Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 61199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
“You said you didn’t want to pretend anymore, Alex. That sounds to me like you want to end the contract.”
I stopped and turned to face her. Sasha was the picture of utter confusion. “You have no idea, do you?”
A tear slipped free and she folded her arms, notching her chin in the air defiantly. “I’ll hold up my end of the bargain, Alex. I’ll look after Dixie and pretend to be madly in love with you outside the penthouse, but I can’t keep doing…the rest.”
“Because you wouldn’t have to pretend?” I took a step forward and her eyes widened.
“What?”
I advanced another step. “You can’t keep sleeping with me because you feel something for me. Don’t you?”
Arms folded, she glared at me as if she hated me. But she didn’t deny it.
“Say it,” I urged.
“No.”
I took another step forward until just a foot separated us. “Say it, Sasha. Tell me that’s the reason. Go on.”
She pushed my chest, a move that sent her back a step. With a frustrated growl, she pushed me again, harder the second time around. “Fine, you want me to answer? Yes, okay! Yes, the reason I can’t keep pretending is because I’m not pretending. I fell in love with you, which is the dumbest possible thing I could have done. I know who you are and what you want, most importantly what you don’t want, but it happened anyway. So yes Alex, I’m in love with you and that’s why we can’t keep sleeping together. Or spending time together. Unless it’s for your public image.” Her chest heaved and just before she turned away from me, I spotted the telltale moisture in her eyes.
“Was that so hard?”
“Fuck you,” she spat out in a soft, watery voice.
I laughed because my heart was full, because hearing that I wasn’t alone in this made everything from this moment forward easier. “Sasha.”
“Don’t Alex. I don’t want or need you to say anything. You asked a question and I gave you an answer. No further conversation is needed.”
“Oh, but it is. You see, the reason I didn’t shut Jack up when he was talking shit this morning before the wedding was because I couldn’t.” She moved to step away and I tugged her back to me. “His words shouldn’t have pissed me off the way they did but the fact that they did made me come to an important realization. I’m in love with my wife.”
“Alex,” she pleaded and took a step back.
“Seriously. I should have been laughing along with Jack, smiling and planning for my secret life on the side. But his words brought me no pleasure. All I could think about was why would I want some puck bunny when my wife is so beautiful and sensual and lovely.” I cupped her jaw and when she leaned into my touch, relief soared through me. “This is all new to me, being in love.”
Her lips curved into a reluctant smile. “You’ve never been in love before?”
I shook my head. “Never. I mean not with anyone but myself.” A bashful smile crossed myself. “No woman has been you, Sash. You’re not impressed by my name or my money and you make me work for every smile, every laugh. I have to be me when I’m with you and, that’s some heady shit. Being with a woman who just wants me? I didn’t think such a woman existed. Until you.”
“Alex,” she whispered and held my face in her small hands. “I feel the same. Being with you makes me feel like I’m enough. I’m good enough and pretty enough, sexy enough.”
“Enough?” I shook my head. “Oh no, sweetheart you are more than enough. In fact, I’m pretty sure that you deserve better than the likes of me, but I love you and I’ll work every day to be worthy of the beautiful gift of your love.”
“You already are, Alex. I promise.” Her smile grew and she pushed up on her tiptoes, brushing a soft kiss across my lips. “Don’t let anyone tell you aren’t worthy. You’re Alex Witter,” she purred. “And you’re mine.”
I hooked an arm around her waist and pulled her body flush against mine. “Good because I love you, Sasha. So fucking much.”
She smiled and her head fell back as laughter spilled from her luscious lips. “The feeling is completely mutual.” And then because I could, because Sasha was mine, I lowered my head and captured her lips, kissing her slowly at first because I needed to take my time, to savor the taste of her combined with champagne and salsa.
She purred again and wrapped her arms around me, pulling me closer. Her tongue flicked inside my mouth and I deepened the kiss, devouring every dark corner of her warm mouth until her fingertips dug into my shoulders. The sound of the growl she emitted was so fucking hot, it was too much.