Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 53764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
It had set a precedent that she was pleased with. She wore the ring all the time, even at night, and fierce pleasure ran through her when on several occasions, he'd picked her fingers up, laced them with his, and kissed the back of her hand, his lips brushing against the ring as well. He was a man of few words, but his actions gave her both comfort and hope.
The elevator doors swooshed open, and Natalie stepped into the penthouse in a pleasurable haze. She looked around and came to a halt, the suddenness of her stop making him crash into her as he wrapped his arm around her waist to steady her.
As she looked around the interior of the penthouse, her heartbeat went wild and she tried desperately to catch her breath. He spoke from behind her. "Come on. I haven't seen it, either."
He propelled her into the room, moved his arm from her waist to grip her hand, and led her through the apartment one room at a time.
Natalie had no words as she looked around in stunned appreciation. She was completely speechless as he looked from one room to the next, and made only minor comments as he pulled her along. She tried like hell to answer him, but she was very much afraid her words were only garbled sounds of agreement and pleasure. Or so she hoped, at least.
He'd had the penthouse completely redecorated while they'd been gone. Everything had been swept away as if it had never been, and the entire home was redone with new furniture, accessories, paint and flooring.
It was reminiscent of the decor from the restaurant that she had cooed over and she loved it. She loved everything about it, from the warm colors to the stone accents and everything in between.
But she was totally taken aback that he'd had it done. For her? What other answer could there be? He led her over to a plush, comfortable couch with a large, matching ottoman that served as a coffee-table. He pulled her down with him, testing it out.
"What do you think?" he asked.
"I--I--" Natalie was still completely speechless--almost afraid to react.
He grimaced as if in pain. "If you don't like it, it's not a problem. I'll have the decorator come out again and redo it the way you want it. Shit. I'm sorry. I should have let you choose to begin with."
She laid her hand on his arm to silence him. "Marco, stop." She looked away from his eyes and then back again. "It's perfect--perfect. I couldn't have done better. I love it."
"Thank fuck. It took them the full week to do. We'd have to move out again."
She clenched his arm and looked around the room. "You did all this for me?"
"I didn't do it for me." His eyes were like razors as they watched closely for her reaction.
"But--why?"
"You know why, Natalie. You hated it. And I can't have you hating our home, or you might leave."
"I wouldn't leave just because of the decor." She stated simply.
"Not a chance I was willing to take, okay?" His words were firm and Natalie knew by his tone that the conversation was over.
"Okay," she whispered.
Chapter Nine
A week later, Natalie walked out of the apartment with both phones in her bag and the SIM cards switched.
She'd worried over the thought of him tracking her more than she cared to think about. The situation couldn't go on. Everything was good between them. Their relationship was progressing at a slow but good pace. They were in a place she was very comfortable with. Although only defined as 'a couple,' she wore a ring he had given her, and that was enough for her.
The house had been redecorated for her, and that pleased her beyond belief. The night after they'd gotten home from New York, as he'd wandered in and out of the kitchen after she'd cleaned up after supper, she pulled everything from the cabinets and reorganized them to her satisfaction, as if it were her own kitchen.
And he'd watched her, the only problem he'd had was the amount of time it was taking her. The set of his mouth indicated it was past time for her to be in bed with him.
So with her boundaries set, her kitchen, her domain, his ring on her finger and the right to call herself his girlfriend, the only problem Natalie had was the freaking annoyance that he didn't trust her.
And it had to end. Today.
She'd picked the place for the confrontation carefully. A street in Downtown far enough away from home that he'd drop what he was doing and come look for her, unless he trusted her enough to just call, but she doubted he'd do that. She hoped he would, but she doubted it. The location was close enough she could get there by train and on the outskirts enough, not completely surrounded by tall buildings, that he shouldn't have a problem pinpointing her location.