Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 116031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
If it’s all so fine, why do I sound like I’m trying to convince myself?
In through the nose. Out through the mouth. They’re open twenty-four hours, so I can call the pharmacy now and get it going. That way, I can relax and pick it up later.
I brush my teeth while I’m on hold, and rinse right when a human finally answers the call. “Hi, I was there yesterday to pick up my prescription . . .”
Breathing becomes easier by the time I hang up. Deer Lake Pharmacy opens at nine. Shane and I can cruise over and pick it up anytime today. No need to worry him when it’s taken care of. All is good.
I tiptoe back across the hall to the other bedroom, where I left Shane sleeping thirty minutes ago. I got up to freshen my breath, brush my hair, which I’ve forgotten to do again, and take my pill while hydrating from the sex we had last night. Stopping, I press my hands to my heating cheeks, blushing just thinking about it. It was overwhelming with the thoughts in my head racing toward a goal I’ve craved for so long, an elusive orgasm that I wouldn’t be giving myself. My body was full, filled with so much of him—the emotion, his body, the pleasure—devouring me whole and leaving me in awe. Even my heart beats as if it were his, and his were mine.
We were one.
I’ve never felt more at peace than during our connection, body and soul.
Breathing has become easier this morning. Whatever troubles I had been carrying vanished under his ministrations. I’m making it my mission to do the same for him.
The inner muscles of my thighs and the stretch in my center feel so good, like exercise that pushed me to hit new goals. The ache is there, but Shane is the reward.
I open the door and am greeted by eyes that brighten even in the low light of early morning. “Good morning, my wife.” He flips the covers open for me.
I giggle because I’m that far gone for him and happy to play along. “Good morning, my husband.” It’s not a lie, but it feels bigger in the moment than I expected as if I hadn’t tried it on prior, and it doesn’t quite fit. I strip off the sweatshirt I had thrown on and climb back into his arms again. My back to his chest.
Pushing my hair away from my neck, he plants a kiss there. “How are you?” he whispers. His breath coats my shoulder, sending shivers down my spine. This is what I want—a slow and easy morning. I don’t want to jump into the deep end just yet.
I turn in his arms, lifting on my elbow to get a better view of him. The sexy hair is not disappointing, his eyes like sleep could still pull him back in with lids hanging a little lower. Running a hand over his neck and higher, I tap my fingertips lightly across the lips I’m anxious to kiss. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“Without judgment?”
“Hm.” Concern wrinkles his forehead, and his hand lowers to rest on my hip. “I won’t judge, but you have me worried.”
“Don’t be. Last night . . . this place . . . it’s all been magical. I just always imagined my husband would be someone I exchanged vows with. To me, our relationship started over yesterday, so it’s hard for my mind to wrap around that we’re married.”
His fingers brush around the shell of my ear, then grace the side of my face so gently it’s barely felt. “I’m not upset, and I’m not judging you. It makes sense. When I say it to you, I’m able to voice what I’ve felt for a while now. A dream. A wish. My future wrapped in a second chance.”
“Shane.” My heart squeezes, flooding with even more love than I could possibly explain. I lean forward and kiss him, the emotion so big that I can’t reason through being rational right now.
He says, “It will come in time for you. I don’t expect you to say it when you don’t feel it. Not just because I did.”
“I love you. I know that and can say it without any terms or conditions.” I grin, feeling closer than I ever thought imaginable to this man, and I imagined a lot. “Unlike how you got me here in a forced proximity situation, hoping to trap me here as a hostage and have your way with me.” God, why am I suddenly turned on? “It worked just like in my favorite books.”
Narrowing his eyes, he angles his head as he studies the words coming from my mouth. “I have no clue what you’re talking about, Cat.”
“Sorry, I got lost in our storyline. Forced proximity is one of my favorite tropes.”