Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 124971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“As if.” I swatted his chest. “I’ll go get the waffles. You go upstairs and dry off before you catch pneumonia. I have loads of plans for you, and you need to be healthy for all of them.”
Fifteen minutes later, Riggs, Kieran, and I were all in the kitchen, wolfing down waffles with Nutella, nursing steaming-hot teas. Kieran was leaning against the kitchen counter, finishing off the Nutella by dragging his finger inside the tub.
“So, does this mean you two are back together now? Shelby would love a double date.”
I turned to look at Riggs for confirmation from my vantage point of sitting in his lap. He didn’t even spare me a look.
“Book that double date. While you’re at it, tell all of Duffy’s admirers to stop knocking on the door unless they want their fingers broken.”
Kieran’s eyebrows lifted. “I’ll try to get the message to the press. And since Duffy told me you’re a gazillionaire, does this mean you’re going to invest in our chippy?”
“Kieran!” I chided, appalled.
“Do you want me to invest in your chippy?” Riggs’s arms tightened around my waist, and I felt a thrill, knowing I belonged to him and he belonged to me.
“I want a Covent Garden branch,” Kieran said, ignoring me completely. “Tourists love Covent Garden. We can make bank.”
“Because there isn’t any fish-and-chips in any of the hundred pubs in Covent Garden?” I huffed.
“Not like ours, no,” Kieran said with conviction.
“I’ll invest in you,” Riggs said airily. “On one condition.”
“The answer is yes.” Kieran dumped the empty Nutella jar in the bin. “Unless the condition is I snog the fox that lives in our backyard, in which case the answer is still yes, but let’s all pretend I tried to negotiate it.”
Riggs laughed. “I’ll never do that to the fox. But I do need you to give us some space. Duffy and I aren’t done talking.”
“‘Talking.’” Kieran used air quotes. “All right, then. I’ll be in the living room if you need me, trying to mentally block what’s about to happen here, next to my beloved food.”
“We won’t be needing you,” I assured him.
Kieran crept out of the kitchen. I turned to look at Riggs, who grinned down at me wolfishly, slipping his big palm into the front of my jammies.
I’d missed this. No matter where we were or what we were doing, the man was always in the mood.
“So?” he asked. “What do you say? Are we giving this thing a chance?”
“We better.” I rubbed my nose against his affectionately, hugging him. “Since I’m in love with you, too, and have absolutely no interest in mansions, yachts, and country clubs.”
I left the designer bags part out. I wouldn’t say no to a new Chanel or two. You know, down the line.
“That’s good to hear.” His palm patted me down there, his tone turning smoky.
“What made you come here?” I asked. “I mean, what made you change your mind?”
“My mind was never changed. I’ve always wanted you.” Riggs started drawing lazy circles between my thighs. It was incredibly hot. “But I was always sure you’d turn your back on me and get back with BJ. And I didn’t want to disclose my financial situation because I didn’t want you to be with me for the wrong reasons. Actually . . .” He pushed one finger in, through my jammies. Ahhhh. “That’s a lie. I did. I did want you to be with me and fuck the reason why. But the prospect of losing to Cocksucker even if I had a fatter bank account was paralyzing. So I convinced myself I didn’t do monogamy. But then I saw your letter when I got back from Sri Lanka and realized not only that you weren’t with Cocksucker, but that you actually wanted to grant me a divorce. And divorce isn’t something I’m ever going to consider, just so you know.”
I moaned, partly because what he said was swoonworthy, and partly because he was now circling my clit with his thumb.
“Now, do you have any questions for me?” He looked at me seriously.
How could he expect me to think straight when I was so close to an orgasm? He dipped his index and middle fingers into me, still encircling my tight bud with his thumb, gaining speed and using the perfect pressure.
“Did you . . . uhm, you know, when we were apart . . . ?” I choked out halfway through the question.
Sleep with other women?
He shook his head. “Not when I was mad at you and we lived together. Not after I was gone. Not during my travels. Not ever. I’ve been faithful to you from the day I moved in with you.”
“But I smelled other women’s perfume on you.”
“Arya’s.” His chest quaked with a chuckle. “I crashed at Christian’s when we were on bad terms. Their entire apartment smells like lilies.”