Total pages in book: 224
Estimated words: 215705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1079(@200wpm)___ 863(@250wpm)___ 719(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 215705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1079(@200wpm)___ 863(@250wpm)___ 719(@300wpm)
He laughs, a low raspy laugh and pulls me to my feet. “Yes, baby, it’s beautiful just like you. Let’s me show you how beautiful.” I twist away from him, aware that he wants to return the pleasure, but I’m not having it. “Not tonight,” I say. “Tonight was about you. Just you.” I dart away, and into our bedroom.
But I don’t make it far. Reid is right behind me and pulling me to him, our naked bodies melding together as he strokes a strand of hair from my face. “You know you rock my world in every way, right?” he asks, backing me up until my body hits the mattress.
“I hope so,” I say. “You’re marrying me, remember?”
“You hope so?” he asks. “Obviously, I need to take away the question.”
“I don’t want you to do anything for me tonight, Reid. For once, let it be just about you.”
“Every moment I’m with you is for me, and I hope you. Every moment, Carrie, and I’m not just talking about sex. But right now, I want you on my tongue.” He kisses me, stroking into my mouth and when his fingers press between my legs, that wet heat between my legs defies my declaration that tonight is all about him.
I moan into his mouth and he presses me back on the bed, and I can’t fight it. This man is just too good at making me want and need for me to resist. Not that I could. In about two seconds, he’s on his knees and my legs are spread, knees bent, and he licks my clit. A few more licks in and I decide that a man with this kind of skill should be a part of every girl’s happily ever after.
It sure is mine.
And so, he gives me my escape, licking, suckling and taking even as he’s giving, and when we finally settle into bed, me in his arms, our tree alight in the other room, I feel like we’re there in that perfect place where no one can take this from us. Not even his father.
Chapter eighty-three
Reid
Early Friday morning before the board meeting, Carrie, Gabe, and I meet Royce and an assistant DA named Marcus Roman at the coffee shop by our house. Marcus is thirty-five with curling black hair and a scar on his jawline that Royce told me in advance came from a few years in the army. Royce is trying to hire him. He’s resisting, declaring himself done with the kind of war that spills blood. Marcus slides a folder in front of me and another in front of Gabe.
“These agreements are absent of stated charges, therefore you don’t have to tell me what they are,” Marcus says. “Your father won’t know that, though. He will, however, know that you have an agreement with me and you can tell him that you somehow convinced me to hold off on charges. That story is yours to tell. If you ever get ready to actually move forward, I’ll be happy to get the press and promotion that will follow, but rest assured, I owe Royce my life quite literally. I won’t move unless you tell me to move.”
Royce looks between me and Gabe. “You can trust him.”
I believe them both and after Carrie, who sits between us, inches backward to allow us to do so, Gabe and I share a look and open our folders to scan the documents. Carrie leans over in my direction and reads with me, and then she and I share a look of approval over the legal wording. Gabe leans forward and looks at me, giving me a nod, and in silent agreement, we both sign three copies of the documents: one for Marcus and two for us, one of which will go to our father today at the meeting, if he should choose to show up. My gut says that he will, but I’m keeping that to myself. Carrie is nervous enough. I don’t need to add to her worry.
A few minutes later, Marcus departs and we thank Royce with our checkbooks and genuine gratitude. Once Royce departs, Gabe eyes Carrie. “Have you told your father you’re merging the companies?”
“I’m not giving him a chance to screw this up,” she says, “though I don’t think he will be a problem before or after. I think he’s ready to move on. I sensed it when I spoke to him in Japan but again, I’m just not taking any chances.” She looks at me. “Your father is going to show up. I just know it.”
“Probably,” Gabe says. “He’s that kind of an asshole. You know the kind that just keeps getting bigger and bigger which takes all the fun out of things.”
Carrie frowns. “Was that a bad dirty joke?”
Gabe frowns back at her. “Was it?”