Total pages in book: 225
Estimated words: 218500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1093(@200wpm)___ 874(@250wpm)___ 728(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 218500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1093(@200wpm)___ 874(@250wpm)___ 728(@300wpm)
With Derek, it feels like I won the lottery, but with a caveat. That he’s crazy. That he’ll go to extremes to have what he wants with no fear of consequences and that’s the price I have to pay to have what I want.
Where will the crazy go if he gets all he wants? Sure, the twitching stopped yesterday, and he credits me with that, but what if I can’t always stop it?
I don’t know; I guess I’ll find out.
I peer out the sliding doors. He’s sitting on some patio furniture beside Jonah. He’s wearing trackpants and a hoodie. His feet are bare. Jonah is dressed in jeans and a cable knit sweater. Grace stands at the railing that overlooks the pool area, that gazebo. She’s in a thick robe and slippers. I see coffee mugs out there with them.
Derek sees me and his eyes light up in a way that has butterflies fluttering in my stomach. I wave. It looks nippy out, but I see a patio heater out there, too.
I go to the tall dresser in the closet and open the top drawer, hoping there are some socks I can wear to go outside. There’s a suit hanging in the closet and a pair of shoes on the floor for him as well as a pair of womens’ slippers with the tags still on. The drawer is full, four piles organized with two stacks of socks and underwear for men and another two stacks for a woman. All with tags on them. The women’s ones are basic bikini briefs in size medium. Three pairs, black, white, flesh-toned. Two bras. One black, one white. My size as well.
I check the second drawer. Left side, mens’ T-shirts, right side, womens’ tops.
The next drawer down has a his stack of track pants and gym shorts and a hers stack of yoga pants and shorts.
The bottom drawer has two pairs of mens’ pajama pants and two pairs of womens’ flannel pajamas.
The sliding door opens.
“I’m impressed,” I say. “When did Carson do this?”
I snatch a pair of ladies undies and a pair of socks.
“Probably the day I brought you for the anniversary brunch,” he says, eating up the distance between us. “I gave him your sizes and some of your favorite foods and drinks. He makes it a practice to keep all our old rooms ready in case we ever stay.”
“Well, I’m impressed. I’m coming out for coffee. More coffee out there?”
“There’s a coffee maker in Grace’s room. She stays over often. I’d rather have you to myself right now, though, wife.”
“Does everyone’s room lead to this balcony?”
“Boys. Girls on the other side. No balconies for them, so they’ve often made use of ours by slipping into Ash’s room at the end of the hall.”
“That must have been fun growing up,” I say.
He looks at me like I’m an alien. “Maybe if I had a different family.”
My expression drops. “Sorry. I didn’t think. I just… verbal diarrhea.”
He pulls me close. “Good morning, wife,” he says and kisses me.
“Good morning,” I reply.
“Good morning, wife,” he repeats, smiling.
My heart skips a beat. I know he wants me to say good morning, husband. I’m not sure I can form the word with my mouth right now.
“Slept great,” he finally says. “you in my arms. Can’t remember the last time I slept here and been a while since I slept so well while I was here. Or… in general.”
He doesn’t look disappointed that I didn’t say what he wanted me to say. And that’s refreshing.
“I’m gonna get dressed. Can you possibly get me a coffee from Grace’s room?” I ask.
“On it,” he replies and kisses me again.
“Are the track suits packed here okay for breakfast? Or are we expected to be dressed up?”
“Wear whatever the fuck you want, little bunny. I’d say stay just like that if I could keep you to myself all morning, but I definitely don’t want my brothers or the staff catching sight of these sexy legs.”
I laugh and slide the patio door open a couple inches and call out, “Grace?”
She turns away from the railing and looks surprised.
“You gonna dress casual for breakfast?”
“I… don’t usually do casual.”
“There are yoga clothes in here and I don’t want to wear the red ballgown, so…”
“I’ll do casual for you, sis,” she says, smiling.
“Do you have casual clothes here? If not, there are some new yoga pants in the drawer in there.”
“I’ve got workout clothes here. No worries. I’ll text Nay and Sabrina and tell ‘em to wear the same.”
“Thanks, Grace. Mornin’ Jonah.”
“Mornin’ Chloe,” Jonah replies with a little smile.
“Get back here, wife; your bare legs are showing, and you’ve got no panties on.”
I shiver and I swat Derek’s arm with my hand passing him to go back to the dresser to grab more clothes. When I come out, Derek is coming in with a mug of coffee in his hand.