Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 118042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 590(@200wpm)___ 472(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 590(@200wpm)___ 472(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
The ensuite housed a sauna along with a bath big enough for two. A spa waited on the roof deck. And the California-king-sized bed positively drowned in lacy white pillows.
“It feels so comfortable, yet…I know it’s worth a fortune,” Ily murmured, hugging herself in the centre of the bedroom. “Standing in a simple smaller home has just shown me just how on edge I’ve been feeling in your brother’s mansion.” She ducked her head. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m ever so grateful he gave us a room, and his home is beautiful, but…”
“It reminded you too much of Victor’s?”
She nodded. “So much wealth. So much decadence. I…I don’t need it. I don’t really want it. I just want to be…us.”
Going to her, I cupped her cheeks. “Us is good.”
She sighed as I kissed her softly.
Pulling away, I said, “I’m the same. I’ve been itching to leave and find a small place where it’s just the two of us. I’m dying to fade into obscurity. To be normal and...happy.”
“Do you think you could be happy here?” she asked, kissing me before dropping from her tiptoes.
“Don’t you want to go back to England? Be close to your brother and parents?”
Her eyes churned with emotion but slowly she shook her head. “Krish doesn’t need me anymore, and…my place is with you.”
“We could always try living here. See how it goes? We can always move back to England if it doesn’t feel right?” I raked a hand through my hair. “But we’d have to pay rent. And I need to get a job. I’m not taking any more of his damn money.”
“I agree.” She nodded. “I want to work too.” She shuddered with a soft laugh. “Gemstones have always been my passion, but…I don’t think I could look at another one. I dunno. Maybe I’ll go back to school and study something else, rather than be a gemmologist.”
I shuddered at the very mention of gems.
Rubies and emeralds, sapphires and diamonds.
Speaking of diamonds.
My heart kicked as Ily unravelled her scarf and tossed it on the bed.
“Want to christen this place?” She spun to face me with a smile. “Make it our own?”
A long strand of red wool tumbled from the scarf.
It coiled on the cream carpet.
Memories of us huddled under our blankets on that awful island filled my mind. Snatched moments safe from the cameras, terrifying seconds full of whispers when there was no safe place to talk.
“You know what? I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want a diamond. This place has cured me of my love of gems. A simple string knotted into a circle would be enough.”
My heart thundered.
I ducked to snatch the wool off the carpet.
With my blood racing and every droplet of love mingling with nervous hope, I dropped to one knee and held up the woollen strand. “It’s not a string, but…what I said to you that night beneath our blankets is still true.”
Ily froze, her hands flying to her mouth.
“The moment I met you, I put an invisible ring on your finger. It’s there, Ily. It’s always been there.” I licked my lips, gathering courage to put my entire soul on the line. “You freed me that day. We might’ve spent six months in captivity, but…you freed my heart and taught me how to love instead of hate. You taught me that I wasn’t something to be feared or loathed. You gave me something I never thought I’d earn.”
Holding out my hand, I whispered, “Come here, little nightmare.”
Ever so slowly, she padded toward me. Tears sparkled like crystals on her cheeks. The monster inside me sprang awake to drink.
I tried to lock that part of myself away.
I tried to stay human as she placed her hand in mine.
I trembled with so many things. Light and dark. Love and lust as I looped the strand around her wedding finger and tied a bow. “A part of me doesn’t want to ask you this question because I don’t want to give you the chance to say no. But…I will never do anything without your permission again, and so. Ilyana Sharma…” I cleared my throat as pressure built around my ribcage. “You’ve seen me at my worst. You’ve seen what I’m capable of and what sort of life I can offer you. You know I’m not perfect, and you know I would slaughter the world for you. I can’t promise I will never piss you off, and I can’t say that I’ll be the best husband, but what I will be is the best that I’m capable of.” Lowering my voice, I whispered, “I might be a monster, but you hold my leash, Ily. I wear your collar. Just yours. I will kneel at your feet all while fighting your—”
“Yes,” she breathed around her tears.
I chuckled. “I haven’t asked you yet.”
“Doesn’t matter. My answer is—”