Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 25039 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25039 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
"—-to distract me from guessing you're real age."
"Oh, Hale!"
"Not buying—-"
He stopped speaking as she threw herself into his arms...and pain sliced into him when she started crying against his chest.
"You're not the only one who's scared."
Ah.
"I'm scared, too," she confided shakily. "I'm so, so scared I won't be able to handle it if you were to break my heart."
Fuck.
"But what scares me the most is to not trust His choice."
She looked up at him, and his chest tightened upon seeing the tears trailing down her cheeks.
"Because I know God chose you for me, Hale."
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
"It's why I love you..."
Fuck. No. Fuck.
"And why—-"
"I want to marry you," he heard himself interrupt her.
Heaven stared at him in shock.
"Will you?"
"Hale—-"
"If you meant what you said—-"
"I d-did, but—-"
"Then you'll marry me."
Heaven couldn't believe this was truly happening. She had known he might think it was too fast, for her to confess her feelings when it was only a few hours ago that he had stopped hating her.
But this.
This was insane.
Wasn't it?
"Look at me, Heaven."
The command in his tone spoke to her soul.
And so she did what he asked.
She looked into his eyes.
And what she saw made her want to weep.
Oh, Hale.
"Will you marry me?"
"Yes."
After what she saw in his eyes—-
"Yes, I'll marry you."
Hale and Heaven
WORK HAD ALWAYS BEEN a two-way street for Hale. He welcomed rather than shunned its challenges. Even reveled and thrived in it.
Work kept his mind from getting dull and trained him to think on his feet.
But there were also times when work was his way of making him forget.
And right now, what he needed to forget was that today was his parents' death anniversary.
Hale waited until Heaven had fallen asleep in his arms before carefully extricating himself. His office couch also converted into a bed, and he had learned earlier that Heaven loved to snuggle, if not against him then amidst a fluffy mountain of pillows instead.
He got to work in order to escape, and by the time the window blinds all over the Sanctuary had automatically started rolling up, Hale had accomplished everything on his mental task list.
But he also failed at what mattered most, with his parents' death still lingering at the back of his mind.
Hale sat down at the edge of the sofa bed.
I'm lucky to have her.
That was what he thought of earlier.
So why was he now starting to feel guilty for all the wrong reasons?
His chest tightened with pain as he watched her sleep, but he had no fucking idea why he was hurting.
Her long blond hair was like silky strands of gold against the dark pillow covers, and it was hard not to see her as a young innocent princess trapped in an eternal slumber, with her hands even pressed together under one rose-tinted cheek.
Four years, dammit.
In those four years, he had thought of her as the enemy and a deserving recipient of his cruelty.
But now...
He just didn't fucking know what to believe at this point.
His mind refused to trust her completely...while his heart felt as if it was about to burst out of his chest every time he remembered what he had done.
And what he had asked her.
You lost your fucking mind earlier.
Just admit you made a mistake.
Or pay the price of tying yourself to her for life.
Heaven's sleepy sigh yanked him out of his thoughts, and the sight of her tiny, bow-shaped lips parting slightly was a temptation he more than welcomed.
Since work clearly wasn't enough to make him forget, then at least he still had this.
Heaven slowly woke to the feeling of someone gently nibbling on her lips, and her breathing hitched as she felt her nipples tighten in response.
Her eyes opened, and it became much harder to breathe upon finding herself the object of his silvery gaze.
"Good morning..."
Heaven's tone was soft and sleepy, but her smile was still like seeing the sun shine on him.
This was how it would be every morning...if she was his wife.
The mere thought made his pulse quicken, but it also made him feel sick as fuck.
Just fuck, don't think.
Because no damn way did he want her to realize he was having thoughts about marrying her.
Heaven gasped when Hale suddenly dragged her up, and then she was gasping again as she found herself on his lap, and the powerful evidence of his arousal throbbing violently against her belly.
"H-Hale—-"
She wasn't able to say anything else, with his mouth already claiming its first kiss for the day. He heard her whimper a moment later, and then she was wrapping her arms around his neck as she kissed him back.
Earnestly, sweetly, but just as hungrily.
His fears finally faded, with desire fueled by his sudden need to claim her.
Mine.
She's mine.
Mine for life.
His tongue mated with hers, and such was his hunger for her that Hale had a feeling he would've consumed her if he could. He wanted to own her. And then he wanted to fucking brand every inch of her as her body started writhing uncontrollably against his.