Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
“I like you. I trust you. I want a child. You said you want one too.”
I laugh out loud. He makes it sound so simple, and it’s crazy. “I can’t marry you to have a child, King. Yes, I want a baby, but I want more than that. I want a real marriage. I want a man that loves me and will be faithful.”
“I will be faithful,” he exclaims, but I can’t help but notice that there’s no professing his love for me or anything.
“I’m sorry. I can’t.”
His jaw tightens. “I’m not taking no for an answer, peaches.”
And I believe him when he says it. “Fine. I’ll think about it.”
He doesn’t like that answer either, but at least he doesn’t insist on a yes right now. With his hands palm up in front of me, he asks, “Do you think you could ever be comfortable with me?”
I should tell him no. I could end this all right now if I told him I felt nothing when I look at him and that I don’t want his hands on me. But it would be a lie.
“Honestly?” I ask him.
He looks shamed but nods. “Yeah, I know I don’t deserve it, but yeah, I want the truth.”
I let out a long breath. “You make me feel alive, King. More alive than I’ve ever felt in my life… and that freaks me out.”
He clears his throat. “Me too, peaches.”
I can see the sincerity in his eyes, and I gently put my hands in his.
He holds on to them, and his voice is thick with emotion. “I want to try something.”
I bite my lip as my stomach churns with nervousness. He’s already shocked me with the fake marriage request… I can’t imagine what’s going to come out of his mouth next. “What?”
“Can I hug you?”
My voice drops to a whisper. “Hug me?”
“Hug you,” he repeats.
Shakily, I nod my head, but secretly, I’m waiting for the panic to set in.
He stands up and pulls me up with him. We’re standing chest to chest, and I can feel him move with every breath he takes. All my senses are alert, and I have to remind myself to breathe.
“Give me a safeword.”
Heat creeps up my neck and face. “A safeword?”
“Yeah. If you get overwhelmed, then just say it and I’ll stop. I’ll let you go.”
“Pickles,” I blurt out. “I don’t like pickles.”
He smiles and brushes a strand of hair off my face and pushes it behind my ear. “Okay, one more thing I can add to the list of things I know about you. You don’t like pickles, so just say pickles if you want me to let you go.”
Okay, I mouth because no sound comes out.
Very slowly, he lets go of one hand and brings it up my arm, over my shoulder and to my back. He’s searching my eyes the whole time, and I’m sure he’s afraid I’m going to have another panic attack. I give him a slight nod, and he releases my other hand and does the same until both of his arms are around me. When he has me securely against his chest, his body shudders, and he pulls me closer.
“Are you okay?” he asks, his lips right next to my ear.
“Yeah,” I admit with a pleasure-filled voice.
“Put your arms around my waist, Haven. I want to feel you hug me too.”
I realize that I’m standing here in his embrace with my arms hanging at my sides. Slowly, I let my hands come up to his waist, and I tentatively touch him there. He sucks in a breath, and I lean back to look at him. “You okay?”
He nods. “Yeah, don’t stop.”
I slide my hands around him until I’m pressed against him and I’m holding on to his back. I can feel his muscles move everywhere I touch him, and we stand here in each other's arms without saying anything. He rests his cheek on the top of my head and holds me flush against his hard body. It feels so good, and I don’t want it to end.
“You feel good in my arms, peaches.”
I lean my cheek against his chest, and I can feel his heart beating wildly. “This feels good, King.”
I should probably be embarrassed. I know he’s way more experienced than me and that I’m making a big deal over a hug, but this feels good… it feels right. “I’ve never been hugged before.”
“Never?” he asks huskily.
I try to think back, and I can’t remember ever being in someone’s arms… not like this. “If I have, I was too young to remember it.”
His hand comes up and cradles my head against him. “Maybe we can do this more often then because I can already tell this is going to be an addiction for me.”
I sigh and lean into his touch. “Me too,” I whisper.