Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44411 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44411 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
She stood before him in thin shifts. Her arms were bare now, exposing her mark.
Elias tipped her head back with one finger to look into her eyes. He was so much taller than her. His other hand rubbed her bicep. “Do you want me to hang the dress carefully in the closet so it doesn’t get stepped on?”
She shook her head. “I think you should kick it under the bed and maybe use it as a dust rag later.”
He chuckled. She loved it when he chuckled. His entire body shook. “I thought you were no longer bucking tradition.”
She shrugged playfully. “I’ll admit the fated connection is impossible to deny, but the ceremonial clothing is overkill. Take off your shirt.”
He chuckled harder as he stepped back and went to work on the buttons down the front of his shirt. He stared at her face the entire time. “Such a bossy Little firecracker.”
She ignored his teasing and watched as he finally unveiled his rock-hard chest. She licked her lips. Every bit of him appealed to her, which was probably just as fated as everything else she’d experienced today. Of course he appealed to her. He could have three eyeballs, no legs or arms, and a giant scar down his middle, and she would still think he was the sexiest man alive.
None of those things were true, though. He was perfection.
He kicked off his shoes next before kneeling before her and removing her sandals. “Such dainty, cute feet my mate has.”
She shivered as he helped her step out of the pool of her dress so he could toss it and her sandals to the side, and then his hands came to her ankles.
Leah grabbed his shoulders, holding on tight as she swayed. His touch… He looked up at her as he slid his hands up higher until he gripped the back of her knees.
“So soft…” he muttered. He stroked the edges of her knees with his thumbs.
Her legs nearly buckled, especially when he slowly rose, pushing her shifts up with his movements.
She was panting when his palms eased past her thighs to cup her bottom, and she held her breath as he rose to his full height, gathering the layers of thin material in his hands.
“I’m going to take this off you now, Baby girl.”
She gave a nod. She was nervous, but she could be brave. Of course he would see her naked eventually. She’d imagined it happening sooner than this if she was honest with herself.
If anyone had asked her what her expectations had been this morning before she’d left the house, she would have painted a very different picture. She’d envisioned a stern man who said very little and claimed her body with far less care and consideration than what she was experiencing.
She’d thought he would lift her skirts and take her virginity without much thought. Elias was nothing like that. And the bond between them was nothing like she’d expected.
Suddenly the layers of cotton that seemed to represent her past were whisked away, leaving her in nothing but white panties. She shuddered as he dropped the material on the floor. She would never again get up in the morning and cover herself from head to toe in the modest layers that would shield her body from everyone she encountered.
Elias swallowed as he stared at her before lifting both hands to stroke gently up her arms. “Heavens…”
Did he like what he was looking at? She couldn’t be sure her mother had been right when she’d told her she had a nice body. Maybe it didn’t matter because Elias was wired to find her attractive no matter what.
If the intensity in his gaze was anything to go by, he was beyond pleased. He licked his lips. “I want to touch you, Leah.” His voice was gravelly, intense. “I want to spread you out on the bed and taste every inch of you. Will you let me?”
She sucked in a breath. Did she have a choice? She didn’t. Not really. Neither of them did, but she liked that he was being considerate.
Taste her? What did that mean? He was going to kiss her again? Kiss other parts of her body? She wanted that, whatever it would look like. “Please,” she whispered.
Elias squatted in front of her again and tucked his fingers into her panties. “I need to see all of you, Little one.” He lowered them down her legs until they hit the floor. After a long heartbeat, he grabbed the backs of her thighs and tugged her forward so that his nose landed on her private parts.
She squealed at the sudden movement.
Elias inhaled slowly and deeply. “Leah…” He rose, lifted her up, and deposited her on the bed. His hands went to the button on his dress pants. “Bend your knees, Baby girl, and spread your legs open for me. I want to see all of you.”