Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 156392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 782(@200wpm)___ 626(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 782(@200wpm)___ 626(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
“You were counting?”
“Unintentionally.”
His lips twitch in a small smile as he strokes my hip. A shiver rushes through me and I grow pliant in his hold. It isn’t fair that he’s the best embrace I’ve ever had.
How come a monster feels so safe?
“Will you ever tell me why you married me?” I whisper.
“I told you. I need the camouflage of a stable family.”
“You could’ve gotten that with any other girl. Why me?”
“Because it’s you,” he says in a cryptic tone that leaves a knot at the bottom of my stomach.
I try to ask for more clarification, but we’ve already reached the car.
Eli spends the whole trip looking through his phone and talking about finances with Henderson. I swear the man breathes for money and he’s ridiculously talented at making it.
Though it’s probably not money he’s after. It’s power.
By the time we reach the house, I feel a crushing sense of depression. Maybe because a nice night out with no quarrels is over and we’ll probably not have anything similar again.
I stop at the top of the stairs, where we’ll part ways to go to our respective rooms, and glance at him. He’s standing there, jacket in hand, and the first two buttons of his shirt are undone, revealing chiseled muscles.
Clearing my throat, I attempt a small smile. “Thanks for tonight, I had a lovely time.”
He nods once, his fingers tightened around the banister as if he’s stopping himself from doing something.
“I…um, night,” I mumble like an idiot, then try to walk with dignity and not run to my room. Or, worse, steal a glimpse at my husband, whose emotional temperament rivals the Alps.
Once I’m inside, I throw my bag on the chair and stop by the bed, feeling a chill covering my skin all of a sudden.
Why does it feel big and empty in here?
Maybe I should make sure Sam left some food for Eli? It’s late, so I can heat it up. She won’t come at me for that, and I doubt I’ll burn a microwave.
At least, I hope I don’t.
It’s just charity. Mum taught me to be a giver for those less fortunate than me. Eli’s been fasting the whole day, so I’m doing him a favor.
I’ve just taken a step when the door bangs open and Eli is standing there, sans jacket, nostrils flaring, and eyes a vortex of desire.
The temperature shoots up instantly and I swallow. “I…I was going to heat you some dinner.”
He walks toward me, eating up the distance in two strides, and wraps his hand around my throat. “Be my dinner.”
And then his sinful mouth captures mine.
I’m lightheaded, absolutely ensnared, and completely taken with my monster of a husband.
His tongue thrusts between my lips, claiming mine, and my heart feels so light, my body floats on the clouds as I wrap my arms around his neck.
My curves mold to his hard muscles and I hang on to him for dear life.
When he pulls away, I breathe. “Whew. What a good night kiss.”
“If you believe I’ll stop after a kiss, you’re in for a massive surprise, Mrs. King.”
“Yeah? What do you intend to do?”
“Kiss every inch of your body, then fuck you for all the times I couldn’t.”
I want to ask why he couldn’t before if we were married for over two years, but he pushes me against the bed and claims my mouth again and I’m a goner.
Tomorrow is for questions.
Today, I want to feel the best day of my life.
25
ELI
Somewhere in the back of my consciousness, I’m fully aware that I shouldn’t be doing this.
I flip her onto her stomach, my hands stroking and rubbing everywhere I can touch.
The last thing my wife needs is my cock nudging against her arse, demanding access inside her or growing rock-fucking-hard at the thought of claiming her. Owning her. Engraving myself beneath her skin.
And yet, apparently, I couldn’t care less about any possible side effects of my inability to stay away.
The scents of roses and flowers and depressingly familiar candy floss saturate my nose until I’m full of her. Her smell, the feel of her soft skin beneath the roughness of mine, the visual of her creamy flesh compared to my tan complexion. The gentle, absolutely ravenous moans she releases as I rip her zipper open.
“Can you stop ruining my dresses?” she mumbles against the pillow, staying completely still as I shove away the blasphemous thing keeping me from her.
“I lack the capacity to be gentle when it comes to you, Mrs. King.” I roll her hair around my fist and lower my lips to her ear. “But you knew that already when you teased me all night long.”
“I…did no such thing.” Her voice drips with forbidden desire and flickering lucidity. She’s so fucking beautiful, I can’t look her in the eye without feeling the burn in my bones.