Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 86240 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86240 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“I wish I could have seen your nephew,” I said, breaking the silence.
Shawn’s face lit up. “He’s a little devil, but I love that guy like you wouldn’t believe.”
“He gives his parents hell, huh?”
He chuckled. “He does. His answer to everything is no, and it’s hilarious.”
“Doesn’t sound fun to his parents.”
His eyes twinkled. “You just have to figure out questions with negative responses that get you what you want. Like, you don’t want to stay awake, do you?” He laughed again. “It’s fun to watch when he realizes he’s not getting his way. He grins and laughs but gives in.”
He was probably more ready for this parent thing than he realized and my heart warms.
We drove through Times Square so I could see it at night. It was just like you see on TV, lights everywhere with crowds. I chose not to get out and walk, preferring to get back to our home base.
When we arrived back at the SoHo apartment, Shawn pinned me to the wall and kissed me breathless.
“I’ve been wanting to do that all day,” he said.
“Yeah,” I said and teasingly walked away from him.
“Did you enjoy the day?” he asked.
Over my shoulder, I coyly said, “For the most part.”
His face changed. “I hate how my father ruined the evening.”
I faced him now. “Tried to. I refuse to let the man steal my joy.”
He caught up with me and snagged my hand. “I wanted to kill him.”
I reached up and put my hand on his cheek. “He’s not worth the consequences.”
He took my hand and kissed my fingertips. He certainly was handsy, and I loved it. “You’re worth it.”
My heart melted like ice in hot coffee. Still, I found the courage to ask the question. “What are we?” and then bit my lip, almost afraid of his answer.
“Together.”
“That’s it?” I hated to be ungrateful, but I needed a label. “Do you even know how you feel about me?”
He tugged me back over to the kitchen island, where he left the Cartier bag he’d brought back with him. He picked it up before setting it on the ground as he bent on one knee. All the air in my lungs evaporated.
“What are you doing?” I asked as he started to pull something out. “Don’t ask because my answer is still no,” I blurted. “Nothing has changed. I don’t even know how you feel about me.”
The hand that was in the bag dropped down, but then he pulled out a red leather box. Inside, the bracelet I’d tried on nestled there. “There isn’t a word big enough to describe how I feel.”
“You didn’t have to buy me that,” I said as his words rang in my ears.
“It’s a promise,” he said as he put it on my wrist and used the screwdriver to lock it in place. “I’ll forever make sure you and our child are taken care of. That’s my vow.”
The bracelet's cool metal chilled my skin, and goose bumps rose. “I don’t need this to trust you.”
“But I need you to wear it.”
Was it his way of staking his claim? Did I care? Not in this moment. I drew him to his feet and cupped his cheeks as I pressed my lips to his.
He pulled back and the heat in his gaze scorched my skin. “I had a lot of fun today. Did you?”
I was thrown off because our conversation was a bit all over the place. “Yeah, I did enjoy hanging out with you. Why?”
“As much as I want to touch you, I need you to understand there is more to us than sex.”
I couldn’t stay serious with the playful look on his face. I licked my lips and he watched. The wall of flames between us grew. I teased him with a flirty smile. “So, you just want to cuddle tonight?”
He shook his head. “You know I don’t. But I will if that’s what you want. You are important.”
What he didn’t say was to me. “My therapist says sex is important.”
“Is it now?” His smirk made me so wet.
“It is. But I do want a cuddle… Just naked,” I said and sashayed away.
He caught me half a second later and spun me around. He hooked his hands under my ass and lifted me up. I gasped, and he took the opportunity to snake his tongue across mine. I landed on the island as he hiked up my dress.
“I need to be inside you,” he whispered as if it took effort to speak. He cupped my breast as his thumbs swept over my nipples as they hardened.
I nodded vigorously, not wanting to break the moment with words.
Seconds later, he thrust inside me, stretching me as he moved his hands to part my thighs farther so he could seat himself to the hilt. We both groaned while he held still for a moment before he began to move in earnest to a pace we both desired. It didn’t take long, as the heat between us had been building all day. Soon, I was screaming his name as he groaned mine.