Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 104127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Once dry, I make my way to the bed to see what Gideon left for me.
A million things race through my head, and I can’t help but smile with excitement. My heart beats so fast that it feels like it’s going to burst.
I open the box, pulling out the tissue paper first and placing it on the bed. Then I see what he bought me: a red silk slip dress. It’s beautiful and delicate and looks like lingerie. Placing the dress on the bed, I see a note in the box.
Firefly,
A gift for you. One I hope you’ll slip on and wear to my room tonight.
I don’t waste a moment doing exactly as he’s asked. Slipping the dress on, I head back into the bathroom to put on makeup.
Even though I’ve been staying in Gideon’s room for the past few weeks, I have yet to move my stuff in.
Why?
Because that would make this feel real.
Which it’s not.
It feels like ice-cold water is poured over my head. That inner voice calls up my deepest, growing fear.
This is no fairy tale.
The villain doesn’t end up with the girl.
There is no happily ever after for us.
Eventually, the threat will be gone, and so will I.
The thought is sobering, but I push it away, desperate to hold on to the excitement from moments earlier instead. That is something I’ll have to truly deliberate on later. For now, I’ll happily live in this fairy tale a while longer.
I wonder where we’re going that he has me wearing this?
It’s beautiful.
I can’t wait for Gideon to see me in it.
With that thought at the forefront, I pick up my pace.
Twenty minutes later, with freshly blown hair and a light dusting of makeup, I leave my room and head to Gideon’s. I’m practically sprinting down the hallway, my heart racing with each step I take.
Calm down, Sasha.
This thing between Gideon and you is just sex.
Then why does it feel like it’s more?
When I see the door, I stop short and stare at it.
What am I doing?
I’m freaking out over a man who will never be mine, yet as my arm lifts and my hand forms a fist to knock, I can’t help the butterflies that take flight in my stomach at the thought of seeing him again.
We’ve only been apart for an hour, but I can still feel him inside me. And despite the fact I just had him, I want him again.
As I’m about to knock, the door flies open, and Gideon is standing inside the door, shirt half-buttoned as if I caught him in the middle of getting dressed. My gaze travels the length of his body, admiring the tan, muscled skin as he buttons the last one.
I want to beg him to take it off, to throw me on the floor and ravish me, but I don’t. Instead, I give him a small smile, a shy one, and step into the room.
My heart races as I walk farther into his space.
The moment I do, my eyes go wide, and my heart hammers.
A table for two is set perfectly with a white tablecloth, crystal glasses, and a bottle of champagne chilling in a silver bucket. In the corner, silver domed plates filled with food sit, ready to be presented.
How much time and effort went into this?
Why would he do this all for me?
I furrow my brow as I stare at the beautiful decadence in front of me.
“What?” Gideon steps up beside me, and I turn to face him. “You have a serious look on your face.”
“Why did you do this?” My voice is full of awe.
“Because I wanted to take you out, but I couldn’t?”
I turn toward him. “Why not?”
“It’s not safe. When I took you the last time, we knew there was a threat, but I had time to plan every detail of the security that night. Tonight, I didn’t.”
“But you still planned this despite everything going on?” I ask tentatively.
He nods. “I did.”
Offering a genuine smile, I offer my gratitude. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
Gideon’s hand reaches out and takes mine in his. Then he leads me toward the table.
As we walk into the room, I am enveloped in warmth. The flickering light of the candles casts a soft, golden glow over everything in the room. It’s mesmerizing, like watching a beautiful fire burning in the fireplace on a frosty night.
He pulls out the seat for me, and I’m rendered speechless by the effort he has put forward to give me the date of my dreams. Then he sets off to grab the plates.
Once I’m sitting, I allow my eyes to close and take a deep breath, letting the candle’s scent fill my lungs. Vanilla and lavender—two of my favorite scents. I let out a long sigh and open my eyes.
Gideon is watching me from across the table. When he sat is a mystery to me. I was too wrapped up in the ambience that he arranged.