Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
“That smells wonderful.” He stated the obvious. “Tell me how you cooked it.” That was the other thing he loved. Hearing the enthusiasm in her voice when she talked about doing what she loved. He would never be able to repeat what she said, but he listened to every word, every nuance of her tone.
“It’s nothing special, honey,” she said. She put the roast on the center island.
He crowded her, leaning in to kiss her neck. “Tell me.” He couldn’t very well say he craved the sound of her voice when she talked about cooking almost as much as he loved eating what she’d made for them.
“Silly.” She scoffed, but she did as he asked. She nearly always did – in the end. Sometimes it took a little persuasion. Those were the times he knew he had a green light to be wholly himself. “It’s just a pork roast. Oven is 325 degrees. Roast, pork skin side up covered in parchment. I add a couple of cups of water and then foil over the parchment. When it’s done, I remove the covering and then broil it for five to ten minutes until crispy.” She showed him the roast. “It looks like that. I’m about to make the sauce by pouring the drippings into marinade that I saved from this morning and boiling it until it thickens. We have dinner!”
“What are you serving with it?”
“Fried sweet plantains, rice, green beans and pumpkin flan.”
“Baby, you are amazing.” He kissed her neck again and then left her to make her sauce.
Setting and clearing the table was his self-appointed job. After, they often washed and dried the dishes together rather than use the dishwasher.
“Actually, Joshua, I think you are. Thanks for making my life really wonderful. I had no idea anyone could ever be so happy.” It came out in a little rush. She touched her temple and then ran her finger down the front of her tight tee, right over her nipple. The bruise had long since healed, but it still bothered her that Nikita had put his hands on her. “You came for me. I knew you would. I was able to stay calm and think, because I knew you’d come for me.”
He cleared his throat as he put the dishes on the table, his heart accelerating. She did that to him, when staring down a madman hadn’t. She hadn’t talked about her time with Nikita, only telling him the minimum, and he hadn’t pushed her. She’d dealt with far too much that day. The revelations about him. About Sasha. The fear of being kidnapped twice in the same day. He had been so afraid she would believe his bullshit story when he’d walked so brazenly in on Nikita and Filat. He’d known both men were extremely violent. He’d also known no woman was safe around them.
“I’ll always come for you, Sonia,” he assured. “I have to admit, knowing you were in their hands scared the hell out of me. I haven’t gotten over it. I don’t like you out of my sight. When you’re working, I listen all the time for the sound of your voice.”
She sent him a smile over her shoulder and it warmed him. Stirred his body. Every look on her face, from sweet and happy to sexy to angry, wreaked havoc with his body, but it wasn’t a bad problem to have.
“I haven’t wanted you too far from me either,” she admitted. “I send the guys into town for supplies because I’m a little afraid to go by myself.”
It was the first time she’d ever acknowledged that. He’d guessed it, but she’d never told him. “Next time you want to go into town, tell me and I’ll go with you.”
“You have your own work. I am not going to disturb you.”
He set glasses out. She liked sparkling water. It wasn’t his favorite, but it was hers and he made certain the house was always stocked with it. “I like going into town with you, babe. No big deal. Ask me next time.”
She sent him a look, her nose wrinkling. “You always sound bossy.”
“Because I’m the boss.”
She made another face, but there was laughter in her eyes that faded quickly. “I couldn’t believe when you walked into that room. I was terrified for you. I didn’t understand what you were doing. After I heard the owls, I knew you were waiting for a signal to let you know the outside guards had been taken care of.”
He nodded. She needed to talk. She still hadn’t gotten to what had happened to her when she was alone with Nikita and Filat.
“Why didn’t Evan come to back you up?”
“He had to chase down some of the leopards running away. Which reminds me, I’ve been biding my time, but tonight is the night.”