Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87193 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87193 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Nadia moved again, unintentionally brushing his aching cock, and he bit back a reaction. Focus. Not now. “So this is it,” she said. “You’re asking me to stand with you.”
“Yes.” His voice was steady even though something inside him wasn’t. “All in. Or not at all.”
She didn’t answer right away. He let her take the time. He respected that.
Finally, she said, “If we do this, it has to be about more than an arrangement.”
“Explain,” he commanded.
“I want the whole thing,” she said. “Not just duty. I want love, romance, babies. The whole life.”
Something eased in him at that. Not relief exactly. Certainty. “I’ll give you everything I have. I don’t know that I understand love the way you mean it. I didn’t grow up with it.” He paused, choosing honesty over polish. “But I know loyalty and commitment. That’s what I promise you.” Was he even capable of love like she wanted? Did it really exist? Oh, he felt something for her, something new, but it wasn’t soft or kind.
Her hand slid under his shirt, grounding him, anchoring him to the moment.
“Just be open to it,” she said.
He nodded, helping her by yanking off the material and dropping it to the floor. The soft hum of pleasure she made when she placed her chilled hands on his heated chest centered him. “I can do that.” For the first time since the trials had begun, the future didn’t feel like a threat waiting to strike. It felt like something he could actually choose.
“My shirt is off, so yours should be, too,” he murmured, snagging the bottom of her top and lifting it over her head, revealing those high breasts and already turgid nipples.
“You hoo,” Bussy called out from the hallway. “Nadia? I have more tea for you.”
Panic barreled through him and he jumped up, tossed Nadia back on the bed, and looked frantically around.
Nadia slapped a hand over her mouth, chortling, her eyes glimmering.
Shit. The closet. He leaped across the entire room and ran into the closet, turning as she pressed against him.
He shut the door. “What are you doing in here?” he whispered.
Her eyes widened. “I don’t know. I panicked.”
He put a finger to his mouth to shush her, feeling like a complete idiot. What was he doing hiding in a closet?
“Oh my,” Bussy said from the other side of the door.
Something clunked against the dresser. A tea pot? Tray? The sound carried through the slats.
Nadia leaned against him, laughing silently.
Oh yeah? All right.
He dropped to his knees and tore down her flannel pants and light green panties. Her body jolted, but she didn’t make a sound. Yeah, he could make use of that. Leaning forward, he put his mouth on her.
She jerked and dug the nails of her uninjured hand into his shoulder. He ignored it. She tried to push him away. There was nowhere to go. He went at her while Bussy fussed around the room, talking to herself and doing what sounded like light cleaning. She tasted like every sweet dream he’d ever had.
Spicy and delicious.
She rapidly shook her head, trying to push him away, but then he shoved a finger inside her and she went lax. He drove her up, lashing her clit with his rough tongue. She fought him and herself, laughing, and then finally she gave in and held on. He pushed her over the edge fast. The orgasm tore through her. She grabbed the sleeve of a hanging shirt and shoved it into her mouth to stifle her gasps.
God, this was fun.
When her knees gave out, he caught her before she hit the floor. Then—what the hell—he followed her down. They were twisted into part of the closet, his legs bent at unnatural angles, but somehow he managed to get his jeans off.
“Where did Nadia go?” Margaret’s voice came clearly through the door.
Nadia’s eyes widened. She clapped a hand over her mouth and shoved against him.
Oh no.
Too late.
He nudged her sex, feeling her wetness spill around him. Excellent. Then he slowly started to push inside her, trying to be gentle. God, she felt amazing. Her arousal scented the air around them, and he fought the urge to growl. Her body arched and she wrapped both legs around his waist.
Oh good. Same page.
“I dunno,” Bussy said. “She was right here. Maybe she went outside to see if she can shift.”
“Well, she better not have,” Margaret retorted. “She’s still not feeling well.”
Nadia moved frantically beneath him, half fighting and half pulling him closer. God, she felt good around him. Like fire and honey mixed together.
“I don’t know where else she’d be,” Bussy said from the room. “But I don’t blame her. What are all those journals?”
Their voices drifted away as he started to move, pounding as quietly as he could, going deep. This felt like heaven and sin all at once. He tucked a hand under Nadia’s sweet ass and lifted her. Her nails dug deeper into his chest, but she didn’t push him away. Instead, she pulled him closer.