Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 32454 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32454 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
At the declaration of her being a virgin, he knew he should have run for the fucking hills. He wasn’t interested in being a woman’s first. However, Peyton wasn’t just anyone. He had wanted this woman for a long time. He had kept his distance, because she had a lot going on.
One time was never going to be enough. Shae already knew a thousand times was not going to be enough. His father was many things, but loyal to his wife was one of them. He often told him that Marino men didn’t stray. It was their blessing and a curse. They found their woman, and that was it. There was no second best. Unfortunately, through the generations, some Marino men had lost their wives during childbirth. They never remarried. They raised that one child and took over. They loved one woman.
Shae didn’t know if he loved Peyton, however, the feelings he felt were strong. He didn’t like the very thought of her being with any other man. He felt possessive over her. She belonged to him, and him alone, and he didn’t want to share her.
Peyton walked back to the truck and climbed in. He took off, heading back to his main ranch, which was a good thirty minutes from town. It had to be as the Marino Ranch was the first sign of defense for the town.
She didn’t talk. Neither did he. He didn’t put the radio on. They just sat in silence, and it wasn’t uncomfortable. Peyton looked out the window, and it was dark outside, no way to see the scenery, but if she could, it would have been beautiful.
Arriving at his ranch, his men kept their distance, and he parked his truck, rounded the vehicle, and got there with enough time to stop Peyton from climbing down without his help.
She hesitated to give him her hand, but he helped her down anyway, making sure their bodies were close together. She looked up into his face, and he stared right down at her, not looking away. He didn’t want to look away. He would gladly look at her for days.
But it was also getting cold, and he saw her shiver. Taking hold of her hand, he felt her try to fight him, but he wouldn’t let her. He closed the door of his truck and didn’t bother to lock it. No one would steal from him on his ranch.
Walking with her to his ranch, he stepped inside, and then slammed the door closed, and as he did, he pressed her up against the door.
She didn’t fight him, and he took possession of her lips. He didn’t hold back as he kissed her. At first, she hesitated and didn’t kiss him back, not that he expected her to. Sinking one of his hands into her hair, he ran his other down her back, sliding toward the curve of her ass, which he gripped tightly, and pulled her in close.
She felt fucking fantastic. Pure heaven. Her body fit against his as if she was designed to sit exactly there, flush to his body. And her lips were everything he had ever dreamed about.
His whole world screamed for Peyton. It made no sense to him, this desperation. It felt deeper than any need. It consumed, took control, and all he could do was fall deeper down that spiral.
His father was right, and Shae truly believed that he might have found the woman he was meant to be with.
****
Peyton’s lips still tingled.
She had expected him to take her right there and then, maybe in the hallway, or the sitting room. Perhaps even in the dining room. He had done neither, apart from kiss her and make her lips tingle at each and every touch.
She pressed her fingers against her lips, and she didn’t know what she expected to find. Either way, it didn’t matter.
Shae took her to his dining room, where spaghetti and meatballs were waiting, her all-time favorite meal, complete with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, and it was so divine. She loved it, and couldn’t help but moan from time to time.
Afterward, they enjoyed a small coffee, then a piece of cheesecake, and to her surprise, it was one of her own. One of his men had picked it up at the shop that morning. She had gotten the order, and it was not under the name Marino. However, he did admit to using his men and their wives to order and collect bakery goods.
Peyton didn’t understand why he didn’t just come in and order himself. He also didn’t answer her question as to why. She figured maybe he got other people to do it because he saw it as demeaning. Maybe he was a snob. She knew he was the wealthiest man around. People admired him, envied him, and were also terrified of him. Rumors constantly run wild about this man. She did not know what to believe. Possibly none of it.