Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 72658 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72658 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
She got to her feet and came close, a foot shorter than me without her usual heels. “Just because we slept together doesn’t mean everything is fixed between us. It doesn’t mean I trust you. It doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven you. You expect me to embrace all the elements of marriage, when I’m still taking it a day at a time.”
I was still irrationally angry, even if her explanation was sound.
“Don’t rush me. It’s not going to make this go any faster.”
My eyes shifted away as I released a heavy sigh. I just wanted the woman in front of me, all of her, and I wanted her to want all of me too. I wanted her to let me take care of her. I wanted her to trust me as blindly as she did before.
“I want my own money—and I want to earn it. I won’t apologize for that.”
I gave a slight nod in acknowledgment. “And I just want to share mine with you.”
Her eyes softened. “Maybe we’ll get there someday…but not today.”
I released a heavy breath of disappointment. “Goodnight, then.”
“Axel, why are you still mad at me?”
“I’m not mad at you.”
“You clearly are—”
“I’m mad at the situation.”
“The situation that you caused.”
I clenched my teeth and sucked in a breath that sounded like a hiss. It took all my strength not to say anything, to keep my mouth shut, to let her believe that fucking nonsense. I looked away and avoided her stare, unsure if I could restrain the truth this time. I continued to protect my parents, when Scarlett was the person I needed most. It was so fucked up.
She continued to stare at the side of my face. “What is it?”
I stepped away. “Nothing.”
“It’s not nothing.” Her eyes followed me.
“I’m going to sleep.” I sat on my side of the bed and turned off the lamp. My phone had a ton of texts and emails, but I wasn’t in the mood to look at that right now. I kicked back the covers and got under the sheets, immediately closing my eyes in the hope Scarlett would leave me alone.
A moment later, the other lamp turned off, and her lithe body dipped the mattress.
I didn’t smother her with affection. I didn’t try to fuck her. An invisible line was drawn in the center, and I wouldn’t cross it. I hoped she didn’t either.
Minutes passed, and I couldn’t fall asleep, not when I was this bitter and angry.
Then the mattress shifted as her weight moved…closer to me. Her arm slid over my torso, and her cheek rested on my shoulder. She snuggled into me, tucking her leg between my knees.
I wanted to push her off, but I couldn’t.
I couldn’t because I fucking wanted it.
She turned her cheek and pressed a warm kiss to my shoulder then another to the top of my chest.
My body burned several degrees hotter, and my boxers got snug. It might seem like just a couple of kisses, but they were the same kisses she used to give me in the dark, quiet invitations.
“I’m sorry that I upset you.” Her voice was a whisper, her breath falling across my skin.
I turned my head and grazed her hairline with my mouth. “Prove it.”
She stilled at my words, her lips against my shoulder.
I could feel her heart race quicker, feel the sudden spike in its beats. She was warmer too, as if her body had just put out a blast of heat.
Then she lifted herself onto her elbow so her face hovered above mine. Her hair fell down around me like a curtain. Her soft fingertips cupped the side of my face, and she kissed me, bringing those lips as soft as angel wings against my mouth. It was hesitant at first, like she couldn’t truly embrace the moment without feeling the guilt, but that hesitation faded fast, and then her kiss deepened. Her mouth parted farther, and she reciprocated my passion, her tongue meeting mine before our lips came apart and then reunited.
I rolled her onto her back and tugged down her cute little shorts until there was nothing underneath me but her flesh.
She pushed down my shorts and let me kick them to the bottom of the bed.
I positioned her underneath me, the sheets to my waist, and with my eyes on hers, I sank. Inch by inch, I entered her tightness and was coated in her wetness. Her breaths became uneven and raspy, her body clearly still sore from the night before. I made it in, careful not to push too hard and hurt her.
She released a deep breath when I was fully inside her, her arms hooked behind my shoulders, her knees squeezing my torso. With desire burning in her eyes like fire and her lips parted in anticipation of another kiss, she looked at me in that special way that made me feel alive.