Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 86226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“And for that, I’m sorry,” Phoenix says. “I’m sorry for a lot of things when it comes to you. I can’t fix it. I can’t take it all away. All I can do is move forward from this point on. If you allow me to.”
I take a step backwards. “And what does this future look like? How do you see this playing out?”
“With you,” Phoenix answers. “The two of us together raising the baby as a family.”
I look at Phoenix and study his face.
“It won’t be easy,” Phoenix says, “and if you marry me, I have to warn you that Godwins marry for life. There is no divorce as I’m sure Daphne has told you. But you and the baby would be protected legally, and my assets would be yours in the eyes of the law.”
I don’t care about all the legal details. Or about money. I want to know what this really means.
“I have demands of my own,” I have the courage to say. Not wanting to lose my will to speak my mind, I quickly continue. “I don’t want to be locked away in some tower like Rapunzel. I don’t want to be away from you. I understand you will have Medusa business, and I’m not asking to be involved with it, unless you ask for help, that is. But I am asking to not be shut out. I don’t want to be treated like some naive little girl and kept in the dark by you.”
“Fair enough,” Phoenix says.
“I also…” I swallow hard as my stomach twists in nerves to reveal my truth. “I also don’t want you to be soft on me. I like the firm hand. I fucking crave it.”
“Oh, I won’t be soft. Trust me on that,” Phoenix says with a small laugh that is lined with a delicious promise that causes my pussy to throb.
“Do you truly love me?” I’m not sure how I’ve summoned the inner strength to simply ask what I really want to know from him.
“I don’t think I know what that means. I’m not sure I can one hundred percent say yes. At least not the normal kind of love,” Phoenix says. “But I know I don’t want to live without you. I know that I want you by my side as we move forward with our lives. I can’t imagine myself being with any other woman. And I know that I want to make sure you are protected, cared for, and treated as you deserve every single day we are alive. My version of love is no doubt fucked up. It’s not going to be the tender kisses and red roses kind of love. I’m not an easy man, but with that said, I would never disrespect you or harm you in any way. Once you agree to be mine you will see a side of me that will nearly suffocate you with my kind of love.”
I can taste the tears on my lips as they fall down my face. This man is saying everything I have hoped to hear one day. He is promising his truths, and his heart—no matter how dark and twisted they are. He isn’t promising me he will change. He can’t even promise he can leave the attic. And that’s fine by me.
I want to enter his world. I want him to let me in.
And he is. He finally is.
“I love you, Phoenix Godwin. I love every fucked-up part about you.”
I take his hand and let him lead me back to the villa. As we reach the door, I hesitate. There’s still a small part of me not sure if I’m ready for this, if I’m ready to be pulled into Phoenix’s world of power and wealth. Of secrets and isolation. But as he gazes at me with those intense eyes, I know that there’s no turning back.
I take a deep breath and follow him into the villa, ready to face whatever comes my way.
“Can you live in my life? My rules? My darkness?” he asks, closing the door behind us.
“Yes,” I say, because I want nothing more.
“Are you sure?” he growls, the desire in his voice causing my body to tremble.
“Yes,” I gasp, barely able to breathe. “I’m yours.”
His eyes blaze like fire, and he pulls me against him, possessing me with a fierce kiss. His hot lips move hungrily over mine, claiming me as his own. He pulls away, his voice a low rumble. “Do you understand?”
I nod and swallow hard, my entire body trembling.
“Say it,” he orders.
“I’m yours,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. “Only yours.”
Chapter
Thirty-Nine
Phoenix
I can’t get her back to the villa fast enough.
I’m being pulled to her. An invisible tether connecting us effortlessly tugging me forward. She lifts her shirt just above her belly, letting me see what I have created, tucked away in her warmth.