Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 104532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 523(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 523(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
A chill runs over my arms. The evenings are getting cooler. Autumn is around the corner. Soon, it will be winter. I never liked the cold, but now I look forward to it simply because with Leon, every season is new. Will we huddle in bed under the covers or make love in front of the fireplace? Will we take a drive to one of those far-off places like he promised, inhaling the sharp smell of the grass that has been burned in preparation for spring? Will we ever feel the wind on our cheeks because we’re driving fast for fun and not because we’re running? As long as Gus rules our lives, we’ll forever be looking over our shoulders.
After a moment, he lifts his head and brushes the hair from my face. “Are you happy, Violet?”
The question is charged. I know what he wants to hear, but there’s no longer space for lies between us. “I like it here. I’m making friends.”
“That’s not what I asked. I asked if you’re happy.” He adds in a soft tone, “With me.”
My breath catches. I swallow. “I’m happier than I’ve ever been.”
He pulls away, letting his cock slip from my body. “Seeing how ecstatically happy your old life has been, that’s not very hard to achieve.”
“What are you saying?” I whisper.
Placing his hands on my thighs, he says, “I’m asking for everything. I don’t want you to be better off. I don’t want you to live a mediocre life. I want you to live your best life. I want you to be the kind of happy one reads about in fairy tales.”
He’s asking me to love him, to abandon all caution and take the greatest risk of all. That’s a lot of responsibility to place on a person’s shoulders, especially for someone who never had any intention of falling in love. I’ve only just admitted to myself I want this life. That this is enough.
When I don’t reply, a shutter drops in front of his eyes. He takes a step away.
“Leon,” I say, his name a plea. “You asked for honesty and trust. I gave you that.”
“You did,” he agrees in a neutral tone.
“Isn’t that enough?”
His voice softens. “That’s plenty.”
Biting my lip, I watch him as he adjusts his clothes. My body is sated but my heart feels strangely empty. It aches for the man who wants everything. Will I ever be enough for him?
He grabs a handful of tissues from the box on the vanity and gently cleans between my legs. “I better have a quick shower.”
“We’re still going?”
“You bet your life we are.”
“But I won’t have time for another rinse-off.”
He drops his gaze to the junction of my legs. “I prefer that you go like this. I want all the other men to smell me on you.”
My cheeks heat. “You’re such an animal.”
He winks. “But you like it.” Dropping a kiss on my lips, he says, “Fix your make-up. I made a stunning mess of your face.”
Without another word, he walks to the bathroom, leaving me sitting wide-legged on the vanity with my dress hitched up over my hips. I press my knees together, push off the vanity, and pull down my dress. Turning, I study my reflection. The dress is a little creased, but it’ll have to do.
As fast as I can, I touch up my make-up. There’s no time to do something with my hair, so I brush it out and let it hang loose down my back.
Leon returns, dressed in a black suit, crisp white shirt, and bowtie. His dark hair is brushed back. He looks mouthwatering delicious, and for the first time in my life, I experience a jolt of premature and unjustified jealousy.
The object he carries in his hand draws my gaze. I home in on the blue box. I was going to tell him he looks handsome, but my words dry up as he stops short of me.
He gives me a boyish smile. “Can I have one more chance at this?” When I don’t reply, he asks, “Do you know when I got these from Damian?” He continues without waiting for my answer. “The day after the very first time I saw you. I already knew then.”
I don’t ask what he knew because I’m scared to know.
He flips back the lid. “If I tell you how much I wanted to give them to you, will you wear them for me?”
I have a rule about never saying never. It’s not the first time I break a promise I made myself, but there’s never been more at stake. Like he forgave me, I forgive him too, consenting with a nod.
His smile is soft as he hands me the box. He takes one earring and fits it into my ear before doing the same with the other.
“They look great on you,” he says, taking the box and leaving it on the vanity.