Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 23750 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23750 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
“I’m all yours,” she tells me, standing on her tiptoes with her face upraised. I lean down to meet her and kiss her. I pray that never changes.
Chapter Ten
Lucy
I stare out the window, taking everything in as Orlando drives. “It’s so pretty out here. I see why you came back.”
“I’m glad I came back here, too, or I wouldn't have you.” I turn to look at him. That’s sweet in a dark kind of way. The reason he’s here is because he was hurt. That he’d choose taking the pain so he could have found me speaks to how much this man loves me. How did I get so lucky to find a man like him? I’m not sure, but I won’t take it for granted.
I reach for his hand and lock our fingers together. “I love you,” I tell him. I want to say it over and over again. When he said it to me that first time I wanted to cry I was so happy. It made me finally feel settled. A missing piece slid into place and I was home. Really home.
“Love you too, little one.” He gives my hand a small squeeze. I perk up when the small quaint town comes into sight.
“Did you grow up here?” I ask, wanting to know more about my husband.
He nods. “Yeah, but I never come to town.”
“If you don’t want to, we don’t have to.” I don’t want to make him do anything that he doesn't want. Everyone keeps says how he never goes anywhere. Doc John couldn't get out of our way fast enough for us to be able to leave.
“You wanted to come, so we’re going to go. I can’t hold you hostage in our house forever.”
“Sounds fun.” I wiggle my eyebrows at him. I can’t stop my teasing with him when it comes to sex. We have not gone any further than him going down on me and him letting me touch him with my hands. I haven't been pushing, really, but I do tease. I love the flash of hunger I see in his eyes when I do it. It makes my body tingle all over.
“I'll remind you of that comment,” he teases back.
“Promises, promises.” We pull into a parking lot. Orlando hops out and opens the door for me. I step out, taking his hand as he pulls me close.
“This place has wonderful Italian food,” he tells me as he leads me into a small restaurant. It's cute and warm.
“I want to go to Italy one day,” I say absently as we’re led to our table by the hostess. Her eyes bounce between the two of us like she knows us but remains silent.
“I’ll take you if you want.”
“You hate leaving home,” I remind him with a small laugh.
“I’d do anything for you.” He leans low, nuzzling my neck. I melt into him. “Besides, I’d love to see your face when you see it. You always light up when you get something you want.” His sweet words make my heart flutter. He must see that look a lot because he is always doing whatever it is I want to do.
He orders us so many things from the menu. Pretty soon our table is groaning with various dishes and bowls. We eat and laugh and have the best time. My face hurts from smiling so much. I notice people turn to look at us, some saying hi to Orlando by name and asking about his parents. Their gazes always linger on me for a moment, studying me like we’ve met before. Orlando is quick to rush them off.
When we leave the restaurant, we walk down the street and he points out all the little shops, telling me what each are.
“Ice cream?” He nods at the ice cream shop.
“I’m not sure I can.” I put my hand over my belly. We ate so much, but still my eyes linger on the different types of ice cream they have. I freeze when a piece of paper taped to the front of the store catches my eye.
Orlando lets go of a string of curses as I stare at the picture of myself with the word Missing over it. His hold on me tightens as he guides me from the store, picking up his pace. I almost have to run to keep up with him as he keeps his arm locked around me, making sure I don’t go anywhere that he isn't guiding me.
When he opens the car door I slip inside. He latches my seatbelt, and when he pulls back he kisses me hard and deep, desperation leaking into the kiss for a moment, before shutting the door and running around to the other side and hopping in, taking off back towards the house without saying anything about what we’d seen.