Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
My hand travelled from the top of his spine all the way down to his rock hard ass, enjoying the feel of his muscles pulsing as he pounded me. I squeezed, and he let out a puff of breath. “Fuck, Charli. I’m—”
Before he could finish the sentence he came, finishing inside me then dropping his weight down on top of me because he knew how much I liked that after sex. There was just something about being surrounded, having him pressing down on me and almost stealing my breath, that was incredibly pleasurable.
A few moments later, he lowered down my body, his mouth between my legs as he gave me my second orgasm of the night with his tongue.
A little later, I sighed with pleasure, snuggling into his side and letting his comforting, loving presence seep into me. I pressed my ear to his chest and listened to his strong heartbeat before promptly falling asleep.
When I woke, the clock on my bedside dresser told me it was past midday. Rhys was still next to me, his large body warm and solid at my back as he cradled me in his arms.
I pressed my lips to his bicep then nuzzled my nose along his jaw, and his eyes fluttered open. “Charli,” he breathed, several realisations flitting across his face like he was remembering where he was and all that had happened yesterday.
With something akin to a growl, he pulled me under him and started kissing my neck, only pausing when I said, “So, quick question, did you happen to buy a house recently?”
His kisses paused as he drew himself up, those handsome blue eyes looking a little shifty suddenly. Finally, he replied, “Who told you?”
“Maggie might’ve said something while we were on vacation.” Rhys exhaled then flipped over onto his back to stare at the ceiling. I huddled closer and draped my arm across his stomach. “Why did you buy it? Maggie said you were planning to rent it out, but that you haven’t taken on any tenants yet.”
“I’m not renting it out,” he replied, the statement tense.
“Why not?” I asked, heart pounding.
Rhys turned his head, his gaze so tender and loving that I practically melted under his intense focus. He caught my chin in his hand, swiping his thumb along the underside of my jaw when he answered, “Because it’s yours.”
My breath caught. “Rhys, please do not tell me you bought me a house.”
He looked chagrined. “Charli, I bought you a house.”
Nervous flutters filled my belly. How was I both outraged and touched beyond belief all at the same time? “Well, I won’t take it, so you’ll just have to do as Maggie said and rent it or sell it. No way are you giving me a house.”
“No, I know that,” he said, his frown creating a deep indent between his eyebrows, and I thought he was finally seeing sense, but then he said, “I can’t just give it to you. You’d have to pay a ridiculous amount of tax for a start, and that’s not happening. I’m still figuring out the logistics, but—”
“Rhys, there are no logistics. I’m not taking it, plain and simple.”
“But it’s yours. It’s been yours since you sat at my kitchen table scrolling through pictures with a look of pure happiness on your face like you’d found something that felt perfect and right. I couldn’t stand anyone taking that happiness from you. That’s why I bought it.”
“Rhys.”
“Admittedly, it was an impulsive decision, one I clearly didn’t think through very well, but I was in love with you, and you weren’t ready, and it felt like the one thing I could do to make me feel a little less heartsick.”
I shook my head, still full of disbelief. “Can you even afford it?”
“Oh, yeah, easily. My place is almost paid off, so those mortgage payments will be finished soon and …” His words fell away when he saw my expression of pure bewilderment. How could he talk so casually about buying me a goddamn house?
He started to smile. “Do you want to see it?”
I was still shaking my head, trying to come to terms with how much I loved him and how much a part of me still felt like I didn’t deserve someone so loving, pure-hearted, and kind.
“Yes,” I blurted without even realising. “Of course, I want to see it.”
An hour later, I stood next to Rhys as he slid the key in the lock and opened the pastel blue door. He stepped inside first, and my heart fluttered as I traced a finger over the silver butterfly knocker, finally realising why it had been the thing to draw me there in the first place. The creature of change and evolution was engraved into my very soul. It had been a difficult, painful path, and maybe I wasn’t yet a butterfly, but I was getting there. Step by step.