Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
His lips curve gently before he closes his eyes. “I’m scared, Wife.”
I squeeze his sides. “Let me in.”
Coleson exhales unsteadily and then presses his lips together as a stricken look takes over his features. His jaw is tight, the planes of his face showing the same strain, yet I’ve never seen a more handsome man in all my life.
“She played him—like a fucking puck. At every turn, she used his love to her advantage and to reap the benefits, but she didn’t give him any love back. It was like that with me, too. She’d dangle her love in front of us like a carrot, and we’d both do anything to get it. But she never truly intended to give it to us.”
I know who she was. His mom. That horrible excuse for a woman who gave birth to the man I love.
“We were just pawns in her game. A means to an end. And she broke my dad so thoroughly that he was worthless to me after she was gone. She never wanted me and blamed him for knocking her up. For burdening her with someone like me.”
Can I kill his mom? I don’t think I can, but damn if I don’t want to. “You aren’t a burden, Coleson. You are incredible, smart as a whip, talented, and so damn gorgeous. Anyone would be lucky to be a part of your life.”
“She never thought so.”
“Because I can only assume she was on the type of drugs that make you think you’re a zombie and want to eat people’s faces.” As I wanted, he laughs, even if it is quiet. “I want you—only you, Coleson.”
He tightens his grip on my neck and runs his nose along mine. “I’ve only ever truly wanted you. No one else. Just you.”
“You have me,” I whisper, kissing his jaw.
His eyes are closed as his lips move along my cheek with his husky whisper. “How do I keep you?”
My heart swells as chills run down my spine. “You just ask.”
“I don’t know how,” he admits in a low voice. “How do I just ask you to give up everything for me?”
“It’s easy,” I say softly. “Eliza—or as you like to say, Wife, be mine for real.”
“And you’ll say yes to that crap request?” he asks, the teasing in his voice making me grow hot everywhere.
“For you, I would.”
He shakes his head. “Raise your standards, Wife. Make me work for it.”
I cup his jaw as I giggle. “I know when to make you work for it, Husband. Just ask me when you’re ready, and I’ll give you my answer.”
His lips trail along my cheek, the side of my mouth, before stopping at my lips. He doesn’t kiss me, only breathes me in as he holds me tight. He doesn’t even have to speak for me to know his mind is going a million miles a second. I give him the time he needs, though. Coleson isn’t one to be rushed, and I know my patience will pay off. I know, in the end, this man will be mine.
And I’ll be his.
Forever.
CHAPTER 39
Coleson
The events of the day have been a lot.
I honestly don’t know or even understand who would want to send a girl to my room. I’m sure it was someone on the team, probably Andrews since he already hates me for what his best friend’s wife and I did, but also because I got called up over him. I don’t want to think that way, though. I don’t want to give him any more of my energy than he has already stolen. It’s bad enough I have to deal with him on a regular basis when I play; I don’t want him to ruin this moment for me. The moment I step onto the ice as a Nashville Assassin.
I hate that I’m tired. I was only able to nap for maybe thirty minutes between my racing thoughts concerning my wife. I told her she needed to raise her standards when it came to my asking her to be mine forever. However, I’m surprised I didn’t just scream it in her face after how she handled the situation with my apparent “afternoon entertainment.” I don’t know how she is so amazing. Her confidence is beautiful, and her sunshiny personality makes me grin so hard I know my dimples are on display. I can feel them.
I always knew she wasn’t my mom; no one could be as completely vile as that woman. That’s not what kept me from committing to Eliza fully. It may have started that way, but now, it’s that she’s too damn good for me. Thinking that, though, I can’t help but understand it’s not true anymore.
She is too good for the guy I used to be. But the man I am with her may just deserve her. Fuck, I want to deserve her. I want to wake up with her in my arms. To watch her grin at me. Have her bitch at me for making a mess. I want to be on the receiving end of a love I never thought I’d have. A love I thought didn’t exist. At least, not for me.