Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 52887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 264(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 264(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
“Then why are you upset with me? Are we fighting? You should yell at me.” Isn’t that what couples do? “I’d rather that than this quiet.”
“Aren’t you the man who enjoys being alone?” Teddy’s fingers stroke the tops of my hands.
“I do.”
“So you want quiet.”
“I don’t want quiet if it involves you.” Why would she ever think that?
“Killian.” The use of my real name only makes my anxiety worse. What happened to sweetheart? I haven’t gotten that one since the slip and fall incident. “That doesn’t make sense."
“Why? You’re different, and you’re going to be my wife.”
Teddy chews on her bottom lip. Has she changed her mind? Panic claws at my insides, and a million and one fucked-up thoughts flood me.
It’s how my brain works. How do I get to the outcome that I need? Kidnapping is on the top of the list, and I’m debating which safe house would be best and if I should leave the country altogether with her.
“I know getting married might have been a good idea in theory, but I’m not sure it will work.”
“Why? Tell me and I will make it work.” The silence stretches. “Zolotse, please.” I’m already on my knees, and I will beg if I have to. There’s nothing that I won’t do to have her.
“You don’t want kids, and I’m already homesick. So I’ve been thinking maybe I don’t need kids, and we can, ah, come up with a time we spend at home and then away. I thought maybe you could travel and come back, but I want to be with you, and then what if—" I press my mouth to hers in a hard kiss and pull her down into my lap to straddle me. Relief unlike any I have ever felt in my life fills me.
"Oh, you want me to talk but cut me off with kisses?" Her brows furrow, and she glares at me like an angry kitten. "I mean, you can kiss, but I was only saying—"
"I do want to hear from you, Zolotse. What you said filled me with relief."
"Glad it did for you." She buries her face in my neck. I keep my arms wrapped around her and stand, walking over so I can sit on the bed but keep her tucked close to me where she belongs.
“You are upset for the wrong reasons. I understand now.” I may not be good at this opening up and talking stuff, but I know I need to make the effort to get better at it for her. “I want to be wherever you are.” I stroke my hand up and down her back, wanting to soothe her. As much as I enjoy her clinging to me, it fucked with my head when she was not happy.
Teddy lifts her head to meet my eyes. “But you’ll resent me.”
“Never.” I shake my head. I see how much Teddy really does care for me. In her ramblings, she said she would give up having children for me. I don’t think anyone has given up anything important to them for me. It makes my throat tight. “I would want you to give me babies almost more than anything in this world.”
“Hey, what do you want more than my babies?” Teddy’s small button nose scrunches.
“You.”
“Oh.” The corners of her mouth curl up in a smile for me, making tension drain from my muscles. “Right, of course it’s me.” I can tell this pleases her.
“I move around so much because I’ve never had a reason to stay anywhere before. No place has ever been home to me, but I don’t think home is a place for me. It’s you.” I know that with certainty. Teddy's eyes fill with tears. "Zolotse." I can't bear to see her cry. She cups my cheeks with her delicate hands.
"That's the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me." Teddy presses her mouth to mine in a soft kiss. I wrap my arms around her, keeping her body pressed snugly to me. The kiss deepens, and Teddy's hips start to rock. Her mouth goes to my neck, and she kisses me there. I almost falter when I go to stand. Teddy's mouth could easily be my undoing.
I place her on the mattress, pinning her under me. "Is it sex time?" She wiggles her brows. "If you're not ready, though, we can do other things." A mischievous smile takes over her expression. My Teddy Bear is back. Thank fuck.
"We can do anything you want, Zolotse, but I must tell you more."
"More?"
"About who I am." I don’t want there to be any secrets between us. I want her to know exactly what she’s getting herself into.
"I know who you are," she says with utter confidence. "I mean, not all the details but, sweetheart, I know I can be a little naïve." Little is putting it fucking lightly. “I may be ditzy, as I've been told, but that doesn't mean I'm stupid. You killed a man today, and I'm going to guess it wasn't your first time." Shit. Teddy isn't freaking out, though, so that brings me comfort. She keeps her lush body wrapped around mine.