Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 47615 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47615 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
“We should probably go back,” Ada said eventually, her forehead resting against mine. “Before Knight comes looking for us.”
“Let him look,” I growled, not ready to share her with anyone else yet. “I just got engaged. I deserve a minute with my fiancée.”
The word felt strange on my tongue. Fiancée. Like something from another life, one I’d only seen through bars or on TV screens. Yet here it was, real and solid as the woman in my arms.
Ada’s smile widened at the word. She held up her hand, the simple ring catching the light. “It’s perfect,” she said, her voice warm with certainty.
I kissed her again, slower this time, trying to memorize every second of this moment. The way her body fit against mine, the scent of her skin, the taste of her mouth. The feeling of standing on the edge of something new and terrifying and right.
We finally rejoined the celebration, her hand in mine and the ring visible for anyone who cared to look. I felt different, free in a way I’d never expected to feel. Like maybe I deserved to be happy after all.
After an hour Ada shot another whisky before straddling my lap so her legs were on either side of mine where I sat in a folding chair. “Wanna blow this joint?” I snorted beer out my nose and she laughed merrily.
“Christ, Ada.” Everyone around us hooted with laughter. For the first time, I felt at ease in the crowd. Ada did this for me by just being her.
“I didn’t mean literally.” She grinned, unrepentant. “But I did have a destination and an activity in mind.”
“Hold up there, hoss.” Knight stepped in front of me before reaching out to Ada and taking her other hand. Her left hand. “Wanna explain this?”
I glanced at Ada who seemed to be looking anywhere but at me. She also pursed her lips like she tried to hold her smile at bay.
“I, uh,” I cleared my throat before sitting up straighter and putting my shoulders back. Which might have had a better impact if I’d been standing, but Ada leaving my arms at this very moment wasn’t happening. “I’ve asked Ada to marry me, and she said yes.”
Knight looked from me to Ada. Ada just shrugged. “I said yes,” she confirmed.
“Okay, then.” Knight grinned and held out his hand to Jag. “Be good to my sis or I’ll kill you.” His smile seemed genuine, but it was hard to tell with Knight.
“I’ll cherish her, Knight. Always.”
Knight glanced at Ada again. “You are seriously eating this shit up, aren’t you?”
Ada laughed as she scrambled off my lap to hug her brother. Of course, I stood too. “Yes, Knight. I’m seriously eating this shit up. Maybe if you talked like that to a woman, someone would snatch you up.”
They parted and Knight’s smile lit up his eyes when he looked at his sister. “I doubt I’d find anyone as amazing as you who could put up with me.”
“I doubt you will either, but I can hope.”
Knight’s smile faded. “You know the DNA results came in. I finally decided to open the email.”
“You did? What did it say?”
“There was one close match. Family or first cousin relationship.”
Ada gasped, putting her hand over her mouth. “Ohmigod! Seriously? Have you contacted them?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I need to really think about this.”
“You know, if we got an email, they got an email too.” Ada gave her brother a worried look.
“Yeah. I have another email in that account. Figured she’s already reached out.”
“She?”
“Yeah. She.” Knight took a pull of his beer. “Go on.” He jerked his head toward the exit. “Get out and give Jag’s head a break. I know all the noise can be overwhelming.”
“Let me know if you want my help, Knight. I started this, I’ll help you with it.”
“Thanks, but I think this is something I need to do myself.”
We said our goodbyes and headed to our room. Once the door closed behind us, I breathed out a sigh of relief. The chaotic atmosphere, while okay for a short while, got overwhelming very quickly.
Moonlight sliced through the blinds, painting a thin silver stripe across the rumpled sheets on our bed. I made love to Ada there in the moonlight. I worshiped her body like the goddess she was to me. I’d spent thirty-seven years in hell but found heaven as my reward for all I’d gone through.
She lay beside me, one leg draped over mine, her head nestling into the steady rise and fall of my chest. Our sheets tangled around us, soft and warm. I felt her fingertip trace the curve of my muscle before stopping as the small diamond in the setting of her ring caught the faint light. She moved it back and forth so the stone twinkled softly.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “For choosing me.”