Total pages in book: 189
Estimated words: 178200 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 891(@200wpm)___ 713(@250wpm)___ 594(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 178200 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 891(@200wpm)___ 713(@250wpm)___ 594(@300wpm)
It was only when he was in the privacy of his study did he call Bart. “Tell me everything.”
“Our stocks are down by five percent and it's expected to drop another five by tomorrow. Your mother has issued a press statement about not being in favor of your decision to break the engagement, and Mr. Kokinos has asked for an emergency board meeting tomorrow.”
He listened calmly, nothing in Bart’s reports taking him by surprise. He had known it would happen this way the moment he chose to follow his heart.
His colleagues would never understand why he had to choose a woman who brought nothing to marriage over a woman who could make him the most powerful man on earth. If the merger between the Kokinos and Leventis had pushed through, it would have put him in control of nearly a third of the world’s shipping industry. But now that he might have made an enemy out of Kokinos, the other party could take offense and merge with another family with the sole purpose of demolishing Damen’s business empire in mind.
“Sir?” Bart asked nervously, waiting for orders to be rapped out.
“We’ll attend tomorrow’s board meeting as well but let no one know about it. As for the stocks, keep monitoring them and issue a press statement – the standard ‘no comment’, but add that it is not my wish or Ms. Tanner’s to court publicity for publicity’s sake.” It would be a clear dig at his mother, and he wanted it to be seen that way.
“Understood, sir.”
“Good. Keep me posted.” He ended the call but did not leave the office right away. It would be a rocky climb from here on, but he was not worried for himself.
When he returned to the bedroom, Mairi was already awake, iPad in her hand. She looked up when she heard him enter. “Hi.”
It sounded exactly like the way she said ‘hi’ to him before – breathless, dazed, whimsical, and in love.
He would cherish that sound forever.
In moments, he was on the bed, Mairi on his lap, and he was kissing her hungrily. When he released her, she looked even more dazed.
“Hi?”
He laughed.
Mairi caressed his face. “Is this really happening?” she whispered.
He kissed her again, more demandingly, more passionately. “There. Still have doubts?” Before she could answer, he said, “Please say yes.”
Mairi giggled.
Smiling, he touched her nose. “I love you.”
She blinked back tears at the unexpected words. He had said it before, but she had been afraid he had only said it on an impulse. “I love you, too,” she whispered, her voice cracking at the end.
And because she couldn’t help it, she raised herself on her knees and began raining kisses all over his face. “I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you...”
Damen was laughing by the time she stopped. He told her solemnly, “Never change, Mairi. Promise me that?”
She nodded. “Never.” Shyly, she bent down and initiated the kiss between them for the first time.
He responded with reassuring ardor, and with a sigh she let herself go, kissing him the way she had so badly wanted to kiss him all the nights they had been apart.
Damen allowed her complete control, his body tensing in anticipation as she broke their kiss to move on to his chest, kissing his bare skin as her soft fingers played with his own nipples.
“Ah.” Her tongue was playing with his nipple, something that never used to arouse him but now had his cock springing to life.
It was a small struggle to get him out of his drawstring pants. His cock had to be guided out like an exotic and powerful animal – but when he was free, she found herself gulping a little, still not used to Damen’s immense cock.
She stroked it gently, fascinated at the way it pulsed, jerked, and stretched with every little move she made.
Bending down, she licked the drops of pre-cum wetting its head, eliciting a groan from Damen.
“More?” she whispered teasingly, looking up at him.
In answer he raised his hips up, his cock bumping against her lips. She laughed but obediently followed his silent command, opening her mouth as widely as she could to take as much of his cock in.
She almost gagged at the beginning but Damen was stroking her hair and her back, guiding her bit by bit until her throat relaxed and allowed the entire length of his cock in.
His head fell against the bed’s majestic headboard as Mairi’s mouth worked sensual magic on his cock. She licked, bit, and sucked like a pro and though he did his best to keep himself from exploding, he knew it was only a matter of time now.
“Mairi, darling, you have to stop.”
She reluctantly released his cock and the way it slid out of her mouth was arousing too, making him groan.