory. He knows he can be himself with me.
And I know it will take time, but I’ll show him that the rest of the world will accept him just like I have. What happened to him was a horrible accident but his scars aren’t that bad. Okay, they were a little shocking at first, but once you know they’re there, they start to just become part of the landscape of his face.
His life story marks his face and it also marks that he survived it and has become so incredibly strong in spite of all that happened to him. I want to show the world his strength. I want to show him his strength and that the world can love him just like I d—
I choke on the bite of grapefruit I just took and scramble to reach for my water glass. Not that I lov— I mean, we’ve barely reconnected, and back in the day it was just a crush. It’s not that deep yet, not that intense.
“Daphne!” Logan’s already around the table and his hand pounds me on the back. “Are you all right?”
I sputter and hold up a hand. “I’m fine. Fine.” I cough again and finally get a long, cool drink of water. Then I push the chair back from the table. Logan jumps out of the way just in time.
“Daphne,” he says, his voice half concern, half warning.
“I’m fine.” I smile brightly. “I’m just going to get ready for the day. I cover my mouth and cough into my elbow, then smile again and turn around, bounding out the door.
I’ve been with him almost 24/7 for the past week and I just need a second. “Just a second,” I whisper to myself, huffing a bit of hair out of my face as I lean against the door. Then I cover my hands with my face.
I just haven’t had any time to process everything that’s happened. There’s just experience after experience after experience, with short bouts of heavy sleep in between, ever since I got over my illness last week.