Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“Yeah. I talked to him before he left for work.”
“You’ve been here a long time, then.”
“Yes. I would’ve waited forever, though.”
“Dax, I—”
“Before you say anything, hear me out, okay? I need to say this.”
Her chest rose and fell. “Alright…”
“You deserve so much better than what I’ve given you, Wren.” I let out a shaky breath. “You deserve to be cherished, not hidden. Loved openly, not in secret. I’m so fucking sorry if it’s ever felt like I’ve strung you along.”
She shook her head. “You couldn’t help it. It was an impossible situation.”
“Doesn’t make it right.” I took a step closer. “I haven’t been in touch since the other night because there was no way I was gonna face you until I got my shit together.” I paused. “Morgan and I aren’t together anymore, as you might’ve figured. Because I couldn’t stay with her…when I’m in love with you.” I paused to look at her. “I’m so in love with you, Wren McCallister.”
She placed her hand on her chest. “God…to hear you finally say it.” She exhaled. “Rafe told me he came clean about reading your journal. It was hard keeping that from you, but he was so scared to tell you.”
“I want you to know something.” I cradled her cheek. “Rafe walked in on me Saturday morning with my head down in despair after the law firm party. I was debating telling him everything even before he said a word to me. He saved me from having to do that. But I already knew I couldn’t live without you, and I had to do something. I just hadn’t figured out what. I know now that there’s only one way for this story to end, Wren. And that’s with us together.”
Her eyes glistened. “Does this mean I have to tell Dylan I won’t marry him?”
My body tensed.
She reached up and pinched my cheek. “I’m kidding, Moody.”
I fisted her hair and pulled her close. “You nearly gave me a fucking heart attack, woman.”
“I went back to the table that night after Morgan ran into us talking,” she said. “I waited there with Dylan, suspecting that a bomb was about to drop. Morgan came into the ballroom after leaving you and told Dylan everything right in front of me. Then she stormed off. Believe it or not, he wasn’t quick to walk away or cast blame. He just wanted to understand. So we left the party and talked it over at a bar down the street. He still wanted to work things out. He really is a great guy. But ultimately, I ended things. Because I love you.” She smiled. “You know that.”
“Yeah. I do.” I slid my arm down her back. “There’s still so much I want to say, but I don’t think I can keep my hands off you much longer.”
“You sure you don’t want to have tea?” she teased. “Maybe we should chat a little more.”
“I think we’ve done our fair share of talking over the years. Talking can fucking wait because I need to be inside of you.” I brought her lips to mine, swallowing the familiar taste I’d longed for. This kiss felt like the oxygen I’d been missing for nearly three fucking years.
“Let’s go upstairs,” she murmured.
“We’re not leaving your bedroom tonight,” I muttered over her lips. “At least not until right before Chuck gets back.”
When she wrapped her arms around my neck, her fingers found the bandage there.
“What is this?” she asked. “Did you hurt yourself?”
I turned to show her it wasn’t an injury. It was a clear bandage over a tattoo I’d just gotten.
She gasped. “Oh my God. You’re crazy, Dax.”
“I’m the crazy one? Do you not have a deer tattoo on the back of your neck as a symbol of me?”
“Well, yeah. But this…”
“Wren means little bird, does it not?”
She covered her mouth. “I know. I just…”
She stared at the tiny bird I’d had tattooed on the back of my neck. It wasn’t just any bird. It was Tweety. It was the size of a quarter.
“You’re crazy, Dax Moody! What made you choose Tweety?”
“He’s a little bird, isn’t he?”
“How are you going to explain Tweety to your clients?”
“I’ll proudly tell them it’s a symbol of the woman I love. Fuck them if they think it’s weird. I love you so much, and I’d do just about anything to prove it.”
“This definitely proves it.” She laughed. “When did you get it?”
“Yesterday.” I swooped her up. “How about a break from talking now?”
She squealed as I carried her up the stairs.
“I love it when you carry me. It’s such a gentlemanly gesture.”
“Nothing I’m about to do to you will be gentlemanly, Wren. Nothing.”
Excitement filled her eyes as I laid her down on the bed. I hovered over her and kissed her hard as she fumbled to remove my belt. She finally whipped it away and tossed it aside before lowering my pants. I kicked them off. She slid out of her own pants, and when I reached down to remove her panties, I might’ve ripped them. We lifted our shirts off at the same time, and they went flying. My dick ached to be inside of her—something I thought I’d never have again.