Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 234281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1171(@200wpm)___ 937(@250wpm)___ 781(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 234281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1171(@200wpm)___ 937(@250wpm)___ 781(@300wpm)
“Then...stay.” He said the words instinctively, and a moment later, he realized those words were the exact same ones he had said in the past.
Mairi shook her head. “I can’t pretend anymore.”
The words had killed him then, and it still killed him now. Despair made the whole world go black, but Damen doggedly forced himself to concentrate on her words, forced himself to find a solution to her problem.
If she had been pretending before, so fucking be it – he would take her any fucking way he could have her. And now...if she was tired of pretending –
“I’ll find a way to make it easier for you to pretend.” He couldn’t say the words fast enough, couldn’t stop himself from gripping her hand tightly so she’d never be free from him. “Until – until you forget you’re pretending—-”
But Mairi didn’t seem to hear him. Didn’t seem to want to hear him as she shook her head and sobbed, “I have to let you go—-”
“I don’t want you to let me go!” Desperation made him shout the words. Goddammit, he didn’t want to relive this again. Somebody fucking wake him up from this nightmare—-
When Mairi managed to wrench herself out of his hold, it was as if she had torn his heart out of his chest as well. “I have to,” she cried back. “I can survive without you—-”
“But I can’t!” he flung back at her, ashen with pain. Why, dammit, why did she fucking think it was about her being able to survive without him? Of course she could do that. Any man would find it easy to love her.
This...this was all about him.
He would never be able to love anyone but her.
If she left him...
Damen gazed at his wife bleakly. “Do you understand, Mairi?” His words were a savage whisper. “I’m the one who’s weak. I’m weak without you. I’m without hope, and I’m blind, deaf, and dumb without you. So goddammit, take pity on me again.”
The words took everything from him, his throat closing, and his voice broke. “Please.” No fucking shame left even with the whole world looking, pitying him. “Take fucking pity on me and stay—-”
But Mairi was still walking away.
“I can’t.”
No, fuck, no.
He rushed to his feet, but it was too late, she was too far away. “Mairi!” He shouted her name as he ran as fast as he could.
This couldn’t be happening. She couldn’t be leaving him. She couldn’t.
“Mairi!”
“Mairi!”
But she was fading from his sight now, leaving him for good.
Chapter 2
“DAMEN, WAKE UP. Wake up.”
The sweetness of the voice saved him, waking him from his nightmare.
Damen shot up to a sitting position, breathing hard and feeling like he had just survived a war. Cold sweat enveloped his body, and his thoughts were disoriented, unable to comprehend how he could be in the haven of his bedroom—-
A small hand cupped his face, turning him until he found himself facing...
Mairi.
Worry clouded her lovely face as she gazed at him searchingly. She was seated on her haunches, one hand clutching the covers to her naked body.
“Are you okay?” she whispered, her words breaking the stillness in their vast bedroom. “You were having a nightma—-oomph.”
Her words were lost in his kiss.
He had to kiss her.
He had to have her.
Now.
It was the only way to make the fear subside, to make him really believe this was reality – and that Mairi was back in his life for good.
Digging his fingers through the thick, smooth tresses of her hair, Damen clasped her head so he could kiss her deeply, his tongue pushing in so forcefully it made his wife gasp and clutch his shoulders. The covers slipped from her grasp, and as her body melted against him, it was his turn to breathe harshly against her lips. The feel of their naked bodies sliding against each other made the blood rush to his head.
He had to have her.
It was the only way to make him believe she was truly his.
Kissing her one last time, he released her, laying her down on her stomach.
Confused, Mairi twisted her head around to look at him. When he knelt behind her on the bed, she asked, “What are you—-Damen, no!” Embarrassment and desire made her whimper as Damen lifted her legs all the way up until her feet were over his shoulders.
And then he was eating her pussy, devouring every sweet, sensitive inch of flesh his tongue could reach.
“Daaaaaamen!”
Even as he sucked on her clit, Damen’s hungry gaze never left his wife. He wanted – needed – to see her lost in his touch. Her thighs trembled at his hold, and her pussy also quivered with every stroke of his tongue.
Mairi’s fingers were gripping the bed sheets so tightly. If she’d let go, she was terrified she’d end up floating on cloud nine. Her eyes were hazy with desire, and the sexiest whimpers were coming out from her mouth.