Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 162003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 810(@200wpm)___ 648(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 810(@200wpm)___ 648(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
His hands tightened around my body as his eyes skimmed over every inch of my face, no doubt looking for tells.
“I didn’t mean for it to happen,” I went on. “I fought it, as much as I could. I shouldn’t love you. But I do. And so that’s how you know for certain I’ll keep my word. Because I couldn’t walk away from you for good right now even if I wanted to.”
He tilted my chin up and kissed me. It was soft but passionate, and it said all I’d needed to know. He believed me. He accepted my words, and he trusted me. At least for right now.
Chapter Twenty-One
I woke with a groan, stretching out the sore and overworked muscles of my body from the night before. Ryland was beside me, stroking his hand over my hip while his eyes drank in my naked form. He looked oddly at peace, considering the war that had been waged between us the night before.
He didn’t speak. He simply rolled me onto my back and positioned his body over mine, pushing inside of me in a way that was new and unexpected. Gentle. Unhurried.
The sun filtered in through the window, highlighting the beautiful lines of his body as he moved above me. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him, and now that I’d revealed the truth, I didn’t feel the need to. I kissed his neck, inhaling the faint notes of Amber and Cinnamon he now wore all the time. I wondered if it was because he knew how much I loved it.
He brought me to orgasm twice before taking his own. When he collapsed beside me and threaded his fingers through mine, I didn’t want it to be over. Because if it was over that meant we’d have to talk. To discuss the one thing that was big enough to tear us apart. The issue of my family. Of Brayden.
As though sensing my withdrawal, he kissed me softly and moved from the bed, retrieving some clean clothes from the dresser across the room. He walked towards the bathroom and glanced over his shoulder, pausing as he struggled to find the right words.
“I left something there for you.” He nodded to the bedside table.
The door closed behind him, and I picked up the tablet beside me. When I saw my brother’s name typed into the search box, and the results that followed, my breath stuttered in my chest.
I almost didn’t want to believe it was real. It was easier to think this was some sort of cruel trick than the truth. But as I clicked on article after article, they all said the same thing.
Shocking new evidence in the Valentine Murder case. The State’s Attorney of Cook County released a statement at seven am this morning. The details are being kept under wraps, but he confirmed there is new evidence being considered.
The news outlets were rife with speculation about what this could mean, and there was only one man with the power to move things this fast.
Tears clogged my eyes when I understood why Ryland had left me so abruptly. It was a test. He wanted to see if I’d meant what I said. If now that the evidence was turned over, I would fulfill my end of the bargain.
I dropped the tablet on the bed and padded into the bathroom. When I opened the shower door, he gave me a wary look before I bounded into his arms.
“Ryland, what you’ve just done…”
“This doesn’t change anything, Brighton,” he cut me off. “You belong to me now. Regardless of what happens with Brayden.”
I chose to ignore the biting tone of his voice as I nuzzled against his chest.
“I know,” I whispered. “I’m yours, Ryland.”
***
I smoothed the silky black material through my fingers as I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
“Does it look… okay?”
“It looks like I want to tear it off of you right now,” he murmured into my hair as he smoothed his hand up my side.
“Yeah right. I know how much this dress cost,” I retorted.
It was the real reason I was uncomfortable. I’d never worn anything this expensive in my life. But if I was being honest, it was the sexiest dress I’d ever seen. Elegant and simple, with the added bonus of making my legs look long for the first time in my life. The material clung to my body in a way that with just the right touch, it would slide off of me like butter. There was sex appeal in that, and I could certainly see it reflected in Ryland’s eyes as his hands roamed over me.
“Do you think I give a fuck about that?” he asked. “You belong to me now, baby girl. And I take care of what’s mine.”
I flashed him a nervous smile as my knees wobbled beneath me. When he said those words, it sounded like this was a permanent arrangement in his mind. And yet, he couldn’t admit he had feelings for me. As happy as I was about Brayden, I kept feeling like I was missing something. A larger part of the puzzle. Ryland still hadn’t revealed his reasons for doing what he’d done, and when I thought about it, it all seemed too easy. Like I’d played right into his hands somehow. I didn’t like to think that way, but what choice did I have?