Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 96720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
He let the sentence hang between us for a thoughtful pause. “On the off chance that your raging imposter syndrome is right, what do you think would happen?”
“Well—” But I couldn’t think of anything.
Matt supplied me with options. “Do you think that I wouldn’t want to be with you anymore? That I would send you back to California?”
“Well, no...”
“That would be a weird thing to be worried about, considering how much I wanted you to be here in the first place,” he went on. “Do you think they’ll see you living in a luxury apartment, wearing designer clothes, riding around in expensive cars and working out of a fucking huge office and be disappointed in you?”
“I’m not sure my parents could ever be disappointed in me,” I admitted. Except in one specific case that’s colored my entire life.
“Maybe you’re embarrassed of your ancient, forty-year-old boyfriend with the messed-up leg?” he asked.
“I see your point, but remember that when your leg got messed up, the first thing you did was shout about how you’d had sex with me.”
“That’s true. However, I was trying to die with a clean conscience. And I think it made me look way worse than you.” He paused. “Although, I can perhaps be forgiven for bad judgement during an episode of massive blood loss.”
“They’re not mad at you about any of that. They’re kind of thrilled that I’m with you.” I quickly added, “Not because you’re rich! I’ve never been in a relationship with anyone for as long as I’ve been in a relationship with you. I think it’s giving them hope.”
“Even though it was technically a non-relationship for a long time?” he clarified.
I nodded. “Exactly. They don’t need to know it was a lot of phone sex. As far as they’re aware, we were dating long-distance.”
“Then I’m not worried at all.” He leaned up to nuzzle his chin in the crook of my neck. At the end of the day, his stubble was sharp and sandpapery, and he seemed to love tickling me with it. I squealed and his arm locked around my waist. “You don’t have to ask me for permission to have your family or friends come visit. I’m your dragon, but I don’t have you literally locked in my tower, you know.”
“I know.” It still felt more like his home than mine. “Maybe after I’ve been here a while, I could do something to make the place seem a little more...”
“Like it’s your apartment, too?” he finished for me, then answered the question he’d completed. “I think that’s a great idea. Whatever it takes to make you happy. Except, maybe run colors past me. I love you, but I’m not sure how I would feel to walk into a Lisa Frank folder one day without warning.”
I blinked at him. “What’s a Lisa Frank folder?”
He looked so defeated. I had to giggle.
“You think my old age is funny, do you?” He launched another stubble attack while I squirmed and laughed. Slowly, he lowered me to the cushions and held himself over me with a hand on the arm of the sofa. “You know why I say I would give you anything you asked for, right?”
“Because you want to keep me?”
His gaze darkened. “Because I want to keep you happy. If you left tomorrow, I would still want to give you anything you asked me for. The moon, even, if you wanted it.”
I slid my hands up his chest, popped a few more buttons on his shirt. “I’m not leaving. I’m not going anywhere, unless the anywhere has you in it.”
He covered my mouth with his, kissed me until we were both dizzy, until it changed from something playful to something that ended with my panties in shreds on the floor and my bra used as makeshift handcuffs. Until everything melted away, and I didn’t feel like I was a guest in his apartment.
We fucked like I was home.
CHAPTER NINE
(Matthew)
It had been a long time since I’d hosted circle jerk night, and if I was going to stay a part of the club, I needed to step up to my obligation. The only obstacle had been Charlotte. The gatherings were private, to the point that my staff even left before guests arrived. But Charlotte had cheerfully informed me that it would be okay. She would be spending the evening with her new friend, Sophie, and meeting some other people around town.
I’d sent Charlotte away with a warning not to get too drunk and to stay aware of her surroundings while she gamboled all over the city, but I wasn’t that worried about her. Yes, Manhattan was a different beast than any other city on the continent, but she was a fast learner, and she would be with someone who could show her the ropes.
Plus, it was nice to get to an evening with the guys after months of seclusion.