Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Forcing myself to my feet so I can’t devour her again, I take off my clothes and toss them carelessly into a pile on the floor.
In the shower, I start with her hair, wetting it down and massaging her scalp. The entire time she’s staring up at me with a soft smile on her lips. There’s so much trust in her eyes that it about guts me.
For a moment, I let myself imagine what it’d be like to have someone to come home to. I imagine that I’m someone worth giving a damn over, someone that would have a pretty wife to smile at him.
This could be the afterglow. But even as I think those words, my soul knows I’m lying. I’ve loved Mackenzie with every beat of my heart for the last four years. Nothing will change that. Not time, not distance, and not even another man. There’s nothing that will stop me from loving Mackenzie.
I lather my shampoo into her hair then I rinse it before rubbing my body gel all along her curvy figure. I love that she’s going to smell like me for the rest of the night, especially after that hellhole I dragged her out of.
She arches into my touch. I took her so roughly, and yet she’s still looking up at me with stars in her eyes. I have to find a way to convince her to stay forever. I can’t let her go now that I’ve had her. I won’t survive that.
I towel her dry before I carry her into my bedroom. There’s a guest room in my cabin but hell if I’ll let her stay there. My queen belongs in my bed.
I gently place her between the sheets. I don’t dress her because I like the idea of her naked in my bed. I start to move back to the bathroom, a towel slung low on my hips. I was so damn focused on her that I left the water running.
She calls my name when I return. Fuck me, I want to memorize this moment. Her wet hair is falling around her shoulders in ringlets. Her smile is soft and her naked tits are on display. They’re tiny. I think she hates them. At least, if the way she’s always tugging at those padded bras is any indication. If it were up to me, I’d never have her wear a bra again. Or a shirt for that matter.
She pats the bed beside herself. For a moment, vulnerability flickers across her face. “I know this wasn’t anything but sex. But could I hang out for a little while?”
My throat is thick, and I swallow hard. I want to tell her that she’s mine forever and that’s how it’s going to be. I want to tie her to this bed and make her swear she’ll never leave me. But I have to make her fall in love with me first.
I manage a nod, settling in the bed beside her. I pull her onto my chest and rub her back. I’ll have to come up with a plan to keep her here in the morning. This can’t be the end of us. I won’t let it be.
“Tell me something,” I say to her. I’ve never been a cuddle type. Never really desired intimacy with a woman either. But it’s different with Mackenzie. I want to hold her every night for the rest of our lives and learn all of her secrets.
She hesitates. “You can’t tell him about it because it’s not official yet, and it would be a lot of travel. Plus, it could still fall apart. But the home channel wants me to do my own show.”
“Like your videos?” I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
Her cheeks pinken. “You know about those? I mean, it’s not exactly a huge secret. I just can’t imagine that you need home repair tips. Look at this place. It’s beautiful.”
I grin at her. “It’s not the home repair tips I keep coming back for.”
“You’re the only one I’ve told,” she admits softly.
Pride fills my heart. Both at the fact that I’m the only one who knows and at what she’s been able to accomplish with her show. “You’re incredible.”
Her fingertips skim along my chest, absently circling it. Even fully sated from earlier, my body hums to life under her touch. “There’s still a lot to work out, and I don’t want to disappoint him.”
I know that it would break Rogue’s heart to think she stayed for him and gave up her dream. But those aren’t words that need to come from me. He needs to be the one to reassure her that she can go after her dreams. “If you want to do it, you should.”
Her voice is quiet when she speaks again, “He’s all I have left.”