Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
My sass earns me a slap on the butt. I wiggle my hips then dart away before Jase can reach for me.
We get dressed quickly, and when we’re brushing our teeth, and I catch Jase’s gaze on my mouth, I slow my movements. He tilts his head and narrows his eyes at me. “You want me to walk around with a hard-on all day?”
I rinse my mouth then mumble, “I don’t think my dad would approve.”
While I check that I have everything in my purse, Jase presses a kiss to my neck. “For winter break, I’m booking us a cabin in the fucking mountains so I can tie you to the bed and make you scream right through Christmas and New Year.”
“Oooh… sounds perfect.”
JASE
I take a bite of turkey, then lean back in my chair. My eyes go to Mila, and watching her interact with our families, there’s no sign of the trauma she endured two months ago.
Everything I thought I knew about her has changed. Mila was feisty before we became a couple. I knew that much. But she’s continuously blowing my mind.
Her sass has increased tenfold, and she doesn’t miss a chance to drive me wild.
Beneath my ever-constant desire for her lays a love I couldn’t imagine existed. Her spirit is so vibrant, it demands to be seen, to be worshipped.
She’s my goddess.
“I’m so in love with you.” Only when Mila’s head whips in my direction, do I realize I said the words out loud. My eyes dart around the table, and everyone has stopped eating, staring at me. Not caring two shits, I shrug, “It’s not like it’s news to any of you.”
Everyone continues with their meal and the conversation I brought to a sudden halt, except for Mrs. West. Mila’s mom takes a deep breath, then pushing her chair back, she excuses herself. “I’m going to check on the pie.”
I wait a second, then rise to my feet, “I’ll be back in a minute.” I walk to the kitchen and find Mrs. West standing by the sink, a glass of water forgotten in her hand as she stares out of the window. Worried I might’ve upset her, I ask, “Is everything okay?”
She quickly glances over her shoulder, and a quivering smile wavers around her lips. Her eyes shine with tears, and it has me walking to her side. I place a hand on her shoulder, my worry growing.
Mrs. West sets the glass down, then turns to me. Her face softens with emotion, then she says, “Thank you, Jase. My only wish in life was for my children to find happiness. You’ve done so much for Mila.” She sucks in a deep breath, then leans forward and hugs me. It eases the concern I had. “I’m so glad you’re the one Mila gets to love all her life. I know I won’t have to worry about her because she’ll be safe in your hands.”
I rub a hand over her back, murmuring, “I’m the lucky one.”
Mrs. West pulls back and gives me a grateful smile. “I’ll make sure to keep the biggest slice of pie for you.”
“Oh yeah? From the cherry one?” My eyes dart to the counter where the pies are cooling off.
Mrs. West goes to cut one of the pies in half and sets it aside. “What you don’t eat, you can take home.”
“Careful, I can get used to this,” I warn my future mother-in-law.
“I sure hope so,” she grins. There are so many similarities between Mila and her mother.
I go to wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her back in the direction of the dining room. “Will you teach Mila to make the gravy.”
“No,” she blurts out, then a teasing grin settles on her face, “That way, I have a way of bribing the two of you to visit often.”
I nod slowly. “Oh, I see how it is. Now I know where Mila got her sass from.”
MILA
After the meal, we’re all suffering from having eaten too much. I’m lying on the couch with my head on Jase’s thigh while the men watch a football game.
My eyes drift to Carla, Jase’s little sister, and not having had a chance to catch up with her, I get up. I catch her eye and gesture with my head for her to follow me.
When we leave the living room and walk out into the garden, I smile at Carla, “How have you been? It feels like it’s been ages since we’ve talked.”
Carla glances around the landscaped lawn. “Oh, you know how senior year is. I’ve been studying, so I’ll get better grades than Jase did.”
The competitive streak is strong in the Reyes family. I let out a chuckle. “I’m sure you’ll kick his butt.”
I hear laughter and loud voices from the house, and both Carla and I glance toward the open sliding doors. Noah and his family just arrived.