Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 35767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 179(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 179(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
This was your fault.
She doesn’t know about Annabel.
Nor does she know that you’re a fucking dick.
He turned toward her, and she shook her head.
“Why can’t you just give me some time to think?” she asked.
“Because you can make yourself ill doing this, and now I’m pissed off that I wasn’t here to keep an eye on you.”
“You can’t control everything. Not even me. I can do what I want.”
“You sound like a child.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not even going to attempt to argue about this. I wanted some time away from the house. From everything. I’ve done nothing wrong and you yell at me, for what?”
“I shouldn’t have yelled at you.”
“No, you shouldn’t.”
He took a step toward her but stopped as she moved away. He didn’t like that she kept trying to leave him, to move away.
“Why did you?” she asked.
“Why did I what?”
“Yell at me. I only asked for you to spend some time with me in this pool. I don’t get it. Can I not ask you for something?”
“Of course you can. It’s just … Annabel is coming.”
She frowned. “Who’s Annabel?”
“The social worker.”
“She’s coming here?”
“Yes. Tomorrow. I didn’t … I don’t know what her power is in this situation. You’re of age, but I am still your guardian. I don’t know if she can take you away from me, and I don’t want to lose you, Mavis. I care, and that’s why I’ve been trying to keep you at arm’s length. I know you deserve more.”
“I don’t want her to come here. She can’t take me away.”
“She’s checking up on you.”
“Or she’s wanting to see what you’ve got,” Mavis said, snorting.
“Excuse me?”
“She was checking you out when you came to pick me up. It wouldn’t surprise me if she suggests she stay over or have dinner.” She shook her head and made her way outside of the pool. He watched her, giving her the few seconds she needed, but then he was at the edge of the pool, climbing out.
He couldn’t believe she’d been foolish enough to get in the pool fucking naked.
Her hands shook as she tried to get her clothes on. She’d been in the pool too damn long, and now she was at risk of getting sick or something.
Rushing to her side, he took her clothes out of her hands and picked her up.
“Let me down.”
“Not happening.”
“I don’t want you to touch me.”
“Too fucking late.”
He carried her back to the house. Once again, he ignored Susan’s gaze and took her to the bathroom. He had to get her warmed up.
There’s no way he was losing her.
Not now.
Not after he’d finally found her.
****
Luca had been right. Mavis gritted her teeth as she shook against the cold. He didn’t leave her alone though. He turned the shower on and stood with her, holding her in his arms as the water slowly started to warm her skin. He didn’t rush the heating. He took it slow, and she felt so damn numb, which was what she wanted to feel.
With his arms around her though, she couldn’t focus, nor could she breathe. She loved being in his arms more than anything else in the world. Whenever he held her, surrounded her with his warmth, she could finally breathe, and if he took that away, she didn’t know if she’d ever be able to handle that.
She wanted him.
Love.
It was a word that she had often mocked.
She didn’t believe in love.
Love was something people gave each other and took away whenever they got bored. She’d never wanted any part of it, but when Luca stared at her like she was the only woman in the world, for a little while, she’d hope.
Time passed, and she rested her head against his chest. Every few minutes or so, he’d change the dial on the water to make it a little warmer.
When the shaking had stopped and her body was once again warm, he turned off the shower and helped her out.
She didn’t stop him as he dried her body.
His gentle touches meant a lot to her.
“Are you going to push me away again?” she asked.
“No.”
“I don’t want you to lie to me.”
Luca cupped her face, the towel resting over her shoulders as he did so. “I can promise you, right here, right now, I will never, ever lie to you. I will always tell you the truth. I can’t live without you. I don’t want to. I’m going to deal with Annabel, and then we’ll talk.”
Already, she didn’t like the sound of this talk.
She didn’t fight him as he led her toward his bedroom. He tucked her into his bed and sat on the edge.
“I’m going to go and get some soup for you.”
“I feel fine.”
“For now. I’m not going to risk it though.” He reached out, stroking some hair from her face.