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)
“If we can come up with some clever dialogue, I’ll need you to work on a story from start to finish. Can you do that?”
I want to say yes, but I don’t want to lie to him. “I’ve never done anything like that.”
A glint sparks in his eyes. “I appreciate your honesty. It will be a team effort, including the scriptwriter, our creative team, and myself. You won’t have to do it alone.”
“I’d love to try.”
“Good.” He takes a business card from his pocket and hands it to me. “Call my office and set up a meeting. We’ll take things from there.”
Taking the card with reverence, I say, “Thank you so much. I really appreciate the opportunity.”
He raps his knuckles on the desk. “Now go and enjoy the party. I need at least another half an hour alone before I’ll be able to stomach the hordes.”
Smiling, I gather the drawings and leave the folder with him before thanking him again. When I walk from the room, it’s as if I’m floating. I swear I don’t even feel my limp.
Leon waits outside the study, leaning a shoulder against the wall. He straightens when he sees me. “How did it go?”
I can’t help but grin.
“That well, huh?” he says, looking at me as if he’d like to eat me.
Unable to contain my excitement, I blurt out, “He gave me an appointment. He’s going to ask one of his scriptwriters to have a look at my illustrations and see what he can come up with.”
Putting a hand on my hip, he drags me closer. His lips curve into a sensual smile. “I never doubted you’d win him over.”
I wrap my arms around his waist, inhaling his masculine, clean smell. “You played a big part in it.”
He arches an eyebrow. “I did?”
“He liked the dress.”
“Did he now?” he asks, a chuckle rumbling in his chest. “As long as he didn’t like it too much.”
“Not too much.” I stare into his Guinness-brown eyes, as always losing myself in those dark pools. “He told me to tell you that you have excellent taste and that he appreciates a man who knows how to treat his partner.”
“Mm.” He draws a circle with his thumb on my hip. “It’s a good thing he’s gay.”
“Why?” I ask, tightening my arms around him. “Don’t you trust me?”
“Oh, I trust you.” He leans closer, pressing our bodies together. “But if Ethan Meyer was straight, I would’ve been as jealous as fuck.”
“Sounds good,” I say, sounding a little breathless.
“That I’m jealous?”
“A fuck.”
His eyes darken. “You sure about that, darling?”
Holding his gaze, I slip my hands under his jacket. His back is chiseled and warm under my palms. “I haven’t been more certain about anything in my life.”
He narrows his gaze, drinking me in with a hungry expression. “I’m going to strip you down in my car and make you come on my fingers.” Lowering his head, he brushes a whisper over my ear. “Then I’m going to fuck you on the front seat.” He nips my ear, making me shiver, and adds in a deep voice, “Because there’s no way in hell I’ll last until we get home.”
Heat gathers in my core and dampens my panties. I’m sure Vero will understand if we sneak away early. Anyway, she only invited us for me to meet Ethan. I cast a glance over Leon’s shoulder. Vero is swamped with guests competing for her attention.
Detangling myself from my husband, I take his hand and interlace our fingers. “In that case, please take me home.”
A wicked promise sparks in his eyes. “How can I say no when you beg me so nicely?”
When he tugs on my hand, I follow without hesitation.
CHAPTER 24
Leon
The sun filters through the gap in the curtains when I wake up at six on Monday morning. The light already has an autumn glow. Somehow, it seems thinner. Whiter. In winter, the sky over Johannesburg is a paler blue. The cold air smells crisper and the sunsets are deep reds and vivid oranges due to the higher amount of dust in the air. The region gets summer rain. I recall the characteristics of the seasons with all my senses from when I was living here as a child, but it’s only now that the city feels like home.
The reason for that is sleeping tranquilly next to me.
Turning my face, I drink in Violet’s beautiful features. Her face is relaxed in her sleep. She looks soft and vulnerable. My wife is a stunning mixture of softness and strength, both on the outside and on the inside. She’s a puzzle I’m finally figuring out. I know her ambitions and her dreams. I understand what made her so defensive and unapproachable. I get why she can’t say she loves me. But I’ll be damned if I don’t love her obsessively, adoring every part of her, even the scared part that demands she always keeps a small distance between us.