Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 26164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
What she should have said was that she loved him as well. But she’d been struck mute, unable to even think. So they’d driven back here to his place in silence. When they’d arrived, he’d insisted on carrying her inside. He’d doctored her head, and made her take some painkillers which had thankfully started kicking in. The bubble bath he’d run for her had helped as well.
After her bath, her Cookie Monster pajamas had been waiting for her just outside the bathroom door along with a pair of woolly socks, her slippers, and robe. She guessed he’d used her keys to pop over to her place because Princess Pickles was waiting for her on the living room sofa.
Right next to Ziggy. He’d brought her Ziggy. She would have hugged Atticus if he hadn’t gruffly told her to sit down so he could bundle her up with about a hundred blankets in front of a roaring fire. She was so hot that she was sweating. But every time she tried to move, it was like Atticus had some sort of sixth sense and appeared in the room, giving her a look that told her she best sit back down real quick.
So here she sat, still in shock. And really, really warm. Seriously, she was starting to dehydrate.
“Here you are. Drink this.” He pushed a cup of hot chocolate into her hands. The top of it was swimming with marshmallows.
That did it.
Tears dripped down her cheeks. What was wrong with her? She’d been an emotional wreck for days. And now, here she was, crying over freaking hot chocolate and marshmallows. When would he even have bought these? They had to be for her, right?
“Baby? What’s wrong? Is it not the right kind?” Panic filled his voice as he crouched in front of her, placing his hands on her thighs.
“No, what are you talking about? It doesn’t matter what kind it is. Did you buy them for me?”
“Well, I didn’t buy them for me,” he told her, looking uncomfortable.
“But you were avoiding me. I didn’t think you liked me.”
“Oh, Lucie. I’ve never disliked you.”
“You have a funny way of showing it.”
He sighed, then took the mug away, setting it down on the floor. Cupping her face between his hands, he drew her down so he could kiss her. Butterflies filled her tummy. The light kiss became firmer, and his tongue ran over her lips until she opened her mouth. She let out a small noise of pleasure and she slipped off the couch into his lap.
He drew back and stared down at her. For a moment, she thought he would tell her that he’d made a mistake. That he didn’t mean any of it. He didn’t want her. Instead, he wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and kissed her again. She put her hands on his shoulders and just held on.
This kiss was like nothing she’d ever felt before. Her entire body grew hot, her clit throbbed.
When he pulled back, he was panting heavily as well. He leaned his forehead against hers. “This isn’t the time.”
She wasn’t sure if he was speaking to her or himself.
“Why not?”
“Because I need to take care of you right now. You nearly died, baby. Do you get that?”
“I know.”
“No, do you actually get that? Really? Because what just happened isn’t acceptable. Not to me. Because if we’re going to do this, you and me, if that’s what you want, then you cannot pull this crap where you don’t take care of your own safety. Do you understand me?”
She stared into his eyes, saw the pain in there. The fear. And guilt flooded her.
“Do you want to do this with me? Do you feel something for me?” he asked her.
“Yes. Yes, of course I do. I love you, Atticus. I’m not even sure when it happened, but I do. You’re all I can think about. This past week, I’ve felt ill not seeing you or talking to you. I haven’t been able to eat or sleep. I just . . . I couldn’t stand that you were upset with me.” Another sob.
“Hush, girl. Hush. I’m not upset with you. There is nothing that you have done wrong, understand me? Well, other than driving through a freaking snowstorm. Or getting up on a ladder when you’re scared of heights. Or not taking care of your health. I’ve noticed how little you sleep. Most of the time, your lights are still on after midnight.”
“How do you know that?” she asked.
“Daddy knows everything.”
Her mouth opened, then closed. She hadn’t expected him to say that.
“You want to be my Little, baby? I’ll warn you, I can be bossy and over-protective. If you’re naughty, you can expect to end up over my knee. If you agree to this, then you’ll be getting your butt spanked for being so reckless with your safety.”