Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
She breathes out a sigh of relief and looks at me. “You two are together?”
I entwine my fingers with his and swallow hard.
A fierce realization hits me. I shouldn’t have left. I see now that I let my fear dictate my choices. Nothing, no person or danger or power on this earth, will keep me away from him.
I saw the way he looked at me. I saw the look in his eyes when he came for me. And I know why.
I know that Thayer loves me, and I know I’ll never, ever settle for anything less than this fierce, consuming, intense love of his. Of ours.
“We are.”
Avril smiles, her whole pretty face lighting up. “Good,” she says simply. “I’m happy to hear that.”
We head upstairs. The events of the past few days weigh heavily on my mind. I play them over and over and over again, until I wish I could push pause on the replay button and stop for a little while. I don’t want to think about any of this anymore.
Thayer and I have hardly said two words to each other.
And now it’s time.
I’ve been here many times, but I’ve really only ever seen the majestic, beautiful rooms they use for entertaining. I’ve never seen the inside of any of the bedrooms, much less his.
When I came here seeking refuge, I never imagined I’d be where I am today.
With Thayer… as his.
In his bedroom.
Craving a reconnection that transcends words, discussion, dialogue, and anything that human frailty demands to clumsily find our way back to truth and togetherness. Craving a reconnection that only the two of us understand.
On the cusp of telling him news that will change our lives forever.
We kiss on the landing. At first, it’s sweet and poignant. My cheeks are wet with tears at the feel of his fingers in my hair, his lips on mine, and the naked truth of who we are together. As we kiss, my protests fall away like our disguises, leaving nothing but our true selves. I can hardly remember why I turned away to begin with.
With every step he takes toward his room, toward being alone and bared to each other once more, our kiss grows more sensual. The thrilling touch of his tongue to mine. The tingling current of arousal that threads its way through my belly and between my legs. The swelling of my breasts pressed up against the wall of his chest. The ache to be filled by him.
The door shuts behind us like an afterthought.
He slides me down the length of his body to the floor so he can stand me up, then holds me as he drops to his knees, kissing his way down the length of my body. I gasp when he kisses my belly.
Does he know?
“Thayer,” I whisper, threading my fingers through his hair as he moans against my skin, as if savoring the scent, taste, and feel of me, committing them to memory.
“Savannah.” His voice is choked, vibrating with emotion. He’s as vulnerable as a child when he meets my eyes, every guard he’s ever put up gone and in its place nothing but love and adoration. “I thought I lost you. I thought they won. I made the decision that I would find you, that I would fight for you, that I’d do whatever it took to find you again and bring you back to me.”
Kneeling in front of me, he presses his face to my thighs and wraps his arms around me, embracing me. Holding me to him as if he never wants to let me go.
“Thayer,” I repeat, my own voice tremulous. “I knew. I knew deep down inside that you’d come for me. I left because I was so angry with you. But I know now why you did what you did.”
“Yes,” he says, his voice taking on the harsh tone I’m so familiar with. “And I’d do it again. Jesus, woman, are you in a world of trouble when I get you back to the club.”
I can’t help but smile at that. I’m here for it.
“We’re going to put this all behind us,” he says. He saw to it with his own hands that no one will come after me now. Finally, finally, the danger has passed and now we face… us.
“I have something to tell you.”
His gaze meets mine and I can’t hold it in any longer.
“I’m pregnant,” I blurt out. After everything we’ve been through, he needs to know.
He blinks. Looks up at me as if I’d just told him I decided to move to outer space. Cups my ass in his big, strong hands and stares up at me.
“Say that again.”
Okay, so it’s safe to say he didn’t know.
I swallow the lump in my throat but can’t stop my voice from coming out all trembly. “I’m pregnant,” I repeat, this time on a whisper.