Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“I guess we’ll see about that. I should probably start trying all this stuff on before the shop girl calls the cops.”
Wilder laughs. “Need some help?” He wiggles his eyebrows, and I know exactly the kind of help he’s offering.
“I’ll let you know if I need you to unzip anything.”
He nods, still smiling. “I’m excellent at underwear removal.”
“I know,” I tell him with a laugh and slide the fitting room curtain closed on his handsome, smiling face.
Thirty minutes later, I’m overheated and exhausted from trying on so many clothes, but I’m grateful that most of what I need is in my arms.
“All done,” I say and yank the curtain open.
“Not quite, babe,” Wilder says with a dozen colorful bras dangling from his hands and arms.
I groan and rush through trying them on, eager to get the hell out of this boutique. “Okay. Seven of them fit, and that’s plenty for now. I’m tired and hungry,” I say honestly. “Not that I’m complaining.”
“It’s all right, complain. I got the fun part, watching you strut around in it all. But I do have bad news.”
My face shifts into a frown, and I prepare myself for the other shoe to drop because nothing this good lasts, and definitely not in such a high-stress situation as we find ourselves in. “What?”
“You need toiletries,” he grins. “The good news is there’s a beauty supply store just around the corner.”
“The better news is that it’s my beauty supply store. I know it like the back of my hand, so we’ll be in and out in fifteen minutes,” I tell him confidently.
Seventeen minutes later, we’re walking out of the shop with Wilder laughing loud enough to cause people to stare. “I underestimated you, Maven,” he says, slinging an arm around my shoulder. “That was mighty impressive.”
“Thank you.” My feet are sore, and I’ve been up since before the sun rose, so my exhaustion is as real as my gratitude. Back inside the truck, I turn to Wilder with a serious expression.
“I mean, it, thank you for this much-needed gift. I can’t tell you what this means to my budget, Wilder, and the fact that you did it so freely tells me what a good man you are.”
“I did it because I want to, Maven. Making you happy makes me happy.”
His words fly on cupid’s arrow straight to my heart. “That’s a sweet thing to say, but I’m going to pay you back.”
He cranks the engine to life and lays a hand on my thigh. “If you insist on showing your gratitude, I know the perfect way to accomplish that.”
I know what he’s thinking, and my body turns to molten lava at the thought of being with him again. “I don’t pay for things with sex,” I tell him with a hint of an attitude.
Wilder laughs. “Not with sex, Maven. With compliance.”
My breath hitches, and I’m speechless, so I hold my breath and nod, wishing this stupid ride was already over so I could experience that.
“You’re wet just thinking about it,” he grins. “Just think of how amazing it’ll be when I finally give you permission to come. It’ll be magic.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Wilder
“This is my place,” I tell Maven as I push the door open and motion for her to step inside. I watch her take in the tech-heavy surroundings with a raised eyebrow.
“Impressive,” she says softly.
“Expecting a hovel?” I ask with one teasing eyebrow arched high.
“I don’t know what I expected,” she replies honestly. “But you are full of surprises.”
“You have no idea,” I say. “Come on up.” I take her trembling hand and lead her up the stairs to my bedroom.
The main suite is large, with an oversized king bed as the centerpiece. Matching mahogany furniture gives the room a dark masculine quality that I love. The blackout blinds are open to slits that allow in just enough moonlight to set the mood.
“The bathroom is this way. Use whatever you need.”
Maven turns to me, her hazel eyes wide with surprise. “You’re not joining me?”
“No, babe. Take your time.” I press a slow, fiery kiss to her lips to let her know what’s coming, to make her quiver with anticipation, and then I pull back. “Towels are in the closet on the other side of the shower.”
She’s perfect, the night is perfect, and tonight I’m going to show Maven how much she means to me.
On my terms.
I take a quick shower in the guest bathroom before making a trip to the kitchen for a bottle of tequila and two shot glasses. No lime or salt required this time.
With everything in place, I sit on the bed and wait for Maven to finish up in the bathroom. When the shower spray goes silent, I light the bowl candle on the dresser, illuminating the room with nothing but firelight.
The scene is set, my cock is hard, and I am ready to show Maven that I am the man to take care of her in all ways.