Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 156029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Lara smiles darkly. “Being tied up is fucking hot. Handcuffs are a personal favourite of mine.”
Beth looks at me again. I swear that was her in Edward’s room that night.
“Have you ever fucked Edward, Lara?” Beth blurts out.
Lara chokes on her drink. “What?”
“Have you ever fucked Edward?”
My eyes widen in surprise. I’ve never asked because I didn’t want to force her to lie to me.
“What on earth?” Lara splutters. “Why would you ask me that?”
“It’s a yes or no question, Lars,” Beth states.
Lara waves her hand around in the air. “Don’t be ridiculous. Oh, look, there’s Charlie.” She stands. “Back in a minute.” She takes off and nearly runs to the other side of the restaurant to get away from us.
Beth and I stare at each other.
“She’s totally fucking him,” Beth says.
I sip my drink. “Yep. I know.”
* * *
The car slows to a stop, and I peer in at the house through the window.
I’m here to meet Spencer’s family, and I’m nervous as all hell.
Family meetings haven’t gone that well for us so far.
Spencer opens my door and practically drags me from my seat. “I’m nervous,” I admit in a rush.
“Don’t be nervous, they’ll love you.” He takes me by the hand, leading me towards the house.
“What if they don’t?”
“Then we’ll be even.”
Oh, God.
The house is nice, neat, and of average size, sitting out in the countryside. I smile as I look around at the neighbourhood. I get a vision of Spencer, Seb, and Julian hanging around here riding their bikes as kids, and I smile.
“Hello!” Spencer calls as he opens the front door. The smells of something amazing cooking wafts through the house.
“Hey!” I hear a woman call from another room before she rushes in. “Spence.”
I clasp my hands nervously in front of me when she comes into view. She’s attractive and in good shape. She has blonde hair that sits just below her shoulders, and blue eyes that shine like Spencer’s. She immediately wraps her arms around me and pulls me close. “Hello, my dear Charlotte.”
“Hi,” I whisper nervously.
She takes my hands in hers, smiles, and looks me up and down. “So, you’re our Spencer’s girlfriend? Beautiful.”
“Thanks.”
She turns her attention to Spencer and kisses his cheek. “Hello, sweetheart.”
“Hi, Mum.” He smiles. “Where’s Dad?”
“Out in the garage.”
He calls his stepfather his dad? I didn’t know this.
Spencer takes off outside, returning only moments later with a big, burly mechanic-looking guy. Spencer presents me like a prized pig.
“And here she is. This is my Charlotte,” he says proudly.
My Charlotte.
The man wipes his hands on a tea towel before he shakes my hand. “Hello, love, nice to meet you.”
He looks like he has some kind of Italian or European heritage. He has big, brown, kind eyes. He puts his arm around Spencer, and I smile at the two of them. It’s obvious that they are very close.
“I hope you’re hungry, I’ve been cooking up a storm.” His mother smiles.
I nod nervously, unsure what to say.
Spencer rolls his eyes and wraps his arm around me. “She’s nervous.”
His mother laughs. “That makes two of us. You’re the first girl Spencer has ever brought home. I’d almost given up hope.”
“About time, Son,” his dad interrupts. “And she’s so pretty, too.”
I giggle, feeling a little more at ease.
His mum takes me by the hand and pulls me into the kitchen. “If Spencer loves you, we love you.”
* * *
I’m in bed staring at the television, but I’m not watching it or even listening.
My mind is in Nottingham with my father.
I miss him… desperately.
Spencer is reading beside me and things couldn’t be any better between us. We laugh, make love, fuck, and talk about the charity I’m creating. He’s become my best friend and my partner in crime.
We’re hopelessly in love.
But I have this thorn in my side that won’t go away.
It was one or the other: my family or my love. Why couldn’t I have both? I know if they just gave him a chance, they would love him.
Spencer reaches over and slides his hand up my thigh. “You okay?” he asks.
I nod, unable to speak past the lump in my throat.
He puts his book down and wraps his arms around me. “What is it, angel?”
I shake my head because I don’t want him to know that I’m grieving the loss of my family.
“I’m just tired, baby,” I whisper as I kiss him softly. I run my fingers through his two-day stubble, and I stare into his big, beautiful eyes. He kisses me slowly, his tongue sliding through my open mouth. For a long time we lie in each other’s arms and kiss. It’s tender, unhurried and intimate and when he kisses me like this there is nobody else on earth but us.
His lips drop to my neck and he bites me with just the right amount of pressure before his hands slowly slide my panties down my legs.