Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 33433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
His answer is a silent quake, his whole body pressed to mine, so close I could die like this and be happy. "You know," he says, his voice gravelly as he rocks inside of me. "I've been saving that word since we met. I knew I'd give it to you someday, but Christ, ballerina. I didn't know how perfect it'd feel to hear you say it back and know you mean it."
"Please," I beg, clawing at his back, desperate to have all of him.
His hips grind into mine. I anchor myself to him, my arms locked around his back, my nails digging in as if I can keep him this close forever.
He fucks me harder, his need no longer hidden but breaking open and spilling out.
When my body clenches around him, I cry out, a broken, wild sob of his name that would shame me if shame could exist with him inside me.
He presses his lips to my ear, his hand locked at my jaw. "I'll only ever love you," he whispers. The words are a blade and a balm, slicing through every last defense, every bruise left by a lifetime of being less than.
I break around him, coming like it's a kind of death, shaking so hard I think I might split apart. I tilt my face up, desperate to see him, to let him see me.
He's right there, beautiful and ruined, his hair damp with sweat, his eyes barely open.
"Don't stop," I beg. "Please, don't ever let me go."
His mouth comes down on mine as he fucks me harder, deeper, his control shredded. The rhythm turns ragged, desperate.
"You're everything," he groans, and then he's gone, his hips jerking as he spills deep inside me, the sound he makes torn from somewhere raw and helpless.
When he can move again, he wraps around me, holding me so tightly I could almost be afraid, but I'm not. I'm safe. I'm always safe with him—safe to be myself, safe to be afraid, safe to let myself be loved.
"You're not allowed to run anymore," he murmurs against my hair. "Even if you try, I'll chase you to the ends of the goddamn earth, ballerina."
"Deal," I whisper back.
Chapter Nine
Harlan
Sophie is glowing when she hits the stage with Hattie and Vanessa at the karaoke bar in the lodge, in a dress I already know will be on my floor tonight.
I wrap my fingers around my bottle, my eyes locked on her as she whispers back and forth with my baby sister and sister-in-law, plotting God only knows what for their performance. Hattie is wasted. Vanessa isn't far behind. And Sophie doesn't need liquid courage to be the bravest woman in the room. It's just who she is.
"She looks happy," Sidney observes, settling onto the vacant seat beside me.
I flick my gaze in his direction and then nod. "She is." I hesitate a beat. "I know you're partially to thank for that. Whatever you said to her today, I appreciate it, brother."
"I didn't say anything she didn't already know," he murmurs. "You're good for her."
I grin at him, amused. "You sound surprised."
"No," he grunts. "Not surprised. Just…relieved." He rolls his broad shoulders. "I worry about her, maybe more than I should. But she's always tried to do everything on her own. That shit used to drive me and Austin nuts. No matter how ruthless people got, she never wanted us to intervene. She always wanted to handle it herself." He meets my gaze, and I see the worry deep in his eyes. "She's different with you, softer. I don't think she's cried like she cried today in, fuck, years, probably."
My heart twinges, my gaze drifting back to her on the stage. I fucking hate that she cried. I hate knowing I'm the reason for it. I hate that she was so upset. And I really fucking hate that I can't carry everything for her. But I know in my bones that she's going to be okay, not because she always is or because she doesn't know how to be anything else, but because there's this look in her eye, like she feels grounded now.
A motherfucker could die happy knowing he's the reason for that look.
"Austin already threatened you, so I'm not going to do that," Sidney says, recalling my attention. "I'm just going to say thank you." He clamps a hand on my shoulder. "Keep that look on her face, man. She deserves it."
"Fuck," I rasp, my throat tight. "Thank you."
He grins at me. "You feel like a dick for threatening me right now, don't you?"
"Little bit," I mutter.
He just laughs, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Don't. I fully expect you to follow through and rip me apart if I ever make your sister cry."
I just shake my head and chuckle, not sure what the fuck to say to that. I have a feeling that shit won't happen, though. Hattie is safe with him, the same way Sophie is safe with me.