Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
“Hi. Did you have a good day?”
His laugh is light. “I did. I made the last delivery, made sure my dad locked up and got home safely, brought in a load of firewood, and told him I’d see him later.”
Hearing him do all of this warms me. This is the life we had planned and the little glimpse into it fills me with such happiness. We were given a second chance and I refuse to squander it.
I reach for the small box resting on the tree branch and hand it to him.
“What’s this?”
“A little something.”
Zane takes my hand and leads me to the couch. “I have something for you,” he says as we sit down. “It’s at your parents already.”
“Did you go over there today?”
He nods as he holds the box in his hand. “Your mom made me test the pumpkin pie she baked.”
I nod slowly and give him a questioning look. “Made you, huh?”
Zane shrugs. “Pie tasting is a hardship.”
“Riiight.” I motion toward the box. He unwraps it slowly and holds the black velvet box in his hand. His jaw tightens, making me wonder why he’s stressed about what could be in the box. “Open it,” I whisper.
He slowly lifts the lid. A tear falls down his cheek and I wipe it away. “I had a feeling it was a key when I saw the box.”
“Am I that transparent?”
“No,” he says, shaking his head while never taking his eyes off the set of keys.
“This one.” I take the keys from the box and hold the gold one up. “Is for the office. If you’re still interested, I’d love for you to come work with me.”
“I accept.”
I smile and then hold the silver one up. “This is for the apartment.” My voice is quiet. “I believe in soul mates and know you’re mine. Having you here again has been eye opening. You’re the only one I’d ever want to be with, Zane. Would you like to move in?”
He doesn’t give me a verbal answer, but one with his lips pressing against mine. His tongue occupies my mouth, tangling with mine. Zane’s arm wraps around my waist and he lifts me effortlessly. My hands clasp behind his neck as his hands cup my rear. His long stride has us in my room within seconds.
Zane gently lays me down on my bed and rests on his elbow, hovering over me. “I want to live with you,” he says as he brushes my hair away from my face. “I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to come back to you.”
My hand cups his cheek, my thumb rubbing away his tears. “I forgive you, Zane. I know it wasn’t your fault.”
“I feel like—”
“It’s done,” I tell him. “We are here now. Nothing else needs to matter.”
He nods, but I see the torment in his eyes. He needs me to trust him. To love him like before. My fingers brush through his hair. “I love you.”
“I love you. I’m—”
I shake my head. “Don’t. No more apologizing.”
“K,” he says. He starts to move off me, but I hold him there, feeling him through my clothes. My hips flex, getting his attention. His brown eyes light up with wonderment.
“Eve,” he says my name with a hint of lust and warning. All week we’ve acted like teenagers unwilling or scared to take things to the next level. Honestly, I never knew grinding could be so erotic and satisfying.
My fingers brush along his side, snaking up his shirt. His flesh is warm and soft. Zane sits back on his knees and pulls the neck of his long-sleeved henley over his head, baring his chest for me. My mouth waters at the sight of him and I realize my memory has not done me justice. He’s sexier than I allowed myself to give him credit for.
Zane’s strong hands rub down my thighs, massaging, gripping, and grabbing at my jean covered flesh. I undo the button on my pants and slide the zipper down. He watches and the look he gives is one of question as his hands clench the waistband.
I nod and lift my hips, allowing him to pull my jeans away from my body. They go flying over his head, and while comical, I hold back my giggle.
His hands are back on my legs, his thumbs ghosting dangerously close to where I want him. To where I need him to be. Fingers dig into my flesh as my hips rising, urging him on.
“Can I take off my jeans?”
“I think you should.”
He’s off the bed in a flash, tugging his pants off. I sit up and remove my shirt. Zane’s on me before I have a chance to take my bra off.
“I’ll do it,” he tells me as he leaves a blazing path of open-mouthed kisses from my neck to the outline of my bra. “It’ll be another present. One I want to unwrap and savor.”