Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
“I’m sure he was in a difficult position. It’s hard to help someone who doesn’t want to be helped,” Aurora said with an understanding it had taken him years to find.
“It wasn’t like my father gave us intimate details about his marriage. Zach was an accident, of that I’m sure. Then came me and Jade. Twins. Three kids and two infants would have been a handful for someone who was mentally stable. My mom didn’t stand a chance.”
Aurora remained silent, simply letting him talk. So he figured he might as well tell her everything. “The police eventually notified dad that she’d committed suicide.”
Aurora sucked in a startled breath. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.”
He ran his knuckles down her cheek. “It’s okay. It was a long time ago, and I’ve come to terms with it.”
Although sometimes, he struggled with the fact that Jade had anxiety. She had a handle on it, but he worried about his twin, about whether she could fall into the same hole his mother had. But he didn’t feel right telling Aurora about Jade’s personal issues. “I still haven’t told you the whole family story.”
Aurora bit down on her bottom lip, then released it. “There’s more?”
He laughed, because what else could he do? “Six years after my mom died, dad married Serenity. And before you ask, I was okay with it. We all were. I mean she raised me. Jade and I call her mom.”
His father was a good man and had been faithful to their mother, so why begrudge him happiness? He and Serenity lived under one roof. It happened. Nick had no issues there.
“You love her,” Aurora said simply.
“Yeah. She’s the only mother I’ve ever known. I was lucky to have had her in my life.”
“Yes, you were,” Aurora said, because she knew the alternative better than he did. He hoped his past didn’t bring up any pain for her, but she’d wanted to know and it felt good to let it all out.
“After a while, Serenity decided she wanted her own kids, not that she ever treated us differently. But she couldn’t get pregnant so she underwent fertility treatments.” He shook his head and grinned. “She had triplets—boys. They’re seventeen now. She also had an oops baby and she’s twelve. So I have eight siblings…which means Leah has six more uncles and two more aunts. She can even play with some of them. And that’s my family situation.”
Aurora smiled. “Thank you for telling me. Leah will be thrilled.”
“I’m glad you feel that way. And I appreciate you giving me the chance to talk about it. You know, from the day we met, I felt like I could say anything to you.”
“Yeah?” She sat up on her knees and wrapped her arms around his neck, something he took as a good sign.
“I understand that you don’t trust easily, and the reasons why. You need to know I didn’t bring you here expecting for us to have sex but—”
Before he could finish his sentence, she threw herself into his arms and pressed her lips to his.
Chapter Seven
Aurora had already decided to enjoy tonight, and deal with her concerns tomorrow. She and Nick had bonded over their painful family histories, and as she looked into his eyes, she knew she wanted him.
He stood, urging her to hook her legs around his waist and carried her towards the bedroom. “What are you doing?” she asked, laughing and holding onto him.
“Getting you in bed before you change your mind.” He paused in the doorway of a room that contained a king-sized bed. “You’re not having second thoughts, are you?”
She cupped his face in her hands. “No, Nick. I want to be with you.”
His eyes gleaming with desire, he strode into the room and gently dropped her onto the mattress. She leaned up on her elbows watching as he undid the button on her jeans and lowered the zipper.
He was getting right to it, she thought, biting down on her lower lip.
“Lift,” he said, and she had no problem following that order. She raised herself off the mattress and he wriggled her jeans over her hips and slid them off her legs and onto the floor. Her damp panties followed soon after.
He spread her legs and hooked them over his shoulders, lowering himself so he was eye level with her most intimate parts. Given the choice between squeezing her eyes shut and watching the need etching Nick’s handsome features, she chose to observe.
“You’re so wet for me,” he said in a gruff voice, running a finger over her sex. At his first touch, her hips jerked and he let out a pleased groan. “We were so young our first time. We missed out on so much. Tonight, I plan on savoring you.” As if to punctuate his words, he dipped his head and licked along the seam of her sex.