Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
He smooths my hair back and searches my expression. “You mean it.”
It’s not a question, but I answer him all the same. “I mean it.”
“I love you, too, you know.” He traces his thumbs over my cheek bones and down my jaw to the corners of my mouth. “I think I started falling in love with you the moment you stole my flask.” He brushes a kiss to my lips. “I guess you stole my heart at the same time.”
“That is so corny and I love it.” I love him. Gods, we aren’t on an easy path, but it’s still one worth traveling. The one I’m choosing. That’s the only thing that matters.
Warmth suffuses me, and for a moment, I’m certain I can feel Bunny’s approval, the sensation as familiar as her hugs. It’s a strange thing to experience while naked in the shower with Bowen, and I actually look at the door as if expecting her to be standing there. She’s not. Of course she’s not. But the feeling takes several long moments to fade.
“Is something wrong?”
“No.” I turn back to him. “I was just thinking that my grandmother would have liked you quite a bit.”
His smile is soft and achingly sweet. “Considering she’s responsible for raising the woman you’ve become, I think I’d have liked her quite a bit, too.” He grabs the shampoo and starts working it into my hair. “It’s going to be a while before they trust us enough to allow us to meet the leader of this movement. We’re looking at a long road and a lot of work.”
“Does that bother you? Being on a ship and not being captain? Of losing that prestige?”
He shakes his head. “It feels a little like penance, but I’m happy to pay it. I have a lot to learn.”
“That’s so paladin of you.” I go onto my tiptoes and kiss him. “I won’t promise that I’ll always be graceful and happy about the process, but I’m not afraid of hard work when it means something. And this means something.” I press my body to his. “Now, if we hurry up and exchange orgasms, we can still get like six hours of sleep before our next shift.”
Bowen’s power wraps around me, sliding against my wet skin and hooking the back of my thighs to lift me into the air. I relax into the hold, loving the way his dark eyes have gone intense and hot. His magic guides my head back to rinse the soap from my hair even as two tendrils of it start playing with my breasts.
“Evie.”
“Hmmm?”
He chuckles. “For us to only have six hours of sleep left, that still leaves four hours of fucking.”
“Does it?” I ask innocently.
“Yes.” His voice is low and amused. “Barely enough time. We might have the rest of our lives, no matter how long or short that time may be, but it will never be enough. Eternity with you would never be enough.”
I kiss him. “Then we better make it count.”