Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 35767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 179(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 179(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
“I’m in love with you, and I never thought I was capable of love. I care about you and I don’t want anything to happen, but love? I didn’t think I deserved love, let alone you. You’re so young. Eighteen years old, and yet you know what it’s like to be cast aside. Rejected. When you look at me, you don’t freak out. I wasn’t looking for love, nor anyone to share my life. I figured I’d take care of you, and then you could go, be someone else’s problem, but I can’t do that, Mavis. I can’t let you go, not ever. I love you, and I can promise you I’ve never said those words to another human being. They are all for you. Every single one.”
“You love me?” Tears filled her eyes. “You don’t want me to leave?”
“Never. I don’t want you to go. I love you so damn much, and the thought of you going anywhere makes me feel sick. You’re mine, Mavis. They had their chance. I’m not like your parents. I’m not going to give up on you.” He held her hand tightly, and she felt him slide something on her finger.
It was an engagement ring.
He’d just put an engagement ring on her finger.
“Is this what I think it is?”
“Yeah, I’m going to need you to actually speak up, because you’ve not said anything.”
“You want to marry me and you love me?”
“Yes.”
She stared at her finger, shocked.
“You hate it?”
“No,” she said. “I love it and I love you and I … I don’t want this to end. I know I’m young, and I’ve got so much—”
She stopped as he got to his feet and knelt down before her. “You don’t need to do anything. If you will have me, just say yes. We can work out everything else.”
“Yes.”
Mavis didn’t need time to think about it, to wonder why, or even second guess. She loved him.
The strange man with the scarred face.
The one who everyone had turned away, she loved him, and that was all that mattered to her.
“When will we get married?” she asked.
“Soon. You’re to finish high school, and the moment you do, we’ll get married.”
“Promise?”
“I swear it.”
Chapter Eleven
“I couldn’t imagine you with short hair,” Mavis said, cuddled up against his side.
Luca kept his arm wrapped around her. The photograph album was perched on his knee as he turned each page, showing her pictures he’d taken when he was much younger, nearly her age. Ryan had been part of his life since he was a little boy.
Their fallout had been petty and stupid, but now, he didn’t regret it.
Both of their paths had taken different turns, and he had Mavis, curled up next to him as they looked through old memories.
She didn’t seem to mind staring at her father. He didn’t expect her to shed a tear for the man she knew. They’d known different people.
“There’s my parents,” she said.
“That was the high school prom.”
“The night I was conceived.”
“Yep. The night I told him to rubber up. I’m really pleased he didn’t now. See, I don’t always give good advice.”
She chuckled. Her hand that held the engagement ring rested against the edge of the book. He loved seeing it on her, and he’d hold her hand and kiss that very ring just so she knew he was happy with making her his. Not that it would ever be in question.
They’d been engaged for over a month, and he knew he wasn’t ever going to regret it. The date had already been set, and they were already making preparations for the main event.
He’d demanded she wear a white dress, and of course, it would be in a church. They were only going to have a few witnesses, and neither of them were going to allow the press to come anywhere near them.
“I wish I’d known you back then,” she said.
“No, you don’t. I was an arrogant ass.” He cupped her cheek, tilting her head back.
“Now you’re mine.”
“Soon, I’ll be yours soon. I want to have everything with you, Mavis. I want to have a family, share my life with yours. You can have everything you ever want.”
She pulled the photograph album from his lap.
“Then all I want is you. You and your wicked temper and sexy cock. Also, I think I need a chef to teach me some new lessons. Did you know Susan can only cook, like, ten things?”
“I knew she wasn’t very experienced. You want to learn to cook?” he asked, running his hands down her back to cup her ass as she straddled his lap.
“Yes.”
“Consider it done.”
“And I’d love for us to have a couple of horses.”
“Done.”
“And I want to have sex at least three times a day.”
“Let’s make it four,” he said.
He ran his hands up her back to sink into the luscious length of raven hair. She let out a moan, and he pulled her down, slamming her lips against his own. She slid her tongue across his mouth, and he opened up for her to plunge inside. His cock started to get rock-hard, and she wriggled against his lap.