Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115737 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115737 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
He nods, combing his fingers through my hair. ‘I’m just so sorry that—’
I take his nape and pull him closer, our lips nearly touching. ‘I’ll be okay,’ I say, cutting him off. ‘I have you, so I know I’ll be okay.’ I’m mindful that my hurt could eat him alive if I let it. I mustn’t let it.
‘I’ve put you through so much,’ he whispers.
‘I put myself through it,’ I point out. This isn’t just his doing. I accepted the repercussions the moment I knowingly got caught up in a web of lies and deceit with a married man. I just didn’t anticipate the extent of the pain and heartache we would go through. I didn’t anticipate Stephanie.
His lip curves a little. ‘I didn’t exactly give you much choice, did I?’
‘You mean when you relentlessly tempted me with your gorgeousness?’
He closes the space between our mouths and kisses me carefully. ‘I knew I was supposed to find you drunk in that bar that night.’
‘I wasn’t drunk.’
‘Of course you weren’t.’ He smiles against my mouth. ‘Want some help in the shower?’
I nod against him and let him help me up from the couch, making myself keep the slight discomfort quiet so he can’t withdraw from his end of the deal.
‘You’re in pain, aren’t you?’ he muses as he holds my waist, walking behind me and matching my sluggish pace.
‘I’m fine,’ I retort, my face screwing up a little when an unexpected shot of pain bolts through my thigh. I’m still limping slightly, but I’m pretty sure that’s simply because of my lack of regular movement. My muscles and bones are just objecting any time I move because they’re used to feeling redundant.
Jack guides me into the bathroom and flicks on the shower. I hate myself for it, but I have to sit on the toilet seat while he starts collecting towels. I’m exhausted from that short, leisurely stroll from one end of my flat to the other. He doesn’t miss my movement, raising knowing eyebrows at me that I choose to ignore as I start to remove my T-shirt. I lose sight of him when I pull it over my head, and when I win the sight of him back, he’s removed his own T-shirt. I smile at his abs, his chest, his downright stunning torso. And I sigh.
I drop my T-shirt to the floor as Jack unfastens his jeans. Slowly. Then pushes them down his thick thighs. Slowly. He’s purposeful and means to be. Things happen between my legs that haven’t happened for a long while.
‘I’ll wash you down.’ His jeans hit the floor. ‘Up for it?’
I fly up from the toilet seat. And yelp. ‘Fuck!’ I drop back down and grab the sink, breathing through the pain.
‘Annie!’ Jack’s kneeling before me in the blink of an eye, assessing my condition. ‘Take it easy.’
My cheeks puff out as I exhale, looking up at him. ‘Ouch,’ I murmur pitifully.
‘Okay. No outing. It’s too soon. And no joint shower.’
I growl and grab his hair, yanking him forward threateningly. ‘You’re coming in!’ I hiss. ‘And then you’re taking me out.’
‘Fuck, Annie!’ He chuckles as he reaches up to prise my clawed fingers away. ‘Okay, okay.’
‘Good.’ I go back to breathing, cool and controlled. ‘Sorry for being so insistent.’
Jack laughs, a proper belly laugh. It’s like music to my ears. ‘I look forward to a lifetime of insistence, gorgeous.’ He rises before me, offering his hand. ‘Ready?’
I take his hand and let him gently ease me up and strip me of my shorts, knickers and bra before directing me patiently to the shower. ‘What do you expect when you brandish that body, anyway?’ I ask, hearing him chuckle. ‘And look at me like that. And speak to me in that tone. And say those things.’
‘I’ll keep my mouth shut.’ He gently turns me at the shower bench and helps me down. ‘And keep my clothes on,’ he adds.
‘You don’t have to do that,’ I object. That would be a travesty.
My bum meets the wood of the shower bench and I grimace, hating needing it. I was hoping today would be the day I’d be able to stand while I have a shower. ‘I feel like an invalid,’ I grumble, watching Jack drop to his knees before me.
‘You are,’ he points out, making my face screw up more. He takes the sponge and wets it under the spray, adding some shower gel. He clasps my ankle and gently lifts, keeping a cautious eye on my face for any hint of pain. ‘You good?’ he asks, just to be sure, and I nod. ‘Good.’ He starts soaping me down. ‘Want me to shave your legs?’
I look down at my legs, reaching to smooth up my skin. I’ve been trying to shave, but with limited movement comes limited reach. ‘Please.’ I can’t believe we’re at this place in our relationship already, but Jack’s completely unperturbed by the task and happily fetches the razor and starts running it up my leg in precise, gentle strokes. ‘Our love has reached a whole new level,’ I muse to myself, seeing his mouth stretch into a smile as he carries on with his self-appointed job.