Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
He steps forward and takes my hand in his. The masculine feel of his skin makes my knees feel all weak and shaky.
“The past is over,” he says in a soft reassuring voice. “Our lives are split now. Tonight is a turning point. There’s the time before we met and the amazing future we’re going to have now that we’re together. Nothing in the past matters. We’re starting fresh, tonight.”
I find myself nodding to his words. That’s all I want. A fresh start.
“You’re my mate, Daisy. I’ve always loved you. I always will. Nothing from the time before we met can change that. Nothing will ever change that. A bond between mates is pure, unconditional love. It’s sacred. It’s eternal.”
“But I screwed up,” I say as my eyes fill with tears. “Majorly. Everyone hates me. My parents, my sister, my friends, my aunt and uncle, the world. They all think I’m a horrible person.”
I crumple into sobs and Warren wraps those big comforting arms around me. He holds me tight as I cry into his chest, really letting it all out for the first time. It’s all been bottled up until now. I didn’t realize what a weight, what a burden, it’s been on me.
“You can tell me anything,” he whispers in my ear as he holds me close. “I’ll never think less of you. You can be sure of that.”
I breathe in his warm masculine scent and it makes me feel better. He smells like nature—earth, trees, wind, sun. I think I’m going to like having him around. It’s going to be nice having a comforting man like him to go to whenever I’m feeling down.
He leans back and gently cups my cheeks as he gazes into my watery eyes. “I saw some women’s clothes in the bedroom closet,” he says in a soft voice. “Go make yourself comfortable while I open up a bottle of wine.”
I nod my head and sniff. “Okay. Thank you, Warren.”
He kisses me softly on the middle of my forehead and it’s in that tender moment when I know that I love him too.
I turn to the bedroom, but his hand grabs mine, stopping me from walking away.
“Just one last look,” he says as he steps back with those warm inviting eyes gliding up and down my body. “You look stunning in that dress.”
I want to say thank you, but the words don’t come out. I’m smiling shyly as he lifts my arm and gently spins me around like we’re slow dancing.
“I can leave it on if you want,” I say when I turn back around and see the heated look in his eyes.
“Your beautiful image is seared into my brain forever,” he says as he pulls me close. I gasp as my body presses against his and my tingling breasts flatten against his muscular chest and hard abs. “I’ll never forget how you look tonight. I’ll never forget the first incredible moment when I saw you.”
My head tilts back, chin moving up, eager lips parting… I want him to kiss me. I’m dying for it.
“I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
He leans down and those magical lips connect with mine. I moan as he kisses me like we’re two lost lovers who have finally been reunited. The fire crackles and burns as he wraps his strong arms around me and holds me tighter.
I step on my toes, trying to taste as much of his mouth as I can. He’s delicious. He’s so sexy. This is the most pleasurable moment of my life. I could kiss this man forever.
His tongue slides over mine and he lets out a low masculine groan. It sends warm shivers rippling through me.
For the first time in a long time, I’m feeling optimistic about the future. I’m feeling hope and excitement. How could a future with Warren be bad? I could give up everything and live in a tiny cabin like this in the woods and be content and satisfied. He’s all I need.
I smile shyly as we pull away. I get my mouth back, but not my heart. He’s keeping that forever.
“I’m going to go change,” I say with blushing cheeks.
He nods as he watches me walk to the bedroom, not wanting to take his eyes off me for even an instant. “I’ll open that wine.”
I close the door and drop to the floor with a long slow exhale. Is this what love feels like? So perfect?
A lifetime of love songs and romantic movies finally make sense. I’ll never listen to them the same way again.
He still doesn’t know what you did.
That realization extinguishes my happiness like a wet blanket thrown on a roaring fire. He’s not going to be so into me when he finds out that I helped con everyone I know out of their life savings. Unwillingly or not, it doesn’t matter. I still did it. Just because I was too stupid to notice the con doesn’t make it any better. In some ways, it makes it even worse.