Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 86571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
“No, I want to love you.”
Love? Did he just say, love?
38
Lucca
Everything is finally falling into place. The house, getting my old job with Julian back. I know Claire is close to giving in, to telling me she wants me, that she wants to give us a chance. Last night I let my mouth get the best of me, and I told her something that I had never told anyone.
Love didn’t exist in my job or life, not until Claire. I know the risk I took in loving her, and I will do whatever I can to make certain I keep her protected and out of my darkness. She is the single beacon of light in my life. I need her light to balance me because without her… I am a man walking the edge of a knife’s blade.
Now that I’m working with Julian again, I have no fears. The biggest of my enemies is now my ally. Everything is back to the way it’s supposed to be. All I have to do now is get Claire to admit that she wants this. A relationship, a future, maybe even marriage and kids.
Honestly, I just want her by my side.
The afternoon bleeds into evening, and now that we’ve been here for two days, I think it’s time we go visit her parents. I stop in the doorway of the second bedroom, the one she would rather stay in than with me. Although I’m not surprised. When I bought this house and had this room designed, it was with her in mind.
“I have a surprise,” I announce, leaning against the door jamb.
“What’s that?” Claire asks without looking up from her book. She’s been trying to prove that she’s not interested, but I catch her watching me often, and I know she craves my touch.
“I want to take you out to dinner.”
Hope flashes in her eyes. “Like on a date?”
I smirk. “Yes, like a date.”
“Where are we going?” she asks, jumping up from the bed.
“It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you, now would it?”
Her bottom lip juts out. “Not fair, Lucca.”
“Life is not fair, butterfly.”
Her hips sway as she saunters over to me, and I grip the doorframe to stop myself from grabbing onto her. “I was actually thinking maybe we could also see Steven and Tracy tonight. I told them I would visit, and I feel bad that I left the way I did.”
“Sure, whatever you want.”
Claire cocks her head to the side, giving me an adorable expression that’s a cross between seductive and curious. Her heart-shaped face and soft pink lips call to me. We haven’t had sex or shared a bed since we arrived here, and I’m developing blue balls.
However, I told myself that I wouldn’t touch her again until she’s decided. Until she’s chosen what she wants, and right now, she’s tempting the fuck out of me.
“Whatever I want?” She gives me a seductive smile.
I know what she is up to, and for once, it is me who feels like the prey.
“Don’t tempt me, Claire. I’ve wanted to fuck you across every surface of this house since we walked through the front door, but I told myself that until you make up your mind. Until you’re certain about what you want, I’m not going to have sex with you.”
Her mouth pops open, and then she says, “Really?” It slides off the edge of her tongue like she didn’t mean to give voice to the word.
I don’t understand why she finds it so surprising. Actually, I do. I’ve always taken what I want. Always been in control. I can see why she would be surprised that I’m not acting on instinct.
“Yes, really. We’re leaving in an hour.” I tap the non-existent watch on my wrist.
“You amaze me, sometimes.” She shakes her hair out, and strands of red hair fly everywhere. Her beauty makes my cock want to break past the zipper of my jeans. “It feels like you’re changing, but still the same.”
I smile. “I just want you to be happy, Claire. I want to be happy with you. Together, side by side. I know you’re young, and I’ve put you through some shit. Life isn’t easy or fair, and you had your fair share of heartache, but I’ve always put your happiness and safety before anyone else.”
“Stop twisting me with your words.”
“They aren’t just words.”
“To me, they are.”
My smile widens. “We’ll see about that. I’ll be waiting downstairs for you.” I push away from the door and retreat down the hall.
One hour later, Claire comes walking down the stairs in a cream-colored maxi dress. The sleeves are short, and the neckline plunges low, so low that my eyebrows raise, and I consider telling her to turn around and march her pretty little ass back into the closet to find something else.