Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
His life hadn’t exactly been an easy one to explain. She hadn’t known the truth about him, and overnight they were married and he’d pulled her into his world.
He stood in the doorway of his library and watched as Candice listened to some soft tunes. She hadn’t heard him arrive, and he watched as she danced around the room. Unlike the sitting room, there was no obstruction in this one.
Other than the one night in her apartment where she had gotten him to dance, he’d never seen her dance before. Her eyes were closed as she swayed her hips. He saw the baby monitor which was constantly attached to her if Luke wasn’t with her.
Candice was an amazing mom. She was a fantastic wife. Not once had she caused him any troubles. She hadn’t asked to leave the house.
Antwone frowned. Draven had asked him about that. Maria had offered to go shopping with her, but Candice always had an excuse.
“Do you think your wife is afraid to leave your home?”
Antwone hadn’t thought about it like that.
Staring at his wife, he couldn’t help but wonder if it was the truth. Was Candice afraid? Yes, there was always a risk to her life, but he hadn’t admitted to her that it didn’t matter where she was, there was a risk. He didn’t want her to live her life afraid. Antwone would take care of everything.
The song came to an end, and he lifted his hands and clapped. She gasped and spun around.
“Antwone,” she said. “I didn’t hear you.”
“Do you enjoy dancing?”
“Sometimes.” She walked over to the small stereo and turned it off.
“You don’t have to stop on my account.”
“I know. I was looking for a book and I put on a few tunes, and I don’t know, the need to dance just swept over me.”
Antwone stepped into the room.
He’d not been able to kiss her. He’d not been able to fuck her or hold her. Antwone had known she was in pain and she felt betrayed by him and he did accept it. Actually, he didn’t accept it. That was bullshit. He just didn’t know what to do other than give her time.
Candice was close, but he reached out and put the music back on.
Holding his hand out toward her, he waited to see what she was going to do. He had already decided that if she rejected him, he’d take hold of her hand and pull her against him.
Candice looked at his hand, and he saw her struggling with this decision, but he did wait. Slowly, she put her hand within his and he pulled her close, not giving her a chance to back down.
“Good choice,” he said.
She laughed. “Good choice?”
He placed her hands around his neck, and then put his hands at her sides, sliding them down toward her hips.
“Yeah, it was a good choice.” She smelled so good.
Since having their son, her body had gotten even more curvy. He knew she breastfed their son. He was a little jealous of his boy being able to suckle on his mother’s nipple.
Antwone missed her. He spent many nights taking care of his erect dick, when all he wanted was her.
“Have you had a good day?” he asked.
“It has been good. Luke is staying awake a little more each day. I make sure he takes his naps, and he’s not having any trouble with feeding.”
“Draven told me that Maria invited you to go shopping,” he said. He knew this line of questioning could result in her pulling away, but he was willing to do it. For Candice, he would do anything.
“She did.”
“Why didn’t you go?” he asked. “If you’re worried about money. I have a credit card for you to use. You can spend to your heart’s content.”
“It’s not about the money,” she said.
“Then what is it about?” he asked.
He noticed that she was avoiding eye contact with him, looking at something past his shoulder.
“There was nothing I wanted.”
“What about a girly day? A day at the spa? Something to make you feel good?” he asked.
“I don’t need anything.” She shrugged. “It’s fine. I’m happy here with Luke.”
He wanted to believe that.
“Candice, don’t lie to me.”
“Why not? You lied to me.” She pressed her lips together. “Ignore me.”
“I know I hurt you but this is about something more than that, isn’t it?” he asked.
“It’s nothing.”
“Tell me.”
Silence fell between them. The only noise came from the music.
She took a deep breath and then sighed. “It’s nothing. I’m fine.”
He leaned in close so his lips were against her ear. “Are you afraid?” he asked.
“No, no, of course not. I’m not afraid.”
But she wouldn’t meet his eyes.
“Candice, I’m going to arrange for you to go shopping with Maria.”
“No! What about Luke? I’ve got to stay with him.”
“I’ll stay with him,” Antwone said.
“I have to be there to feed him and change his diaper, and if he cries.”