Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
He wants a ready-made life, to start right now.
He doesn’t want to wait.
“I want you to tattoo half a heart onto me,” he goes on huskily. “And then, once I’ve claimed that gorgeous virgin body, tattoo the other half.”
“A heart,” I murmur, thinking of love. “That’s quite the symbol.”
His lips twitch. “I know. But I meant what I said before, Freya. I’ve never felt this way about anybody.”
“What way?” I whisper.
It would be so easy to misinterpret this.
I continuously warn myself – and it’s getting tiring – to slow my thoughts down. It’s like they want to gallop ahead, ignoring reason and common sense.
His intense eyes glint. I’m sure he’s thinking more than he’s sharing.
“Like I’m ready to start something,” he says.
“You’ve never wanted a relationship before?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “I tried since it was what everybody else does. But I couldn’t force it. I couldn’t make myself into a man who cared deeply and honestly for a woman…and then I saw you. And it all changed. Right then.”
My body thrums with his words, the force of them surging through me. He wants me…fine, maybe not in the exact same sense, but way more intensely than a casual fling.
“Shame you were hired to kill me,” I whisper, trying for a laugh.
He leans down, kissing the edge of my mouth tenderly.
“I never wanted that life. I wish I’d gone after Mr. Red earlier.”
“But you couldn’t risk Yasmin or Felicia.”
He nods grimly. “But still. How many people have died while I’ve been working for this bastard? And I bought his story about being some honest…what, death broker?”
I grab his chest with both hands, feeling his heart slamming, pounding like a thousand emotions are trying to break free.
“You’re fixing it now, Felix. You’re a good person.”
“I try to be,” he says.
I laugh, shaking my head. “You saved my life. You were hired to kill me. But you took a stand when you found out I wasn’t like the others.”
It’s my turn to initiate the kiss now.
Standing on my tiptoes, I lean toward my experienced man, pressing firmly against his lips. He kisses me in return, his hands looping around my waist, pressing on the small of my back and driving our bodies closer together.
His manhood is so hard, pressing against me hungrily.
“What do you think?” he asks, his breath caressing my face. “About the tattoo?”
“Are you sure you trust me?” I murmur.
“I remember how passionate you were, talking about it,” he says intensely. “I believe in you. I trust you.”
“Then…I think it would make it really special. Half a heart before, and half….”
I trail off again, thinking about after, the sex, the if I’m going to be able to give him what he wants.
“After,” he whispers.
“But what about if we split up?” I say. “Won’t you regret it?”
“Split up? Does that mean we’re in a relationship?”
“I….” My mouth is dry, my throat tight, my hopes fierce. “Do you want to be?”
“You’re my girlfriend,” he says. “Hell, Freya, I considered you mine from the first moment I saw you.”
I smile widely, joy beaming through me, even as I realize he dodged the question.
He didn’t tell me no, we’ll never split up. We’re in this forever.
But I decide to let it pass for now.
“Are you ready?” he asks, gesturing at the chair and the tools.
I swallow, willing myself to focus. “Yes, I think so.”
“You can do this.” He cradles my face in my hands, looking at me supportively. “I know you can.”
CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN
Felix
I sit on the chair shirtless, Freya beside me, the tattoo gun aimed at my non-bandaged shoulder.
She looks so cute, so beautiful, so everything as she bites her lip, concentrating.
She’s tied her wavy hair in a bun, highlighting her face, rosy cheeks, and gorgeous eyes. I’m obsessed with every inch of her. I could spend the next several hours simply watching her.
“I’ve never tattooed real skin before,” she murmurs.
Reaching over, I touch her face, feeling the warmth blazing through her skin. “Don’t be scared. Just think of what it means.”
Children, a future….
I’ve skirted so close to telling her the truth, to simply letting it all out, but I stop when I think about shattering what we’re building.
She doesn’t know my seed’s roaring at me to strip her naked, own her body, fuck her so passionately her core has no choice but to take everything I have.
I told her I’d never felt this way before. It’s the truth. But it’s not even close to the whole truth.
Still, at least she’s agreed to by my girlfriend. No other man will touch her.
She nods, then her eyes flit to me, then down.
“What is it?” I ask.
She laughs gently. “It doesn’t matter.”
“It does to me,” I say fiercely.
After a sigh, she murmurs, “It’s just that I want it to be special for both of us. I know it can’t be exactly the same. But it’s my first time.”