Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
But even in such an eloquent ensemble, I can’t take my eyes off her chest. The tight top of her dress squeezes her breasts until they’re nearly spilling out, no doubt due to the pregnancy making them swell.
Fuck, she’s beautiful.
Henry brings her to my side before he joins the men behind me. The priest starts his sermon, but his words fall on deaf ears. I’m locked in a trance, glued to Melina’s perfection. He has to tap me on the shoulder to snap me out of my daze when it’s my turn to say my vows.
“Do you, Malik Amine, take Melina Remington to be your wife?” he asks.
“I do.” It comes without hesitation.
So does Melina’s, when it’s her turn to answer.
“You may now kiss the bride.”
And I kiss her all right. Lost in a haze of her enchanting smile, I can’t pull myself away from her. It takes a chuckling Henry grabbing my arms and tugging me aside to break me from my trance.
“Calm down, fella. There’s old folks around,” he snickers.
But I ignore his words and take Melina’s hands in mine. I bring one to my mouth and kiss across her finger, where a ring sits and will for the rest of time.
“You are the light of my life, Melina. You’ve given me so much, and I can never repay you. But I will love you until the end of days,” I speak without care for who hears. My words turn Melina’s cheeks a dark shade of pink, tears flooding her eyelids.
“And I love you, my big, softy husband,” she teases and flings her arms around my shoulders.
I couldn’t dream of a better start to the rest of our lives.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
MELINA
Seven Years Later
If someone told me this was where my life would end up the day I stepped onto Malik’s soil, I’d call them crazy. After all these years, I’m still madly in love with Malik. We have two beautiful baby girls. My dad even managed to convince him to leave the old world behind him and move to my own country.
Part of me still believes it’s because my dad wouldn’t be able to go without seeing me. No matter his reasons, it makes my heart swell with love for everyone around me.
I step into Malik’s office unannounced. He grumbles at the intrusion, opening his mouth to chew out whoever bothered him without warning.
“I told yo—Melina? What are you doing here?” Malik’s stature shifts from stern and business-ready to the lovable giant he shows me in private. “I thought you were spending the day with the kids before we got some time alone for our anniversary.”
“You remembered?” My smile grows so wide, it makes my cheeks hurt.
“Remembered? How could I forget? Seven years together is a big deal.” Malik jumps out of his chair and kisses me hello as I round his desk.
Apart from a single tuft of graying hair on the side of his head, Malik hasn’t aged a day. If anything, he’s only grown another layer of dense muscle over his already bulky frame.
“I thought I’d come to surprise you,” I finally answer his question. “Dad came over early, and he’s keeping an eye on the kids until you’re finished.”
“Wait a minute.” His eyes narrow. “Does that mean he’s joining us this evening?”
“I didn’t have the heart to say no to him. And the girls are excited. They spent all day making you cute little gifts,” I whine and give him the big puppy dog eyes he can never say no to.
“Fine, he can join, but you’ll have to make it up to me.” Malik places a hand on my skirt.
“Oh, I’m sure I can do that.” I slip off the edge of his desk and drop into his lap. “After tonight, we have the whole weekend to ourselves to do whatever would make this right.”
“All these years, and you still tickle my brain in unimaginable ways,” Malik says in a husky whisper.
He leans in to kiss my neck, nibbling gently up to my jaw before our mouths collide. And right on cue, I feel the first jerk of his ever-stiffening manhood.
“Slow down, tiger,” I whisper in his ear. “We still have to get through the building. You’ll make it much harder with this tent in your pants.”
“Fuck ‘em,” Malik groans. “Nothing stands between me and my woman.”
And he’s proven it time and time again. The man he killed to get closer to me. The fights in bars and nightclubs when someone tried touching me. And even cashiers at retail stores when I bought new shirts. Malik has defended me from the very beginning, and he’s never going to stop.
“You know I fall deeper in love with you every time you go and say something silly like that, right?” I press a gentle kiss on his forehead but get off his lap to stop him from losing control.