Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 32988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 165(@200wpm)___ 132(@250wpm)___ 110(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 165(@200wpm)___ 132(@250wpm)___ 110(@300wpm)
He took a step closer, and he realized why he hadn't been able to detect her presence early on. She was using the scent-masking spray that Jean Luc had invented, and it was vastly effective.
His gaze drifted back to his daughter's grave, and it was then he saw the pink roses on the ground. "Those are from you?"
She nodded.
"I see them often, and I wondered who it was that always left roses for my baby girl."
"I just felt Rosey would enjoy it," Juliette confessed.
There was a slight pause, and when her guardian spoke, his voice was taut with emotion. "I think she would, too."
Juliette's heart ached. "I'm sorry, Gaël. I'm really so sorry." She knew it had been years since his daughter died, but she could see in her guardian's gaze that the pain was still raw and vivid.
"It hurts to think of her still," Gaël said roughly.
Juliette could no longer help it, and she threw her arms around him.
"Rosey is in a good place now," she whispered. "I'm sure she's looking after you from heaven, and she wouldn't want you to stay sad like this."
Gaël squeezed his eyes shut. "She was just too fucking young, you know?"
Juliette could only nod as her own eyes started to sting. If only she could take away his pain! If only!
Gaël's arms eventually eased from her, but just as she started feeling empty, Juliette was startled when his hand took hers in a grip...and didn't let go.
They started walking, and having him hold her hand as they did made her want to cry. They had never done this before. Never. And because of what the future held, this might also be the first and last time he could ever hold her hand.
I love you, Gaël. I love you.
She had always been in love with him. Always. It was something she was now absolutely certain of, but because she had also thought he was out of her league, she had never really thought anything would come out of it.
And yet now...
Juliette bit her lip hard when it started to tremble. The nights she had spent reaching the heavens in his arms had been so beautiful...and they had made her hope for more. She had even allowed herself to think they had a chance...until what Aprilynne had revealed.
Knowing what she did now meant that she would have to eventually close the door on her feelings. But before she had to let him go, there was just one last thing she wanted to do, and that was...
"Gaël?"
They had just reached the back of the house when Juliette whispered his name, and he turned to her in question. "What is it, my darling?"
"May I go to your room tonight?"
His grip on her hand tightened. Even with all the times he had pleasured and made her cum, not once had Juliette taken the initiative. Not once. This was the first time...and the fact that it was made Gaël unable to resist her invitation.
Juliette's heart pounded against her chest as Gaël led her up the stairs, and she could barely breathe when they were finally standing in front of his bedroom door.
He glanced at her, and she knew he was giving her one last chance to back out. Are you certain about this?
Juliette nodded, and a storm of emotions assailed her heart as her guardian drew her in.
This was really happening...wasn't it?
Gaël's bedroom was massive and masculine, and its furniture subtle in its elegance with its mix of dark wood and black leather. It was a perfect reflection of her guardian's personality, but she had no time to think beyond this with Gaël suddenly sweeping her up in his arms.
Ah!
Her back hit the door as he started kissing her, and her legs automatically locked around his waist as she kissed him back. Whereas he always used to be gentle and tender, this time his mouth was moving over hers with rough hunger, and oh, how she loved it. He seemed just a little wilder and less controlled, and that was exactly what she needed, in order to carry out her plan.
His tongue dove into her mouth as he lifted her off the door, and she sucked on his tongue as he started to walk.
A breathless laugh escaped her when he let her tumble down and bounce on his big, soft bed, but the sound quickly turned into a moan that was just as breathless when he started undressing her.
"You're so damn hot, my darling."
A whimper slipped past her lips at the desire-thickened sound of his voice, and she could only whimper yet again when he had all of her clothes on the floor in moments. Just like that, she was completely naked under him, but when he started to move down her body, Juliette quickly shook her head and rose to her knees.