Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
“Sorry,” he mutters against my lips. “I just seem to lose control around you. That’s not something a man likes to admit.”
“It’s not that I don’t want you, too, Seven. I do. It’s just that you remember the way we were and for all intents and purposes…this is our first date.”
“You don’t know me, Gracie, but I need you to understand that I have waited my entire life for you and I’m going to stay right here until you’re ready. I’m not going anywhere.”
He rolls to his back and pulls me close until my head lies on his chest. His lips press against my hair as he kisses the top of my head, making my heart clench.
“Tell me about how we met,” I ask, gently putting my hand on his stomach. I feel his body tense beneath my touch and the silence stretches between us.
Finally, Seven clears his throat and speaks. “We met at the diner where you were a waitress. I was there on a blind date, but I took one look at you and knew you were the one immediately. One look and you were all I ever wanted in the world, Gracie—then and now.”
A laugh bursts from my lips. “From one look? Now you’re just laying it on thick.”
I feel him shake his head. “I’m completely serious. I have always felt alone. I didn’t have parents. I mean, I had my brothers. We were all in the same facility, but we weren’t close until we were free.”
“Free? Do you mean that you were in an orphanage and had to age out?” I ask, not quite understanding. It just seems like foreign terminology.
“Something like that,” he says. “The important thing for you to know is that I’ve always felt alone and longed for the one person who made me feel like I belonged. I wanted the person who felt like home, the other half of me.”
“You really believe that’s possible, don’t you?” I’m still skeptical, even as his words wrap around me, making me want to believe it could be true.
“I’ve been telling you I do. All I’m asking is for a chance to prove to you that I’m right.”
Before I can answer him, he tilts my head back, leans down and kisses me again.
It’s a kiss that feels like a promise.
17
#7
(STARK)
I flop down on the couch in the main room, surprised to see Ettie and Leo in here, along with Oracle and Sean. My finger grazes my lips as I remember kissing Grace goodnight. She’s already asleep in our room. We don’t need as much sleep as humans, leaving me hanging out here. How is it that I already miss her? My heart is pounding double-time in my chest. I’m damn happy. I don’t know how, but now I’m sure everything will work out.
I let out a heavy sigh, drawing everyone’s eyes to me. “I’m in love.”
I get hit in the side of the head with a pillow Sean lobs at me. “You’re a dingbat. Grace is your mate. Of course, you’re in love.”
“Yeah, but this is better than I imagined. I finally feel complete.” I rub my chest where the empty feeling used to nag at me, causing pain during some of my darkest days.
“I understand. That’s exactly how I feel with Ettie.”
“Ugh,” Sean heaves. “You’re all making me sick.”
“Stop being such a spoilsport,” Leo says.
“Yeah,” I add. “I can give you a list of dating sites if you want.”
“You didn’t find your mate on an app,” Sean bites back.
“Maybe she wasn’t the girl I was set up with but without that useless date, I never would’ve seen Gracie. Now, I just have to make her fall in love with me.”
“You know Stark that might be easier if you would just be honest with her. Lying might cause irreparable harm,” Ettie warns, giving me a look. Guilt floods through me as she chastises me for doing something I know I shouldn’t. I don’t think Ettie understands that I just don’t have a choice.
“I’m doing the best I can,” I finally respond, rubbing the back of my neck, looking anywhere but at her. I know what I’m doing is wrong, but what if it’s for the right reason? “The last thing I want to do is lie or hurt her. She’s everything to me.”
“You need to claim her,” Oracle says. He’s sitting down in the corner by himself. That’s not unusual. He tends to keep himself apart from us. It is strange that he’s relaxing with us. That has almost never happened. “I don’t understand why that seems so hard for you to do. You’re getting as bad as Leo. What part do any of you not understand? Claiming your mate is imperative to protecting them. Just get the deed over with. By the time her memory comes back, you will be bonded, and all this will be moot.” He looks off to his right, nodding. “I know they are coming my butterfly. Let them come.”