Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
If he had asked me this last week, I would have given him a resounding yes. It wasn’t until after we married that I realized he planned to keep our lives separate. Originally, he just never asked me, and when I confronted him about it, he would apologize, but he still didn’t ask me the next time or the time after that. I never understood it just like I never understood how he could be so cold about things like that, but then other ways he would be caring and loving. I think about his request. In the past, I would have given anything to be a part of his family, but what’s the point now? “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Beau. I’m sorry… but I can’t.”
He turns my chair toward him, grips my thighs, and pulls me toward him. His legs are wide, fitting mine between his. His knees lock against my sides, and his hands go to my arms. “Look at me.”
I don’t listen to him. I keep my head lowered, not wanting to look in his face because I know I’m weak when it comes to him. “Natalie, I want you to look at me.”
I lift my head and jut my chin at him. “What? I’m looking at you. Now what?”
He smiles at me. “I know I’m asking for a lot.”
I nod. “Yes, you are. For the last two years, you’ve treated me like your little secret instead of your wife, so excuse me if I’m not jumping at whatever game this is you’re playing.”
He releases his hold on my arms and instead wraps his hands around my thighs. “I’m not playing any games.”
“Right.”
His jaw tightens, and he grinds his teeth together. I can see the wheels turning as he looks at me. Finally, he breaks the silence. “I understand you don’t trust me, and if you can’t give me a month, just give me a chance. We can take it day by day.”
I’m leaning as far back in my chair as I can, but it’s not enough. I’m not going to make good decisions with him this close to me. He’s a temptation that I can’t refuse. I stare at his lips, and it’s like a movie plays in my head of all the times he’s satisfied me with them. “Day by day. If I do that, will you let me up?”
He rears back in surprise and releases me instantly. I jump up out of my seat and walk around to put the table between us. “I’ll give you that. Day by day, but that’s all I can promise. No sex either.”
He nods and runs his hand through his hair. “Okay. I won’t have sex with you unless you ask me to. And we take this day by day.” He doesn’t seem completely happy with the agreed terms, but at least he’s willing. “I’ll see you in the morning, wife.”
With a shaky hand, I grab the back of the chair. “I teach in the morning.”
He cleans up the table, and when he’s done, he points at the untouched piece of cake. “Eat your cake. Sleep well, wife.”
I stare at him the whole way as he walks through the house and out the back door. I’m not sure what to make of any of this, but I let myself eat the piece of cake and replay the night's events in my head. I’m not sure, but I’m thinking my husband has a plan to date me.
Chapter 7
Beau
I will not kill the guy. I will not kill the guy.
That’s what I’m telling myself as I walk into Work It Out, Nat’s gym. I made a point to show up right after her class was over. As the people are coming out of the cycling room, the women all are looking at me as they walk by, but I keep my eye on the door.
Nat is the last one out of the room, and I walk up to her. She is wiping her face with a towel, and when she finally spots me, she stops mid stride, and her mouth falls open. She has on some kind of tight black leggings and a small tank top that does nothing to hide her body. She’s beautiful. I know it, and I’m sure every man in the gym knows it too. I want to look at each of them and dare them to look at her, but I don’t. I keep my eyes glued on Nat. “Morning,” I say gruffly.
If anything, her eyes get even bigger. “Morning.”
Normally, that would be it. I’m not a man that shows affection, but I’m determined to give this all I’ve got. Last night, I thought about what she said, and it blows my mind that she thought I could be embarrassed by her. I lean over until our faces are inches apart. “You look good, wife.” I planned to leave it at that, but her full lips are beckoning me. I kiss her lightly and force myself to pull back even though every cell in my body wants to find a private room to take her to.