Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
“Stop!”
As the scream tears from her, I sit up in time to catch her when she darts up, her eyes opening wide. Horror bleeds over her face, making her look pale as fuck.
“It’s just a dream,” I say as I hold her close.
She shakes her head, her breaths not calming down. Her fingers grip the sweater I’m wearing tightly, her body trembling severely.
“You’re safe.” I begin to rock her, hoping it will help calm her. “I’m here, Tesoro. No one can get to you.”
She clings to me, and minutes pass before her breathing returns to normal. She doesn’t move but keeps still in my arms with her face buried against my chest.
Her tone sounds haunted when she whispers, “I hallucinated Mandy brushing her hand over my hair, but I think it was Milania.”
Shit, I triggered her trauma.
“I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”
“Huh?” She lifts her head and gives me a confused look.
“While you were sleeping, I caressed your hair, which must’ve triggered you,” I explain. “Sorry, Tesoro.”
“Oh.” She tries to give me a brave smile, busted lip and all. “Don’t worry. I’m okay.”
Christ, this woman is incredible.
She catches me staring at her and asks, “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I’m just thinking that you’re the strongest, most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, and I’m one hell of a lucky man because you’re mine.”
“Yeah?” A smile tugs at her mouth, and moving onto her knees, she wraps her arms around my neck. “I’m yours?”
“Yes.” Engulfing her in my arms, I stare into her gray eyes until I lose myself in them. “You’re mine, Eden. I’m never letting you go.”
She brings a hand to my face and brushes her fingers over my jaw.
Caught up in each other, my heart overflows with love for her, and for the first time in my life, I say the words to a woman.
“I love you.”
Instead of looking happy, Eden’s face starts to crumble, and a second later, she bursts out in tears.
I’m just about to haul her against my chest again when she looks at me through her tears.
“You have no idea how much hearing those words mean to me.” She presses a kiss to my mouth. “That’s all I ever wanted. Just to be loved for who I am.”
Christ.
Hearing how much she needed to be loved makes me wish I had met her much sooner.
“I love you, Eden,” I say again, my voice a little hoarse with emotion. “So fucking much my heart feels like it’s going to burst.”
She lets out a chuckle, and finally giving me a happy smile, she plasters herself to me. Near my ear, she whispers, “I love you too, baby.”
Her declaration washes over me, calming the darkness that was unleashed in me over the past two days.
Our timing might’ve been off, but we both needed to hear the words that bind us together for life.
Lying down with Eden in my arms, I kiss her softly, careful not to hurt her.
Just as Eden lets out a needy moan, Esmerelda calls from the doorway, “Lunch is ready.”
“Come on,” I say, pulling Eden out of bed.
We head out of the room, and taking the stairs down, we’re greeted by an excited Bella. I pick up my furball and rub her head as I walk to the kitchen.
Seeing Tyrone sitting by the island in the kitchen, already eating, a smile tugs at my mouth.
“Are you settling in okay?” I ask, opening the fridge to grab two beers.
“Yeah. Esmerelda’s nice.”
My eyebrow lifts when I see the interest in his eyes the second my housekeeper enters the kitchen.
Placing a beer in front of him, I say, “I know. She’s like a mother to me.”
“Am I not getting a beer?” Eden asks as she takes a seat by the island.
“No.” I give her a pointed look. “You’re still recovering.”
I sit down beside her as Tyrone asks, “How you feeling, baby girl?”
“A little out of it.” She waves a hand in the air. “I’ll be fine tomorrow.”
Esmerelda places two bowls of chicken soup in front of us, and it has me scowling. “I’m not sick.”
“We all eat what Eden eats,” she grumbles at me.
Just as I’m about to argue, she brings a stack of grilled cheese sandwiches.
“That’s better,” I mutter as I help myself to one.
My housekeeper sits down beside Tyrone and adds more sandwiches to his plate.
We eat in silence for a while, then Tyrone mentions, “You have a nice place, Dario. A bit big, but nice all the same.”
“What was your reaction when you walked into the penthouse the first time?” Eden asks.
Tyrone just shrugs.
“He was a little overwhelmed,” Esmerelda busts him. “He also called me ma’am like Eden did when we met.”
“Felt like I was meeting royalty or some shit,” Tyrone mutters.
As we continue to eat our food, I keep glancing at Eden, constantly needing to make sure she’s next to me.