Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
I wipe away more tears. “This all would have been great a month ago when I stood in front of you and gave you a part of myself that I’ve never allowed myself to be vulnerable enough to give anyone. Why did you use the trust money?”
“Because it’s the only thing I had to offer. The only way I could make it right. And if it brought something positive into your life, maybe I could find a way to live with myself for what I’ve done.”
God, I hate him. I swallow the lump in my throat. “And you think buying my forgiveness will make me forget the nightmare of being held captive by a maniac?”
“No, of course not. But knowing you’re happy, doing what you want to do, building a new life for yourself, no longer allowing your past to determine your future, and using the money and going to college…will get me through. I have to live with my choices and decisions; I don’t have to allow you to do the same. I just want you happy.”
A sob rips up my throat, and I lunge at him. He wraps me in his arms, bringing me flush against his chest. “I still hate you,” I mutter into his chest.
“It’s okay. I’ll love you enough for the both of us.”
I pull away, my eyes locking on his. Through blurred vision, I see a man who has my heart. And no matter what’s transpired between us, that won’t ever change. “This isn’t a truce. This isn’t me forgiving you. But right now, I need you to shut up and kiss me.” His lips crush against mine, and the floor beneath me sways. My fingers claw at his back, and he holds me tighter to him. I bite his bottom lip, eliciting the sexiest growl. He picks me up and carries me down a long hallway to the most magnificent bedroom. I don’t have a chance to truly take it in because he lays me on his bed and joins me, dropping his body onto mine.
“I’ve missed this mouth,” he says, pressing kisses to the sides of my lips before offering me his full mouth. “Not being near you, not touching you. I’ve felt like I’ve been dying.” His open palm slides down past my belly. “Being inside you.” I arch my back as he slips a finger inside me. “Every part of you has haunted me.”
“Tate,” I beg. His thumb presses to my clit as he sinks two more through my flesh.
“I told myself, if I ever got another chance to tell you, I would make sure you knew…” thrust, “deep down in your soul…” thrust, “that I fucking love you.” My body spasms, and I clench around his hand. In a flash, his fingers are gone. His clothes disappear next. I’m still seeing stars as he rips down my pajama pants, pushes my thighs apart, and settles the crown of his cock at my throbbing sex. “Tell me you forgive me.”
“Tate.”
“Tell me so I can show you just how bad I fucking need you. How you need me. How much I’ll make it up to you. Let me love you—”
“Seriously, shut up. I forgive you, now fuck me.” He pistons into me, stealing my breath. There’s no more talking, no more confessions. We shut it all off and become nothing but feelings. Raw. Emotional. Passionate. It’s a homecoming of our hearts and a silent promise from our souls.
He fucks me into delirium. Spasms begin to rock through me, and I cry out. Tate’s eyes are wild, showing me how much he’s teetering on the edge of his own release. He grips my hip and raises my leg, driving deeper, then pulling back with shallow, hard thrusts. Air seizes my lungs, and a silent moan of undeniable pleasure expels from my lips as my body convulses. He shouts my name, his cock pulsing as he comes hard inside me.
He falls against me, his heart thrashing with mine. So many things I want to say swirl through my mind, things we should discuss, but I’m spent, physically and emotionally. And with the added help of some rocking orgasms, I pass out.
Chapter thirty
Tate
This is the first time I’ve gotten decent sleep in over a month. Not that I really slept. I was too worried I would wake up and this would be a dream. That Mindy would be gone, and I’d return to being hollow. So, like a pathetic asshole, I spent most of the night staring at her. Silently thanking her for giving me a second chance. One I don’t deserve.
I nuzzle my nose into the nook of her neck, inhaling the smell of her shampoo. She stirs in her sleep, and I pull her into me, loving how she wiggles her cute little ass against my growing cock. “Morning.”