Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 80602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“It makes perfect sense. You just wanted your entire family with you. That’s why you can turn heartless when it comes to protecting them.”
I stare at him for a beat, incredulous. I never thought he’d be able to figure out my angle this easily.
He’s too observant sometimes, and it’s both scary and comforting. Right now, it’s definitely leaning toward the latter.
I retrieve a piece of pancake to stop myself from reaching over and hugging him. We silently eat for a few seconds. The sun peeks out from between the clouds and glares down at us. Kyle places both his hands in front of my face, shielding it from the rays until the sun disappears behind another cloud.
His way of protecting me can be over the top, but I can’t help smiling at his serious expression as he does it.
We continue eating in silence, enjoying the nature, the calm, and the birds singing in the distance. A few guards bow upon seeing us, and we greet them back—well, I do. Kyle keeps glaring at each and every one of them.
I pour myself a cup of juice and take a sip. “Why do you seem like you’re plotting the best way to kill them?”
“Because I am.”
“Why would you?”
“They look at you funny.”
A chuckle escapes me. “I’m their boss. They don’t look at me funny. ”
“Yes, they do.”
“You’re just being paranoid.”
“And you are being so unaware of your beauty.”
I pause with the straw halfway to my mouth. It’s not the first time Kyle has called me beautiful, but it never feels normal. “What does my beauty have to do with this?”
“If it weren’t for your fucking beauty, I wouldn’t want to rip out the heart of every bastard who looks in your direction.”
I lower my head, not knowing how to answer that. I have no clue what to say when he talks in this possessive way.
“So don’t make their fate worse,” he continues.
“How so?”
“Don’t talk to them, or flash them your smiles—those should only belong to me.”
“You are too much.”
“And you are mine.”
I’m stunned into silence again, so I gulp my juice in one go, which makes Kyle grin.
He then takes my hand and places it on his thigh before he intertwines our fingers together. His thumb strokes the back of my hand in a rhythm that makes me breathless.
“How was it?” he asks with complete calm.
“How was what?”
“How was it after I left?”
“It was fine.”
He gives me a funny look.
“What?” I puff my chest. “Did you expect me to explode in tears and tell you it was a tragedy?”
“You’re being defensive.”
“No, I’m not. I’m merely answering your question, and the answer to that question is that I was just fine.”
I hide the fact that my life seemed to have lost something crucial: meaning. I might have reached every goal I set, but there was no excitement.
At some point, I realized something was missing, but I didn’t know what that was until he showed up again in the dining room claiming to be Igor’s son.
Kyle brushes his lips against my temple, and I shiver as if I’m standing in the middle of a snowfield during a freezing storm.
“I wasn’t fine,” he confesses against my skin. “In fact, I was miserable. I missed you.”
A mixture of emotions clogs my throat. I clear it before I speak. “Why would you miss me?”
“Well, let’s just say I got used to your stubbornness and your take-no-nonsense attitude and how much you challenged me every step of the way. I missed waking up every day to find you at my door demanding that I teach you something. I missed how you looked out for everyone around you, even though you tried to make yourself as discreet as possible so they didn’t feel uncomfortable with it.
“I missed how you treated your guards as family members and how you never made them feel inferior. But most of all, I missed your smile.” He grins. “As rare as it is.”
This time I can’t control the feeble sound that escapes my throat. This time, I feel like I will fall to pieces in his arms.
“Did you miss me?” His voice is low, and is that a hint of vulnerability I hear?
When I don’t answer, he continues, “Are you ever going to forgive me?”
I manage a smile. “Keep trying.”
“Well, I am trying every night, though for different reasons.”
“What are you trying to do?”
“Hello? I’m obviously trying to put an actual baby in you. Imagine everyone’s surprise when they find out there was no baby in the first place.”
“That would be impossible.”
“Why’s that?”
“You really haven’t noticed that I use birth control pills?”
“Of course I have.”
I laugh. “Then how the hell do you expect me to get pregnant?”
“A little thing called a miracle.”
“Miracles won’t be happening any time soon.”
“We will see about that.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”