Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 53880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
As two lovers would do because finally… we’re truly two lovers.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Lyriope
“We need to get ready for Wonderland tonight,” Nick declares over our champagne and caviar we’re eating as our dinner. Meatloaf or dry chicken is not on our menu, clearly, and I can’t say I mind. I also don’t mind that we’re in bed completely nude as we eat. I’ve been having a blast living the life of the grand.
It’s been exactly two weeks since the gunfight. Two weeks since I moved into Nick’s house and even his room. Two weeks since we both declared our love with no intention of ever taking it back. Two weeks of fucking and not much more. Two weeks of pure bliss.
I suppose it’s time for some normalcy to return. If you call Wonderland normal, that is. But I would lie in bed naked with Nick all day and night if I could. He’s unlocked an insatiable appetite that doesn’t seem possible to be quenched.
“Roses bloom. That’s what the theme is tonight,” he says, swallowing the last of his champagne.
“When did you have time to plan a Wonderland?”
He smiles. “I have great staff. They can take my ideas and run with it. And while you were asleep—”
“You worked,” I interrupt. “Someday, I’m going to get you to sleep a normal eight hours.”
He chuckles. “Someday.”
I love the look on Nick’s face. Though he still has the same wicked and sinister smile he’s always had, I see a sparkle in his eyes. He’s happy. I can see it. I can feel it. But so am I. So much so. So much that I often feel panic surfacing in fear that it’s going to all be stolen away from me. I haven’t left Nick’s house since arriving, and though a big reason for that is that I’m pretty much naked in his arms most of the time, but the other part is that I’m worried to face the world and reality. I don’t want this bubble of lust and security we’ve created to ever be popped. I’m living a fantasy, a fairy tale, but I worry the evil beast is waiting to pounce.
“Come on,” he says, slapping my bare ass. “We need to get dressed. The car is waiting for us downstairs. We can’t have a Wonderland without the host and hostess.”
“Hostess?”
“Forever and on. You will be by my side as my queen in this kingdom of mine. I want Wonderland to belong to both of us.”
I love his words. I love Wonderland. And I love the idea of helping him create the magic of the world. “Well, then you’re going to have to allow me to help plan,” I say.
“Rather than just fucking you until you pass out?” he says with a laugh. “Fine. I think that’s fair. I want your artistic mind involved, so it’s a sacrifice I’ll have to make. You can pick the theme for the next Wonderland and be in charge completely. Promise.” He swats my ass again, the sting of the swat making me hungry for more. “Now get ready. We’re late.”
I pout for show as I get up and walk to the closet that holds rows and rows of dresses. Not one of them is red, and I’m delighted in that fact. Nick had made a big show by taking every dress that even had a speck of red off the hanger and tossed them into a large bonfire out by the pool. Ashes were the only thing left as I said goodbye to a time I hoped I’d soon forget. I had no intentions of seeing Bryant again. I also had no intention of seeing my mother either. As far as I’m concerned, I’m ready to rebuild. I have Dylan and will work on forging a closer relationship with him. I also have a sister-like relationship with Sasha and will foster that even more.
And I have Nick.
That’s all I need. That’s all I want.
I pick out an ivory dress that sparkles in the light. I think it’ll be pretty against the roses bloom theme. I also pull my hair up in a twist so my neck is easy for Nick to kiss and even bite. I’m nearly giddy as I slip on shoes that make my feet feel like I’m walking on bubbles rather than the tight heels I promised myself I’d never wear again. It’s amazing how having control of the little things in life makes me happy.
When I walk downstairs, Nick is standing there waiting for me. He’s wearing a black suit, a red tie, and looks as handsome as ever. He is the pure definition of sexy as fuck, and I wonder how long I’ll remain in this dress once we arrive at Wonderland. Harrison is standing beside him, so I know that since we’ll have a guest in our car, that we’ll have to behave.