Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“Uh-huh.” She fidgets with the mug, then asks, “I’m going to take a wild guess and say none of them will object to you forcing me to marry you after knowing me less than a week.”
“Your guess is right.” I place the pasta in boiling water and check the chicken and sauce before looking at Laurie again. “My father forced my mother, and theirs is one of the happiest marriages I’ve ever seen.”
Her eyebrows fly up. “Holy crap, so this crazy thing you’ve got going on runs in the family?” She only realizes what she said once the words are out, and her face instantly turns red. “I’m so sorry!”
I shake my head as I stare at the beautiful blush on her skin. “Hmm…”
Her eyes narrow slightly. “What’s the growl for?”
“I love it when you blush.” This time I’m the one speaking before thinking. “It feeds my predatory side. Like you’re something innocent I can corrupt.”
Laurie starts to blink faster, her lips parting as a look of shock ripples over her features, then she gulps, “Corrupt?”
Well shit, I’ve already put my foot in it, I might as well go all the way.
“Based on the way you were worried about sex and kinks, I assume you’re used to a man climbing on top of you, getting off, and going to sleep.”
Her blush deepens a hell of a lot, which tells me I’m right. I check the food and turn off the burners for the sauce and chicken.
I lean back against a counter and cross my arms over my chest while taking way too much pleasure in Laurie’s red face.
“That won’t be the case with me. I enjoy fucking as much as the next person, but I get the feeling it’s going to be a religious experience with you.” Completely out of her comfort zone, she just keeps blinking at me. “I plan to corrupt you in bed until I’m the only fucking man you remember having between your thighs.” Shaking my head, I let out a dark chuckle. “I’m going to ruin every other man for you so completely, you’ll look at them and feel nothing. I want all your attention, every ounce of love you’re capable of feeling, and your undevoted loyalty.”
Pushing away from the counter, I strain the water from the fettuccine. I switch off the stove before walking to Laurie, and leaning down, I finish with, “Does that answer your question?”
Her throat bobs up and down as she swallows. “Yes.”
Lifting my hand, I cup her flaming cheek, loving the feel of the heat, and as I get lost in her incredible eyes, I admit, “I’m so fucked the moment you realize you hold all the power.”
I instantly regret the words and see the moment they sink into her pretty little head.
Laurie stands up, and I move a step back. Tilting her head, she stares up at me with something akin to hope.
“Are you just saying all these things to set me at ease, or…” Her expression turns pleading. “Is this real, Adriano? Do you mean everything?”
Without a second’s hesitation, I say, “Yes. I never say anything I don’t mean.”
Fear ghosts through her gaze. “Can you promise me one thing?”
“Anything.”
“Once you do grow tired of me, just let me go. Don’t become cold and mean.”
“You’ll learn with time that I won’t ever get bored with you, but for your peace of mind, I swear on all that’s holy, I will never turn cruel to you, and if the impossible happens, I’ll let you go to live your life as you wish.”
She holds up her hand, then says, “I’m going to need a pinky swear.”
That’s a first for me, but humoring her, I hook my pinky around hers.
Laurie stares long and hard at me, then curls the rest of her fingers around mine, a vulnerable expression making her look even more breathtaking.
Christ.
There’s a hard thump where my heart has lain frozen when it comes to women. It’s as if the look she’s giving me breathes life into the organ, and as it beats stronger and stronger, I fall irrevocably in love for the first time in my life.
This entire thing with Laurie has happened in a flash, like an ember hitting dry foliage and exploding into a wildfire.
Right now it burns through everything I thought I knew about love.
It alters the very shape of my fucking mind.
“Okay,” she whispers, holding my hand tighter. “I’ll give you a chance.”
I pull her against my chest, and placing my other hand behind her head, I press a kiss to her forehead. “Thank you.”
For the first time, Laurie wraps her arms around my middle, and as she hugs me, I’m filled with a sense of peace I’ve never experienced before.
My other half is finally starting to accept me.
Laurie
After a very exhausting, emotional, and just plain crazy morning and afternoon, I wave the white flag.