Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 134654 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134654 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
His lips parted. “What?” Then understanding brightened his face. “You’ve been studying sequences again.”
I giggled. “Well, seeing as you’re back to speaking in numbers and codes that fly over my head, I figured I could put in a little effort.”
Awe glowed. “You’d do that for me?”
My heart lurched. “I’d do anything for you. You know that.”
He brushed aside a strand of hair from my cheek. “Eight three one, huh?” He bowed his head, inhaling me. “Let me see if I can guess. Eight … letters … am I right?”
I nodded. He’s so smart. It’d taken me days to figure it out when I’d first seen the code, before having to cheat to find the answer.
“Three words?”
I nodded again.
His eyes lit up, glowing rich emerald. “One meaning. I know what it is.”
“Smarty pants.” I pouted. “So … what is it?”
Arthur kissed me. “It means I love you. Eight letters, three words, one meaning.”
I huffed, wriggling away from his kiss. “Fine, Mr. Genius. Way to show me up.”
He chuckled. “You’re the one who started it.” His forehead furrowed. “Hang on, I’ve got one.”
I rolled my eyes. “What, just like that? You can come up with them that fast?”
I’d spent an entire afternoon studying cheesy mathematic sayings online and he could conjure one in a second.
If I didn’t love you so much I’d be jealous.
“One four three two …,” he said with a flourish.
My face scrunched, trying to work it out. Arthur didn’t move, didn’t help.
Finally, I gave up. “No idea.”
He beamed. “One letter, four letters, three letters, two.” He gathered me close, his warmth melting my bones. “I love you, too.”
My heart skipped and I hugged him hard. “Always …”
Our reflection bounced from the mirrored ceiling above. The villa had an entire wall of glass, inviting in trees and soft island breeze to whisper around us and keep the muggy island heat at bay. The sound of insects buzzing and birds cooing was the perfect backdrop to this wonderful vacation.
Along with getting away from the press and interviews and research, Arthur had finally jumped back into the world of trading. He’d fought me for a full year whenever I asked if he would trade the FX market again. I knew he feared the concussion had ruined his mathematical abilities. I didn’t believe that. He just proved it. But there was only so much encouragement I could give before it became a nag.
I hadn’t said a word when he’d unzipped his laptop bag and opened the familiar charts and accounts. I didn’t want to pry, but so far he’d only placed successful trades, rather than bad.
I hoped it proved to himself that he wasn’t broken. That he was fully himself with every gift he’d been graced with.
My lips twitched, thinking about last night. We’d awoken to a torrential downpour. The thunder cracked above as if the very fabric of the universe would shred to smithereens. Instead of staying in bed, Arthur had gathered me in his strong arms and carried me to sit on the cool tiles by the windows with our hands pressed against the glass watching the rain obscure the rest of the world.
I’d never felt so happy or complete as I did in his embrace.
His love for me hurt my heart.
Tackling me, Arthur rubbed his five o’clock shadow over my cheek. “No matter how many times I have you, I’ll never stop being awed by how beautiful you are.” His lips touched mine, pressing me into the mattress. “After all this time. You’re mine.”
I didn’t have time to respond as his hand dropped between my legs, brushing against my core. He growled when he found how wet I was.
I gasped as he pushed a finger inside me. “I’ve been yours since I was five.” My hips bucked and I stopped thinking.
All I focused on was Arthur. My Libran. My lover.
Arthur climbed on top of me, fisting the heavy weight of his erection and coating his tip in my wetness.
“I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want you,” he panted in my mouth as we both gasped at the delicious friction. Heat sprung over my skin that had nothing to do with the island warmth.
“I want you, Buttercup.”
“You have me.”
He shook his head, tracing his tongue over my bottom lip as he sank inside me slowly, effortlessly, coming home where he belonged.
I moaned as he settled his weight over me, holding my head in his hands as he jammed his elbows in the mattress on either side of my ears.
“I want you forever.”
“I am yours forever.”
Again, he shook his head. “I know that. You know that. But fate … I’m not so sure …”
I frowned, worried at the intensity in his gaze. “What do you mean?”
He rocked, hitting the perfect place inside, spiraling me into a whirlpool of lust. “Fate brought us tougher. It tested us. It took away everything, then gave so much back.”