Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 78264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“Hell no, my ass is too old to run away from paintballs,” Grandpa mutters.
“Tomorrow is perfect,” Abigail answers, excitement shining in her eyes.
I lean my head closer to hers. “Still enjoying yourself?”
She nods, a happy smile on her face.
There’s my girl. Welcome back, baby.
I only have today left with Abigail, and I’m seriously contemplating holding her captive on the island.
She’s her old self again, and I worry with her returning to St. Monarch’s she might relapse.
Then there’s the fact that she won’t be by my side.
Christ, I’m going to worry myself to death over her.
I walk into the den, and instantly Abigail mutters, “Don’t look at the painting.”
She’s even turned the easel so the wall’s behind her while she paints. I’m dying to see what she’s working on.
I head outside and take a seat on one of the lounge chairs. From here, I have a perfect view of Abigail.
“This week went by way too fast,” I complain.
“Yeah.” She lets out a sigh while she continues to paint.
“I’m thinking about keeping you captive,” I admit.
Abigail lets out a chuckle. “Hold off on that idea until after Aurora’s wedding. I’m sure when I’m alone at St. Monarch’s, I’ll beg you to kidnap me.”
“Are you looking forward to the wedding?”
She nods, then asks, “Will you be my plus one?”
“Do you even have to ask?”
She chuckles again. “True. It’s three weeks from today.”
Leaning forward, I rest my forearms on my thighs. “I want you to promise me something.”
Abigail glances at me. “What?”
“That you’ll call me the second the demons come back. Don’t try to handle it on your own.”
“Oh, trust me, I’ll call you even if it’s at the ass-crack of dawn.” She brushes a couple more strokes of paint on the canvas, then tilts her head to look at her work. “I’m done.”
I shoot to my feet. “I’ve waited all week for this. Show me.”
Abigail stands up from her stool, then orders. “Close your eyes.”
I obey and hear how she moves the easel, then she whispers, “You can look.”
My eyes lock on the artwork that evokes so many emotions in me, my heart squeezes in my chest.
She captured the woods perfectly. There are shadows of people peeking from behind the trees while streaks of color zip through the air. I can feel the laughter coming from the painting.
“Soooo?” My eyes dart to Abigail’s face when she speaks. Looking nervous, she’s biting her bottom lip. “Do you like it?”
I turn my gaze back to the canvas holding one of my favorite childhood memories. “It’s absolute perfection, Abigail.”
“Really?” Excitement pitches her voice as she looks at the painting.
I walk to my woman and sweep her up against my chest. Crashing my mouth to hers, I kiss the hell out of her before begging, “Don’t return to St. Monarch’s. Stay with me.”
Abigail wraps her arms around my neck and locks eyes with me. “I have to go back. I need time, so I can break the news that we’re dating to my father. If I stay here, he’ll find out.”
Being realistic, I ask, “What will you do if your father demands you stop seeing me?”
Abigail lets out a sigh. “If it comes to that, then at least I’ve tried.”
Impatiently, I growl, “Meaning?”
“I’ll have to cut ties with my family.”
It’s not like her parents deserve to be called her family. Where were they when Abigail needed them most?
“You’ll always have a family here,” I assure her. “But will you be okay if it comes to that?”
Abigail nods. “You can’t miss something you never had.”
Christ, she’s so strong.
I press a tender kiss to her lips, then say, “I’ve transferred five million euros to your bank account.”
Shock ripples over her face. “Why?”
“So you have money of your own.” There’s no way I’m telling her it’s the money I got from the yakuza. It’s a secret I’ll take to my grave.
“Nikolai,” she breathes, once again looking at me like I’m one of the seven wonders of the world. “You didn’t have to do that.”
I tighten my hold on her. “You’re mine, Abigail, which means I have the honor of taking care of you.”
“When you say things like that, I swoon.” She presses closer to me. “And then I need you to fuck me because it makes my pussy all achy and needy.”
I grow hard at the speed of light. “Christ, I love it when you talk dirty to me.”
“Yeah?” A mischievous glint shines in her eyes, and I know what she’s going to say. “Punish me with your cock, Daddy.”
Christ, the effect those words have on me is unreal.
I bend at the waist and lift Abigail into the air. When I have her hanging over my shoulder, I stalk to the bedroom.
Dropping her on the covers, I order, “Strip naked. I want to see every inch of my most treasured possession.”