Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28874 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28874 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
I should just leave and keep him out of this, but his words keep flitting around in my mind about not being able to trust everyone. Joseph and Heaven’s Temple have a far reach. They may keep to the compound, but from what I’ve overheard, there are men in power outside to make sure things stay in order.
It’s crazy how before Garrett, I’d never even thought about trusting a man, and now I’m willing to so easily instill my trust in him in less than twenty-four hours. Be brave, I remind myself.
“Okay. I agree.” Instantly I feel his body relax. “But I have a few conditions.” Speaking freely is all new to me. I would never speak to a man on the compound in this way. Women don’t make demands on men there. Not without suffering consequences, anyway.
“Go on.” Garrett must sense my hesitation.
“If I stay here like you suggested and I let you help me get my sister, then I need to repay you in some way.”
“Snow.” When Garrett says my name, it sounds gruff. I feel his fingers flexing on my back, pushing me closer to him. “You don’t have to do anything. Just stay here.”
Just stay here? That’s part of why I want to pay him back in some way. He’s going to let me stay in his home. I’m not sure for how long, but I have to do my part. Everyone is supposed to chip in. Well, at the compound you are. The women at least.
“I could cook and clean,” I offer. “My sister is a better baker, but I–”
“Snow.” He cuts me off. “How about we worry about that later?”
"But I'd like to do something for you. Is there anything you need? I’m a quick learner.”
“You’re not ready for what I want from you.”
What the heck does that mean? I feel something hard flex against me. I glance down, but I can’t see anything. My body is pressed firmly against Garrett. I’ve never been this close to a man before.
“What is…” I trail off as I realize what it is. I know about sex. You have to have some knowledge especially when dealing with livestock, but I’ll admit that what I know is pretty basic. It actually sounds terrible. My mother told me about what a girl experiences the first time, and it scared the crap out of me. I'm at a loss as to why anyone would want to do that. But as I feel Garrett's manhood press into me, a warmth pools deep inside of me, settling between my thighs.
“Don’t be scared of me, Snow. I’d never do anything you don’t want.”
“I don’t think that,” I admit, licking my lips. I should step back from him, but I don’t. “We’re not married, so it’s not even allowed.”
“You make up your own rules now. Theirs don’t apply to you any longer. Like I said, you can do what you want.”
That realization rains down on me, tilting my world on its side. He’s right. I can do whatever I want. Those rules aren't mine to follow anymore. I no longer belong to Heaven’s Temple. Unless they find me and drag me back. That thought sends a chill through me. I don’t want to live that way any longer. Once Garrett gets Libby out of there, we’ll both be able to live a life making our own choices.
“I know I’m supposed to do something for you, but could I ask you for one thing?” I want to do this for myself. To get to pick this one thing.
“You can ask me any damn thing you want, beautiful.”
“Beautiful?” That makes me smile.
“Surely you know you’re beautiful.”
“I suppose. The prophet did ask for my hand in marriage.” A low growling sound is coming from Garrett.
“You’re not his.”
“I don’t want to be,” I agree. I want to belong to a man that would love me so deeply that he’s never thought of causing me harm or wanting to have another wife. I want to be a man’s whole world, but I don’t think that’s how it works.
With Joseph, though, I was happy there would be other wives. It would be less time I’d have to spend with him, but that was because I didn’t love him. I never would. Now a man like Garrett, I don’t think I could share him, but maybe I can have a taste.
“You won’t.” His words come out with a finality to them. “Now tell me what you wanted to ask for.”
Before I can think too much, I blurt out, "A kiss." The words rush past my lips before I become too shy to ask for it. “Not that you have to kiss me, but–” I stop talking when Garrett brings both his hands to my face, cupping my cheeks. Every time he does this, he makes me feel delicate and precious. It causes butterflies to take flight inside me.