Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 20554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 103(@200wpm)___ 82(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 103(@200wpm)___ 82(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
As the minutes tick by, Clara’s trembling begins to subside. She takes deep, steadying breaths, gradually finding her center again. I watch her closely, my heart swelling with admiration for her strength. She’s been through so much, and yet she still stands strong.
"Clara," I say softly, breaking the silence. "I want you to know how much I appreciate everything you’ve done. You’ve been my rock through all of this, and I don’t know what I’d do without you."
She looks at me, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "Marcus, you don’t have to thank me. I did it because I believe in you.”
Her words hit me like a bolt of lightning, a rush of emotions flooding my system. Gratitude, love, and a deep sense of connection. I lean forward, pressing my forehead to hers.
"I love you, Clara," I whisper, the words coming from the very core of my being.
She closes her eyes, a single tear slipping down her cheek. "I love you too, Marcus. So much."
Our lips meet in a tender kiss, a promise of the future we’ll face together. The world outside fades away, leaving just the two of us in this moment of pure, unbridled happiness.
We pull back, breathless and flushed. I brush a strand of hair from Clara’s face, my fingers lingering on her soft skin. "Rest now," I murmur. "We’ll figure everything out tomorrow."
She nods, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. I help her to my bed, making sure she’s comfortable before lying down beside her. We curl up together, our bodies entwined, finding solace in each other’s presence.
The night stretches on, but the turmoil of the ritual begins to fade, replaced by a sense of peace and clarity. I’ve been freed from my torment, and now I understand the true depth of my feelings for Clara. She is not just a part of my past, but the key to my future. She smiles lazily at me as my fingers trace her bare abdomen.
A thought occurs to me then, and I slide off the bed and drop to one knee, my heart pounding as I look up at her. "I had something big planned for this moment, but I can't think of a better one than right now, surrounded by our new family and all this love."
I cradle her hand in mine, pulling out the diamond ring I've been hiding, the one I just picked up this morning from the local jeweler. The light catches the facets, making it sparkle as I slide it onto her finger.
"Please, be my wife. I want to make love, make babies, and make all kinds of sweet hell with you." The words tumble out, filled with urgency, my hands trembling slightly as I refuse to wait for an answer. "You're already my family, but make an honest man of me and say you'll be my wife, Clara. You're already mine; I just want you to share my name, my home, and everything else, too."
"Yes!" she whispers through tears, and throws her arms around my neck, her lips raining kisses all over my face. I stand, scooping her up and backing her onto the bed, laying her down with a swift, practiced motion. My body fits between her thighs as we kiss, our breaths mingling, becoming one.
"I love you so much, more than I thought it was possible to love," I murmur against her lips, the weight of the moment making my voice thick with emotion. "I'll do everything under the sun to make sure you're happy every day. I'll wrangle you the sun and stars, catch rainbows, and kiss you senseless every morning and night."
"You're already making me a happy woman," she whispers, her voice laced with desire as her body responds to mine. She's already warm and wet beneath me, the heat of her core seeping through the denim of my jeans. I fumble with the button and zipper, pushing my pants down my thighs in a hurry, desperate to feel her skin against mine.
I trail kisses up her thighs as I crawl back up her body, nipping at her panties before pulling them off with my teeth, inhaling the intoxicating scent of her arousal.
"Fuck, I want to smell like your sweet come every day, sunshine." My words are a growl, filled with raw need as I press a kiss to her glistening clit, feeling her hips buck in response.
I continue my ascent, unclasping her bra with a flick of my fingers and pushing the straps down her shoulders. I catch the fabric with my teeth, yanking it off in one swift move before her heavy breasts fall against my lips. Her nipples are hard, begging for attention, and I oblige, sucking and pulling at her flesh as she moans, her hands tugging at my hair, her hips grinding against mine.
"So fucking sexy when you're horny and happy, huh, sweet sunshine?" I tease, my voice husky with desire.