Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
This is a huge moment for us. This is the turning point, the fork in the road. One way leads to us raising Arwen while I hold the past close and allow it to slowly ruin me because no one—and I mean no one—will ever be Thatcher Orlov. Or I can go the other way, which leads to forever with the man I love, raising our daughter and making our future what I’ve always wanted for us.
The lump in my throat makes it hard for me to speak, but somehow, I’m able to whisper, “I forgive you.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Ido my best not to whoop, flip the table, gather her in my arms, and have my way with her when she utters those three words. While I have wanted her forgiveness, I know in granting it, she’d also be allowing herself to move forward with me. She was so standoffish at first, for good reason, but now, all I see is the girl I fell in love with all those years ago. Sure, time has passed, she has changed and so I have, but no matter what, the fire between us burns bright and hot.
A fire that has never gone out.
She does a little wiggle as she eats from the second round of plates on the table. Everything has been so good, but not as good as the company before me. A blissful look takes over her face as she tries and devours everything on the table. As I watch her, I feel my chest ache, and my hands itch to touch her. I want to pull her into my lap and feed her. I want all her little sounds of pleasure and wiggles for myself alone.
She asked why I hadn’t kissed her, and I wasn’t lying when I said I didn’t know that I could stop. I want her so desperately, but I don’t want her to think this is only about sex.
I want all of her.
I want a life with her.
I want to raise Arwen but also give her little brothers and sisters.
I want to make Audrina happier than she could ever imagine.
I tap the table, out of habit, to get her attention, and when she looks up, those doe eyes locking with mine, heat explodes in my balls. She’s so fucking beautiful and all mine. “I want your forgiveness, Audrina. That day is something I’ll always think of as one of my biggest regrets. And let’s be honest, I have a lot of regrets since I have a habit of passing the puck when I should shoot.”
She snorts at that, shaking her head. “You haven’t lately.”
My body burns, knowing she’s watched me play. “No, because I’m taking what I want.” She pulls her lip between her teeth, and I admit, “I didn’t plan all this for you to forgive me.”
She arches a brow. “I never said you did.”
God, I love her mouth. “I know. I don’t want you to think that since I fucked up, I felt I had to make up for it. That isn’t what I am doing.” Am I even making sense? I don’t know, but I’m lost in her eyes, and I feel like my heart is speaking, not my brain. “I did this to make you see that you’re worth my time, my effort, my love. I’ll do anything to make you smile, dushen’ka.” On cue, her beautiful mouth spreads into the most stunning smile. “I know I’ll fuck up, and I’ll be the first to apologize—I promise—but I don’t want to be one of those couples where I have to make up for my fuckups to remind you how I feel about you. Am I making sense?”
“I think so,” she says softly, her brows furrowed so deep I could put a finger in the crease. I don’t, and I also feel like I’m not making a lick of sense.
Finally, I blurt out like a fool, “I don’t want to be like the tragic love songs where I’m always doing things like this to apologize. I want to do these things just because, so that you never have to question how I feel ever again. Which might be one and the same, but damn, Audrina, I don’t know. I just want you never to forget how I feel about you.”
Her mouth parts slightly as she holds my gaze. “And how is that?”
I quirk my lips at her. “You don’t know?”
She shakes her head, but I can see the mischief in her eyes. She knows damn well how I feel, but she wants me to say it. That’s fine. I can do that. I can fucking show her.
I push my chair back, standing and buttoning my jacket with one hand. She traces my movements as the heat in her eyes makes need course from my brain to my toes, stopping in the middle to make my cock thicken. I come around the small table, but I don’t reach for her. Instead, I take out my phone, but I make a face when I notice my dad has texted me.