Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 32811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
“With the baby?” He picks up a fork, digging into the cheesecake, but he doesn’t take the bite to his mouth. He brings it to mine. I open, taking it. I let out a small moan. That same heat of desire I saw in Leo’s eyes before returns again. I lick my lips.
“Yes,” I responded. “I think my father knew I would not want to bend to what he wanted so he thought if something happened to them this was a way to push his agenda on me. I’m sure he thought I’d marry someone in this life and fall in line. That whoever I married would take a firm role in taking over the finances and such. That’s my guess at least, but he’s not getting that.” I can’t help but smile at that.
“You enjoy thinking about defying him?” Leo smiles along with me, feeding me another bite. I take it, enjoying the hell out of him feeding me. Actually, I’m enjoying this whole interaction between the two of us. It feels nice not to be on edge around him.
“I think I do. I’m sure it has something to do with some underlying anger I have built up inside of me or something. He would have never wanted me to be friends with Sol.” I shake my head, those stupid tears wanting to come back. “The one person who has always just been my friend because they truly liked me. She had no clue who or where I came from. She let me lean on her without question.”
“I want that.” His voice comes out gruff.
“Want what?” I ask, confused. He has Sol. She’d do anything for him.
“To be there for you. I was so wrong when I met you. Pissed off that I wanted you so badly and thought I’d never have a chance. I let it cloud my judgment.” I open my mouth but close it, not sure how to respond. “You shouldn’t have married me, Tinsley.”
“What?” He’s not making any sense now.
“Because now you’re mine.”
CHAPTER 15
LEO
Tinsley is quiet on the ride home, but it’s not a bad silence. She needs to reorient herself to not thinking I’m an asshole, so I take the opportunity to study her. I’ve never felt comfortable staring at her so openly. In the past, all I’ve allowed myself were covert glances.
Tinsley is soft mouthed with a lower lip fuller than the upper. Her cheekbones are high and appear even more elegant in the moonlight where the beams strike the upper portion like golden marker streaked across her face. Her dark hair, parted in the center, falls like a satin curtain frame around her face.
Her hand comes up to the base of her neck. “You’re staring,” she says.
“Yes.” I’m taking her in, memorizing her features. I don’t know how long this moment with Tinsley will last. Once she has what she needs, she’ll want to move on. I should respect that, but I can’t promise I will. She married me willingly. She’s having my baby. No one should expect me to walk away from this.
Sol is awake when we arrive home. After giving our coats to a frowning Mindy, Tinsley and I go up to tell Sol goodnight.
“You two look cozy. I’m suspicious,” Sol remarks as we enter her room.
“You should be happy we’re getting along.” I lounge against the dresser while Tinsley feels Sol’s forehead and refills the water jug on her nightstand.
Sol’s eyebrows furrow together, and she turns to Tinsley. “Is he blackmailing you?”
Tinsley laughs. “With what?”
“I don’t know, but earlier today we were hating on him and now you’re coming home from dinner together looking cozy.”
Tinsley casts me a guilty, furtive look. “We weren’t hating on him.”
“Sure we weren’t.” Sol rolls her eyes.
I pinch Sol’s toe. “Goodnight, munchkin.”
She throws a pillow at my head. “I’m not a munchkin.”
“If you say so, small Sol.”
“Ugh, get him out of here, Tinsley, before I murder him.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Tinsley makes a big show of dragging me out.
I think we’re all happy that the house is at peace. In the hallway that separates Sol’s bedroom facing the street and Tinsley’s facing the back garden, I swing Tinsley into my arms and slam my mouth on hers. I’ve waited long enough. I mold her body against mine, rucking up the silk of her dress until I can palm her ass. She whimpers under my onslaught, clawing at my back, climbing me like a tree. I lift her up so she can press her hot sex against my steel hard shaft.
Our mouths slip as I half-walk, half-run toward her bedroom. It takes two seconds to pull her dress over her head and another two to rip off her panties. Her shoes stump me, though.
Tinsley laughs against my lips and pushes me slightly away. “I got this. You do you.”