Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 56149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
I feel my own smile match hers as our lips connect.
Chapter 24
Tessa
“I think you reached your goal three days ago.” I look over my shoulder teasingly at Sean who has been kissing my back for the last twenty minutes, his beard tickling me.
It’s late afternoon, and we’ve been lying on the beach most of the day. The warm breeze rolls in off the ocean, leaving a sweet smell in the air. I could lie here forever.
“Just making sure,” he says against my skin, still pressing kisses all over me, stopping every now and then for a little nibble. I’ve noticed he likes to leave little love bites in random places on my body. I keep finding them when I turn in the mirror. Discovering a new one every time I look in the mirror makes me smile.
He said he wanted to taste every part of me, and he’s been trying to reach that goal since. I’m pretty sure he got it the first day. I give him a soft smile before turning myself back to the ocean, letting him do as he pleases with me.
Since I opened myself back up to him, he hasn’t wanted to be more than a foot from me. It was adorable, until he tried to follow me into the bathroom to pee. Hell, what am I thinking? That was pretty adorable, too.
It didn’t take much for me to cave to Sean, but it’s hard to tell someone you don’t want something when you really want it. He’s offering a life that seems too good to be true, but like he said, he’s been showing me every day that he means it. I haven’t wanted for anything, and the main thing I crave is him, and he’s always at my side.
My life changed the day he entered it. From the very first moment I saw him, I came alive. It was like I was just moving through the motions, one thing after another, doing what I thought I should be doing. Existing but not really living.
He woke me up. It might have been crazy how we got here, but I can’t bring myself to be mad or upset about it anymore. I want to be here with him, and I’m done denying us both happiness.
The island is almost like a dream. It’s like we’re in our own little world here and nothing can touch us. Sean says the main island isn’t that far away, but I don’t want to go anywhere right now. I like being alone and getting to know Sean more, learning about his experiences growing up on the streets and how it slowly led him to a life of crime.
It made me ache for him and made me love him more than I thought was possible. I can’t imagine being so young and feeling so alone. I was little when I found out my parents weren’t coming back, but I had my grandmother to watch over me and love me the best she could. I can’t judge him for the choices he had to make. It started out as just surviving and then turned into all he knew.
Now he wants a fresh start with me, and I want to give that to him. I want to be part of it because like him, I can’t see myself living without him. Once my anger started to cool, I could see more clearly. This man loves me, and he would do anything to keep me. Why would I turn my back on that? He doesn’t have to worry about that anymore because I’m not going anywhere. I’m not leaving this island. I’m his until I take my last breath.
I’ve met the people who live here and help maintain the island, and I also met Sal.
I could tell from the very first moment that I met him how much he cared for Sean, and that made me love him instantly. I also see where Sean gets some of his charm. Sal kept hitting on one of the women who helps keep the house up. I wanted to tell the woman she didn’t have a chance, but learning is half the fun when it comes to men like them.
Sean rolls over and lays his head on my stomach while I run my fingers through his hair.
“How many do you want?” he asks, and I don’t even have to ask to know what he is talking about.
“I say we start with one and see how it goes.” I hadn’t really given much thought to having kids before Sean. Sure, I knew I wanted them one day…
“I want two,” he says lazily, like he’s picturing it in his head. In my mind I can see a little girl with her father’s eyes. The thought makes my heart squeeze. A little child—a perfect mix of both of us. I couldn’t think of anything more beautiful: both of us getting the family we always wanted, a family that would be filled with so much love I’m not sure this island could hold it all.
“Two sounds nice.” I agree. I wonder how we’ll handle things on the island with children, but I’m sure Sean already has everything mapped out. If there’s one thing I know about him, he’s always three steps ahead.
It’s a comforting thought, to know he’s already making plans to keep us safe and happy.
“I don’t care if it’s boy or girl, or what order they come in. I know I just always wanted a sibling.” The words don’t sound regretful. Maybe they would have at one time for him, but now we have a family. No need to long for one because it’s already here. For all we know, one might be growing in my belly right now.
“Me too. But that could’ve made it hard to be swept away to your private little love island.” That’s probably the easiest part of this whole thing. We aren’t leaving anything behind. There are no wishes for our lives before, or what could have been. We both had nothing to stay for. I had asked Sean to make sure Harper was taken care of. She might not have been a good friend, but she had moments, and I didn’t like the idea of her hurt. He’d just smiled at me and said he was happy I still had that sweetness inside me. He was happy he hadn’t washed it away from me.