Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
“You’ll ruin that makeup it took you all of three minutes to apply,” he teased her, hoping to avert more tears. He wanted to get her to their destination.
She lifted her chin at him. “I don’t think where we’re going is nearly as important as what you just told me.”
“It’s important to me, Solnyshkuh.” He kept his voice soft but firm. This was a very significant moment whether she knew it or not. He knew it was.
She wanted him to talk to her about his past. He wanted to take her somewhere special. He’d planned the date out carefully, and it was important to him. Mostly, what was critical was if she recognized that going on the date meant something to him and she put his desires before her own.
He continued to drive, very aware of her palm burning a hole through the material of his jeans to brand his thigh. He was aware of time passing and how quiet she’d gotten. The entrance to the mini-mall was directly ahead. He turned into the large parking area that ran around the outside of the stores.
Trees, shrubs and flowers were in brick planters all along the center of the lot. Around the sidewalks were more plants, neatly kept, some in wine barrels. Tables and benches provided eating and resting places in various alcoves between stores, cafés and restaurants.
“If that’s what you want to do, Andrii, and it’s important to you, then we’re doing it. I’m not going to insist you talk about something that is clearly distressing.”
Relief washed over him. Triumph. He hadn’t been wrong in his assessment of her. His desires mattered to her. He parked the car and turned to face her. Just looking at her took his breath away. The fact that her soft skin was still wet with tears and the hint of liquid kept the blue ultrabright in her eyes sent heat coiling through his veins.
“Thank you, Zelie. I know it’s important to you that we talk, and we will. It’s important to me as well, but I have a surprise for you, and we can’t be late, or they won’t let us in.”
She studied him for a moment and then looked around her. “Where are we?”
“Concord. We’re going to Celine James’ master class on suspense.”
Maestro was grateful he was looking directly at her. Azelie didn’t have a poker face. Shock. Disbelief. Excitement. Tears. There it was. All his. He may have found the perfect gift for her, but in receiving it, she filled him up, gave him what he’d never had before. He had thought he was empty and devoid of all feeling, even the capacity to feel, and yet that look on her face, being with her, changed everything.
He cupped her face between his palms, his thumb sliding through the wet trails on her face. “We’ve got to hurry, Solnyshkuh. They’re locking the doors right at seven.”
“Kiss me.” She whispered the invitation, her voice soft with promise.
He pulled back immediately. “Can’t give you that, baby. I start kissing you, we won’t get in. I want you to have this experience. I’ll give you a different one when I take you home.”
A little shiver went through her body, and the blue of her eyes darkened with desire. He liked that a fuck of a lot. She wanted him. She was shy about it, but the chemistry between them was raw and visceral. He felt electricity sparking over his skin, keeping every nerve ending alive.
“Let’s get going, baby.” He dropped his hands and deliberately exited the car to get away from temptation. He wasn’t going to be able to resist her for long. He was a man who had spent his entire life with discipline and control, yet with Azelie that control left him very quickly. He felt a little wild around her. Very predatory and dominant. Possessive and yet loving.
Loving. He hadn’t known what that felt like. He hadn’t told her the entire story of his mother and aunt and how they had betrayed a little boy. What they’d sold him into. What his life as a child and teenager had been. He hadn’t known how to feel love until he’d found her, and it had happened so fast that he fell right off a cliff. Now he wanted her to leap off and trust him to catch her.
Maestro carried her pack to the door of the Barnes & Noble in Concord, where the master class was taking place. It was a new event, and the ticket price had been high, but aside from having the bestselling author there, the store had catered food and drink. They had limited room, and the author had insisted on each person having a comfortable space. All of that, including employees staying after hours to help, cost money. He would have paid any price to see that look on Azelie’s face.