Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 109976 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109976 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
GISELLE
I drew my breath in sharply at his words. How good that sounds. To finally be with the man I love without fear or guilt. It’s something that until now had only lived in my dreams. Something I’ve pulled out of the corners of my mind more than once when real life became too much.
Just hearing him say that word was like balm to my soul and I felt tears fill my eyes. But then I remembered what had sent me running to the bathroom to be sick earlier and all the old fears came roaring back.
“Why do you keep shaking like that? Do you need a doctor?” I shook my head and curled into him more. Both for comfort and to hide my eyes from him, he sees too much.
“No it’s nothing, I’m fine. I think I want to go back to sleep.”
Yes, in sleep I can escape my life and what awaits me beyond this door. How had they found me so soon? I’d fooled myself into thinking I could have these next few days with him. It wasn’t such a big deal for me to go missing from the public at a time like this, but how could I forget who my in laws were?
How could I lose sight of the monster that has been dogging my steps these past few years? I felt a shiver run down my spine and told myself I had to get ahold of my thoughts before Gavin suspected something.
I’d already screwed up when I reacted to the sight of the aide earlier, because I hadn’t been prepared. Any more slip-ups though and he’s bound to figure it out. If there’s one thing I know it’s that he’s no fool. Not like the man I’d married.
I relaxed once he laid me back on the bed and pulled the covers up over me. There was no avoiding his stare now though, or the way it made me feel. So intense, like he was trying to see into my head.
“What are you keeping from me my angel?” The endearment brought fresh tears to my eyes. Have I been so starved of affection that any little thing could make me this emotional? I closed my eyes and barely kept myself from purring when he ran his hand over my head, or the tears from escaping my eyes.
After the last couple of years without touch, it felt amazing every time he reached for me. And I noticed he seems to have a hard time keeping his hands to himself where I’m concerned. Something I was fast getting used to. How will it feel to go back to a life without him in it? Maybe it would’ve been better if I’d never known the bliss of the last few hours. Never felt his touch…
Now I averted my eyes. I couldn’t look at him and lie, but there was no way I could tell him the truth, not now, and maybe not ever. “I…” There must’ve been something in my voice because he laid down beside me and drew me into his arms as if to comfort me.
“Never mind, whatever it is I’ll wait until you’re ready to tell me. But Giselle, don’t make me wait too long. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m here to protect you. I can’t do that very well if you don’t tell me what’s bothering you. I can find out on my own of course, but that would only take time that could be spent elsewhere.”
There was no avoiding his eyes this time but at least he had pity on me and got up and left after making that little threat. What did he mean? Is he going to go digging into my past? Did he suspect something already?
My stomach hurt at the implication. If anything happened to him how would I ever forgive myself? How would I survive in a world without him in it? The thought was almost too much for me to bear.
I hadn’t cared as much about Vance since he was partly to blame for the situation we were in, but Gavin is innocent. Gavin is nothing like the man I’d married, and everything that I believed Vance to be when we met. I sometimes wonder if Vance had studied Gavin and tried to pattern his fake persona off of him. The gallant outstanding businessman.
I never did learn about their history since I’d have gone to any lengths not to let Vance know of my interest, and Gavin, the few times we saw each other had never brought it up.
But I knew they weren’t close, didn’t share any kind of relationship, which only made me like him more. The people Vance usually hung around with were not the type I’d wanted to be around.
I recalled the sight of Vance lying there with his head blown off and felt nauseous even as my mind replayed our life together and the things that I have to keep hidden.