Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“Sometimes, when I can’t sleep, I look at the stars.” Finn presses his side against mine, his sudden touch like a comet streaking through the clear night.
“I never took you as the type to stare up at the stars.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me. For whatever reason, thinking about how far away they are, how much nothing is out there, it calms me down.”
I make a face. “That’s honestly insane. Most people feel tiny and insignificant.”
“But that’s what I like.”
I turn to look at the set of his jaw, at his defined features, his handsome lips and nose. He’s staring straight up, straight at the stars, and I’m tempted to reach out and touch his cheek, but I keep my hands to myself. I’m not going to instigate things if I can avoid it.
“Why do you like it?” I press, unable to help myself.
He tilts his head, looking at me. “I’m a Crowley,” he says, as if that explains anything. “My whole life, I’ve been told how important I am. How important my family is. Sometimes, I want to look at the stars and realize how small everything is, how insignificant compared to all that, and it helps shut my brain down for a while.”
“Can I be honest with you?”
He inclines his head. “Please. You’re my wife now.”
“It’s hard for me to imagine you feeling stressed. I mean, obviously I believe it, but you have so much. All this money, all this comfort, it’s like… I grew up with nothing. If I had this? If my parents did?”
He’s quiet for a moment. “I understand what you’re saying, but it isn’t the wealth that makes my life complicated. It’s my family, it’s what’s expected of me. I understand that might be hard to accept.”
“No, it’s not, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to suggest your problems aren’t real or valid.” I chew my lip, cursing at myself. I shouldn’t have said that—he was opening up and I stomped all over him. I reach out on impulse, touching his chest. “I want to hear more.”
He looks at me, eyes grazing down to my lips, before he takes my hand—and pulls me close against him. I let out a surprised breath as I end up with an arm over his chest, my cheek against his collarbone, and his other hand in my hair, gently pulling my chin back until my lips are inches from his.
“You’ll understand soon, love,” he whispers, voice a husky rasp. “I do have a lot, but there’s also a lot counting on me, and sometimes I wish I could just be a regular man, free to make my own choices.”
“What would you choose, if you could?” My heart’s racing, fast enough to match his own pace. I feel his pulse pounding underneath me.
“I’d choose you,” he says, mouth coming toward mine. “I’d choose to have something that feels good for once in my life.”
“Didn’t you already?” I blink rapidly, head a dizzy mess of anticipation.
But he pauses. His lips brush mine. I release a soft whimper, needing him to move just a little bit closer, to finish this kiss, or to start it all the way. This half thing we’re doing, this nearness, it’s driving me wild.
“I don’t know what you are yet, love,” he murmurs, and god, I’m aching, actually aching for him to touch me. “But for a little while, we can pretend.”
I shift up, unable to take it anymore, and press my lips hard against his.
The trigger pulled, he takes control, driving the kiss deeper, his mouth opening, his tongue invading my lips, as a moan escapes my throat.
Chapter 23
Finn
The girl doesn’t understand, but she will.
Fuck, she’ll get it soon, but I wish I could shield her from that. I wish I could protect her from so much, from my family, from their expectations, from everything they’ll want from her.
Except it’s not possible, not after today, not after the decision I made.
She’s my wife. My woman, my future, and she’s carrying my child.
Which means she’s a Crowley, and everything that comes with it.
I kiss her hard, my wife, tasting her just this one night. I know it can’t be like this all the time—that’s not part of our arrangement—but god, she tastes good. Her whimpers, her moans, every little movement of her hips and mouth, it makes my heart slam in my chest as excitement courses down my veins. Fuck, I’ve never wanted someone like this before, with every inch of my skin, like my fingertips yearn for her as much as my tongue does, as much as my cock does.
I roll over, pinning her down on her back. She’s soft, pliant, beautiful, and I kiss down her throat to her chest. I hike up her top, cupping her breasts, licking her nipples, biting down hard enough to make her gasp.