Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“You didn’t have to do that,” she whispers.
“Shut up, Rosie.”
She grins, loops her arms around my neck, and I lift her so she can circle my waist with her legs, and then we kiss again as I carry her to the counter. I set her down so my hands can roam and cover one perfect breast, teasing the hard nipple through her shirt.
She slips her hand under the hem of my T-shirt, and my muscles ripple when her sweet touch glides over my stomach and up my ribs.
“Baby girl, I have to get you home,” I whisper into her neck before I sink my teeth in and then suck.
I want to mark her.
I want everyone in the fucking world to know that this woman is mine.
“Mm,” she agrees, but she doesn’t pull away.
“Someone could see us,” I remind her and kiss her cheek. “And while we are married, no one gets to see us like this.”
She blinks up at me, as if she’s trying to understand my words through a thick fog. Finally, she takes a long, deep breath.
“I wouldn’t call myself an exhibitionist,” she says with a frown.
“We got caught up,” I reply. “And that was overdue. I just didn’t want to rush you.”
She brushes the tip of her finger over my bottom lip. “You’re going to break rule number five, aren’t you?”
“As soon as fucking possible.”
She doesn’t smile. With her eyes still on my mouth, she sighs, as if the weight of the world is on her shoulders.
“You have to talk to me, baby girl. I need your words here.”
Reluctantly, she looks up at me, and I don’t like the apprehension in her gaze. She swallows hard. “For eight years, the biggest regret of my life was the night we spent together.”
She might as well have taken a knife and sliced me from neck to cock. I can’t help the groan of despair that slips past my lips, and when I start to pull away, Millie frames my face in her hands and holds on.
“I didn’t know, Holden.”
“I’m so sorry. Because that night was the only bright spot in a world so dark, I thought I would die.”
She kisses my lips softly, tenderly, as if she’s comforting both of us.
“I know.” Her voice is a whisper. “I’m sorry, too. I’m taking number five off the list because I can’t make my body shut the fuck up.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “And what is your body saying, Rosie?”
She doesn’t answer. She bites that lip and pulls my hands around her until I’m hugging her and she’s resting her head against my chest.
“My body says to give in and climb you like a tree.”
Satisfaction fills me.
“But my heart—”
“It’s okay.” I press a kiss to the top of her head. “You can tell me.”
“It says to be very careful.”
I blow out a breath. “I understand.”
That has her pulling back and staring up at me in surprise. “You do?”
“Of course. We’re both carrying scars, Millie. There’s still a lot to talk about. I want you so much that I ache with it.”
Her eyes dilate.
“Hell, I spent the night holding you, and I wanted to slip inside of you so many times, but—”
“I knew it. My pillow smelled like you this morning.”
I grin down at her. “I snuck out before you woke up. I don’t plan to sleep alone again, by the way.”
“At the end of this year, when it’s over, just don’t be cruel, Holden. That’s all I ask.”
I want to tell her that it won’t be over. It’ll never be over, because Millie is mine. She belongs to me, just like my heart belongs to her, and she’ll never be rid of me.
Instead, I brush my lips over hers. “I’ll never intentionally hurt you again, little rose. I promise you that.”
She chuckles, making me frown.
“What’s so funny?”
“I said pretty much the same thing to Darby when your sisters came by and she was glaring at me and threatened to kill me if I hurt you.”
I’ll be having a conversation with my sister about death threats.
“So, it’s agreed, then. No intentionally hurting the other.”
“I like that agreement.”
Before I can sink into her again, her phone rings, and she scowls. She pulls her phone out of her pocket, and her eyes go wide.
“It’s Jake.” She taps the screen. “Hey, buddy, what’s up?”
“Aunt Mill?” I can hear his voice on the other end of the line, and he sounds miserable. I know that Jake is the teenager that Ryan adopted not long ago. He’s a good kid.
“Are you okay, Jake?” Millie asks as I step back to give her space.
“Yeah, I’m okay, but I ran out of gas and forgot my wallet at home. Are you in town? Can you help me out?”
“Of course, kiddo. Where are you?”
“I’m at the high school. I must have coasted in here on fumes this morning and didn’t realize it.”