Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 146417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
“That’s where he’ll trip us up,” he said. “He’ll let us think he’s done playing, and we’ll split up because that’s what we do. Because I’ll get angry and you won’t take another minute of it. Throw in a kid and he’ll think I’ll lose my damn mind. He didn’t get a look at Roman. Even if he did, Roman looks younger than he is. He could definitely be five, and that means there’s a real chance Levi doesn’t think he’s mine. He knows how jealous I can be. He’s counting on your fear and pride and my anger issues. When he’s certain you’re all alone in the world, he’ll swoop in and he’ll take you and do everything he promised.”
“He’s getting married.”
“And he’s still obsessed with you.”
“How can you know that?”
“Because I know what it means to be in love with you. Wildly, crazily in love with you. And I’ve hurt you just like he has. The difference is I’ve changed and he hasn’t. I’m not going to leave you alone even if that means making you hate me more than you already do.” He was getting in her space again, and she couldn’t move.
Not out of fear but because her body was at war with her mind. She was already thinking about the fact that he was right here, and it wouldn’t hurt to let him kiss her, to touch her. Perhaps if she slept with him a couple of times, she could finally move on. She would see that sex wasn’t as good as she remembered. It was all a trick. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to make a deal with you. If you come to Dallas with me, stay with me for a year, then I’ll walk away. Not from Roman. I won’t leave him, but I won’t ever bother you again. I won’t fight you if you want to live in Europe. I’ll follow your lead on everything when it comes to Roman. I’ll pay for all your security.”
“And if I don’t?” She already knew what she was going to do. Beck was giving her an out, and she was going to take it.
“Then I’ll go to Malta, find a place close to you, and talk to a lawyer about what my rights are.”
Bastard. “That’s not fair.”
“None of this is fair. I lost six years with him. I lost the chance to take care of you while you were pregnant. I will take this chance because I think if you spend a year with me you won’t be able to leave. For one year you’ll live in my house. I’ll give you a separate room because I don’t want to confuse Roman. You’ll have your own room, but for a few hours every night after Roman goes to sleep, you’ll be my sub. Every Friday night we’ll go to Sanctum and you’ll be mine for the evening.”
Her whole body lit up at the thought. “We can’t do that.”
“Why? We’ll be discreet. He doesn’t have to know anything but that his parents are friends and will do what’s best for him. Being able to stay with me, to get to know my world, will be good for him. I promise you that. He’ll be surrounded by the best bodyguards, by men and women who Levi will think twice about messing with. All you have to do is give me a year.”
She wouldn’t last a year. Hell, she wouldn’t last six months without being right back to where she was before.
Or he really changed and you might have another shot. You might be able to form a family with this man, one Roman could count on.
She shoved the idea away. It was too dangerous to consider. But she couldn’t put Roman through a custody battle. “Six weeks.”
“Six months,” he countered.
“Three.” She breathed the offer because he was so close, she could feel the heat of his body against hers.
“Three it is. And I know exactly how we should seal this pact.”
Her body went liquid as he kissed her for the first time in years. Her hands went to his waist, and any thought of protest fled in the instant his lips met hers.
This. This was what she’d missed. Passion. Need. The pure fire of wanting him. This man was the only one who could make her lose her head, make her put love over logic.
No. Not the only one. They had a son now, and Roman would need his dad. Was it so wrong to indulge in this emotion? She would leave at the end. She would.
But for now, Beck had given her the gift of denial. For a little while longer.
Beck’s hand cupped her breast, and she could feel his erection against her stomach. “How long has it been for you?”
“Long?”
“Since you had an orgasm,” he prompted.