Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
She felt she deserved a pat on the back, with how the past few weeks had been.
Tillie stepped out of the wardrobe, and then came face to face with Luca. She’d already showered and changed into her silk negligee. In the winter, she loved her cozy pajamas to keep warm. Spring and summer, it had to be a silk negligee, where there wasn’t a lot of fabric keeping it together.
Luca hadn’t showered yet. He’d removed his jacket and tie and opened the top few buttons of his shirt, exposing some of his chest. Not quite enough for her to see, but there was certainly enough that made her want to see more. What was wrong with her?
I want my husband.
She didn’t say the words, as there was no way she could say them to Luca.
“I’m going to take a shower.”
“Okay. I have moved all my clothes into your wardrobe. Which side of the bed do you sleep on?”
“I don’t care,” he said, and then he moved past her, not quite touching her.
She got the hint of his masculine cologne, and for a second she couldn’t move. All she could do was stand and wait. He smelled so good. She had thought the same on their wedding day.
Tillie was tempted to slap her face, but she wasn’t interested in the pain, so she moved toward the bed. There was no obvious indentation where his head had been.
She opted for the right side, and she slid beneath the covers. His sheets were as soft as silk, and she rested her head against the pillow, which again felt so light. She closed her eyes and tried to relax.
I’m in my husband’s bed.
It is going to be fine.
She couldn’t hear the shower as the door was closed, but she knew he was naked and getting wet, and her imagination was starting to go wild.
Focus, Tillie, focus.
Go to sleep.
That would be easy.
Just go to sleep.
Sleep was not coming, and it certainly wasn’t anywhere closer as the door to the en suite opened, and Luca stepped into the bedroom, complete with a towel around his middle.
Most of his chest was bare apart from a single tattoo near his heart, and it looked like writing more than an image. Tillie wasn’t close enough to make out what it was.
He was currently drying his head with another towel, and as he did so, it seemed to flex and tighten all his muscles. Once he’d done his hair, she stayed perfectly still on the bed and listened to him move around.
Seconds passed, maybe even minutes, as he then padded back to the bathroom, only to return seconds later with nothing on.
He didn’t hide his body, but Tillie looked away.
She didn’t hear any other sign of him changing or pulling on a pair of pants before the light went out, and then he climbed into bed.
“Why are you tense?” he asked.
“Tense? I’m not tense.”
She nearly freaked out as his fingers touched her shoulder.
“I’m not going to hurt you.”
Tillie rolled over and came face to face with her husband. Even though the room was dark, she could still make him out.
“I know that,” she said.
Now all thought had left her. It had been a long time since they were this close. He was within touching distance. And kissing distance. And naked.
She couldn’t forget the naked part.
“Why are you tense?” he asked again.
Tillie opened her mouth, closed it, and then she had to try and think. Why wasn’t she naked? What was it about Luca Winters that took all her thoughts away and turned her into a bumbling idiot?
Ah, right, she remembered.
“You’re naked.”
She was pretty sure she saw the smirk on his lips, even though it was dark.
“Yes.”
“And you don’t own any pants?”
“You know I own pants, but none I wear to bed.”
“What about a pair of sweatpants?”
“No.”
She frowned. “Everyone owns a pair of sweatpants.”
“Not me.”
She glared at him. “You’re just trying to be difficult.”
“Actually, I’m not.” He leaned in a little closer and she felt his breath against her face.
He smelled minty and the temptation to kiss those sensualadorable lips was so strong. She had no choice but to fight it.
Tillie didn’t have a clue what she was doing. She could cook and bake, even clean, and hold a conversation, but sex … all she knew was what she had read.
“I don’t sleep in clothes, and I’m not about to start.”
He further surprised her by the feel of his fingers sliding across her stomach.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Simple, I’m going to hold my wife as I sleep. Do you have a problem with that?”
“No.” Her answer didn’t quite sound right, so she cleared her throat and then responded, “No, I don’t.”
“Good.”
She didn’t know how they managed it, but Luca was curled against her back, an arm banded around her waist, and she felt the length of him nestle against her ass. She wasn’t uncomfortable. In fact, she felt so relaxed, and slowly, minute by minute, her eyelids started to feel heavy, and then sleep claimed her.