Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
In some ways, Ivan and I are a lot alike. My parents might have dropped me off and forgot about me, but his either ignored him or lashed out at him. Unfortunately, we were both unloved by the people that were supposed to love us the most. Here he’s been trying to prove to me that he’s not going anywhere, and I should be doing the same for him.
He buries his face in my neck. His breathing is still heavy. “I love you, Ivan. I’m not going anywhere.” He lifts his head, his dark eyes meeting mine.
“I don’t want you leaving the condo.” He rolls over, taking me with him. His cock slips out. I let out a small gasp. “Fuck, I was rough. You’re so small.” His hands start to roam over my naked body.
“Ivan, I’m fine.” I sit up. My mind starts to whirl again. I tell him I love him, and his only response is to tell me that I can’t leave the condo?
“What’s going on?”
“I’m going to hire more security.” He sits up. He starts to stand, but I grab him.
“Ivan,” I snap. I do the one thing I know will make him keep his ass put. I crawl into his lap. I can feel some of his release spill out of me and onto his thighs.
“You could be pregnant.” His hand comes to rest on my stomach.
“I could be, but if I am, you’re not putting me on house arrest.”
“I never thought about being a father before. What if—”
“You’ll be a wonderful father. We know all the things not to do.” He lets out a long breath. “I told you that I love you, and you forbid me from leaving this place.”
“You know I love you, don’t you?”
“I’m pretty sure. Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like to hear it. I know you’re a man of action but—”
He cuts me off. “I love you more than anything in this world. I’ll do anything and everything I have to so that I know you’re safe. Even if you hate me for it.” I snort a laugh, shaking my head.
“You are a man of few words, but when you say them, they’re like bombs. All in one breath you decide to tell me you love me, and you might be kidnapping me?”
“Something has come up. A reason I need you close. I need you to trust me on this.”
“Okay, I trust you,” I say without missing a beat. His eyes widen a bit in surprise that I’m giving in so easily to this house arrest thing. But I’m not lying. I do trust him. Ivan is a very rich man, and that alone could put a target on him, I’m sure. The big guy I think is named Marco is always lurking around, and I’m pretty sure he’s security.
“You’ll stay here and not leave unless you're with me or someone I’ve approved.”
“Yes.” Again, I agree. “But you have to trust me, too, and that means I want to know what’s going on.” Silence fills the room. “You can’t ask me to trust you and not trust me with whatever this is. I feel like I should get something. A piece of information. This is what being a couple is like, Ivan.”
“I want to protect you from some things.”
I melt into him. “And that’s one of the reasons I'm so in love with you. That drive you have to keep me safe. And the way you can’t ever get enough of me.”
“I’ll never get enough,” he agrees, making me smile.
“But this is something to do with me, isn’t it?” He nods. “Tell me. No matter what it is, I’ll stay put. I can spend the time planning our wedding.” I try to lure the information out of him with that.
“You went digging into your past,” he finally says. I think back.
“One night I did. I think I was just a bit lonely and sad. JJ was starting this new life, and I think it was a moment of longing, but it was stupid. I don’t care about that anymore. I never should have. JJ will always be my family, and I have not only Travis but now I have you, and soon I’m going to have a niece or nephew. You’re about to be a family man, Ivan,” I tease. His face is still sober. “You don’t want that?”
“I don’t just want it, Sunshine. I need it.”
“Me too.” I run my fingers up his chest. “Now tell me what you think is threatening that.”
“The past. You’re not the only one who went digging into where you came from.”
“You?” I wouldn’t be shocked. Ivan likes to have all his ducks in a row. I’m sure he looked in to me.
“Yes, I poked when I realized you might want to find your parents. I needed to know who that might be.”