Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
To be honest, I’ve hardly gotten used to the concept of having a husband.
Ivy rolls over, her cheeks rosy, and sprawls out on the bed. She looks like a little angel.
Soon, we’ll interview nannies. Aleks says his family’s eager to spend more time with me. Get to know me. I guess my white-knuckled wedding day didn’t really count.
I finally pull myself away from Ivy so she can rest and tiptoe noiselessly back into our bedroom. Aleks is still fast asleep.
Outside the window, the winter-swept horizon’s filled with bare trees, the branches sparse. When I look closer, though, I can see the tiniest hint of buds on the branches outside this window. The sun is beginning to peek through clouds, as each day we march closer to spring, we get more and more sunlight. It feels like a sign. Hopeful. Still dark and cold but there’s promise of life in the air.
I stretch and do some early morning yoga, my face toward the sun, content for now in the knowledge that my husband’s here with me and there’s hope for him yet, and my daughter’s safe in the other room.
I stand and stretch, then notice a small notebook beside Aleks’s phone on the bedside table.
Curious, I do a little…investigating, you might say.
Pay off mortgage.
College funds for the other kids.
Anonymous donor.
Isaac and Abigail Brooks.
There’s a series of routing and account numbers below their names.
My hand flies up to my mouth to stifle a gasp when I realize what I’m seeing. So many zeroes…
My phone lights up. I look from Aleks to the phone and back again.
“What did you do?” I whisper.
I tap on the phone and my eyes widen when I see a message from Ivy’s foster mom, Abigail.
Harper. I can’t thank you enough. I know it’s early but I was up at the crack of dawn. We miss Ivy so much. I sat on her little bed for a little while but gave thanks she is with you now. And then I saw the notifications. I know it had to be you. Tears of gratitude. Thank you, thank you. You didn’t have to do that. Bless you!
I swipe at my eyes.
Abigail, it was my new husband, but I’ll be sure to thank him. I am so grateful for all you’ve done for Ivy.
Please do! And don’t be a stranger. We’d love to stay in touch.
I’m not sure Lutheran minister and Bratva mix well, but I guess we’ll see.
“Who you texting?” Aleks’s sleepy-sexy growl of a voice makes me jump.
I put the phone down. “Abigail.”
He pushes up to his elbow, scrubs a hand across his face and cocks an eye at the monitor. “Didn’t I tell you to get your ass back in bed?”
“Couldn’t sleep.”
He grunts and plops back onto the pillow. “Come ‘ere.”
I crawl into bed next to him after my own peek at the monitor to make sure she’s still sleeping soundly.
“Why were you texting Abigail this early? She text you first?”
“Yeah. She wanted to thank me for what we did for them.”
He shrugs and closes his eyes, still half asleep.
“Thank you for that.”
He grunts. “Talk’s cheap, woman. You can thank me with that mouth later.”
“Are you trying to use me for sexual favors?”
“Always.”
I reach under the blanket and slide my hand along the length of his cock. The utter maleness of his groan makes me instantly wet.
“Harper. Later.”
I feel his body tense when I stroke him through his boxers. “Fuck.”
“Mmm?”
I slide under the covers and find his warm length. Pull the covers down so I can breathe a bit more easily. Tug down his boxers so his cock springs free.
My mouth waters. I swallow. I’ve never wanted a man before Aleks, and even “want” is kind of an understatement.
I bend my mouth toward him and swirl my tongue on the very tip, tasting salty pre-cum. I swallow.
“Still want me to stop?” I ask in a husky whisper.
I stifle a moan when he tangles his fingers in my hair and wraps them around his fist. “Stop now and I’ll spank your ass.”
I grin, then brace myself so I can fully take him and slide him into my mouth. He helps with firm thrusts of his hips. I suck him in and slide my tongue over the length of his cock.
My thoughts begin to short-circuit as sensations overwhelm me. His hand fisted in my hair, guiding my mouth up and down while I suck and lick. His fingers on my hand, showing me how to cup his balls while I suck him. The guttural sound of his moan edging on my own arousal. His voice, all husky and rough, whispering filthy, perfect words I could play on repeat and never tire of hearing.
“Good girl, that’s my perfect little wife. You know just how to please me. Just like that. You’re a fucking wet dream come to life, Princess.”