Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 132951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 665(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 665(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
I capture her hands and turn to face her. She’s gloriously naked.
“I texted and said we’d be down in fifteen minutes.” Her eyes are lit up with hope.
“I texted five minutes ago and said we’d be down in ten.” I drop my head and drag my nose along the edge of her jaw. “Pretty little menace.” I keep my hold on her wrists, pulling her naked body against me. “You’re going to let me dress you, take you to see your friends, feed you, and hydrate you.”
Her cute pout returns. “Why so sensible and sweet?”
“I can’t be the worst all the time.” I kiss her chin and forehead.
“What happens after brunch with friends?”
“We’ll go for a drive. And later, when I have you all to myself again, you can play with me however you want.” I gaze down at her, letting the rush of desire wash over me. “Do we have a deal?”
She sighs. “I suppose.”
I grin and kiss her tempting lips. I release one hand and reach behind me to pluck a pair of panties from the drawer before I drop to my knee in front of her. Mildred lets me dress her in jeans and a sweater with a strawberry print with only minimal pouting.
She disappears into the bathroom for a moment to brush her teeth and hair, and then we take the elevator to the private dining room.
She frowns at me on the ride. “I take it back.”
“You take what back, darling?”
“What I said about you being sweet and sensible. Postponing show-and-tell was an exceptionally villainous thing to do.”
I kiss the back of her hand. “You’re right. Taking care of you, making sure you’re properly fed and hydrated is criminal.”
“Utterly felonious really,” she agrees with narrowed eyes. “And you wore that shirt to torment me.”
“Another heinous crime. How dare I wear clothing in public and rob you of the opportunity to shamelessly ogle me? My offenses are really piling up this morning, aren’t they, Mrs. Grace?”
“We were already late,” she points out. “Ten more minutes wouldn’t have been a big deal.”
I throw my head back and laugh. Then I box Mildred into a corner. “My beautiful, feisty, gorgeous wife. In no world would ten minutes with you ever be enough.”
“But it would have taken the edge off.” Her cute pout is back.
I grin. “I think I like edging you.”
She pushes on my chest, but hooks a single finger into my belt loop to keep me close. “Horrible villain.”
I brush my lips over her cheek. “Perfect menace.”
The elevator doors open.
I step back, and her hot gaze darkens. She brushes by me with a huff and starts speed walking down the hall.
“Darling!” I call after her.
She keeps walking.
“You’re going the wrong way!” I shout, loving the way it feels to push her buttons like this.
She spins to face me, nostrils flared, expression reflecting her displeasure as she stalks back. I step in front of her before she can pass. We’ve gained the attention of several nosy staff and a few guests.
“You have every right to be annoyed with me. I’m being a problem. Your problem.” And I fucking love it. “But people are watching, and while there’s nothing my father would love more than to see us arguing in public the day after our wedding—because it will prove that I’m completely incapable of making anyone happy, especially not my own wife—I don’t want to feed the media beast when there is a possibility of backlash for you.” I hold her face in my palms.
Her expression softens, and she exhales a slightly annoyed breath. “You want to make me happy?”
“I do, yes.”
“Then you better kiss me,” she demands.
I press my lips gently to hers. “Is that better?”
Her eyes flash. “Make a scene, Mr. Grace.”
I grin. “Of course, Mrs. Grace.” I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her tightly against me, and delve in.
Soft lips, warm tongue. Her vanilla-and-strawberry shampoo surrounds me. Mint and wet and want. Cameras click. Her nails dig into my biceps.
I pull back. “Can I feed you now, darling?”
She sighs dramatically. “I suppose.”
I lace our fingers and smile in satisfaction as she rolls her shoulders back, wearing the Grace name with the kind of arrogance I’d hoped for.
The dining room is full of easy laughter and chatter when we finally arrive.
“Look who made it!” Tristan stands, his smile wide as he claps, and everyone joins in.
“I’m so sorry we’re late. It’s my fault. I didn’t want to wake my wife this morning.” I kiss Mildred’s temple. “She’s adorable when she’s sleeping.”
Mildred snorts.
Flip barks out a laugh. “Not how I would describe a sleeping Dred.”
She fires the double bird at him.
“Mimosa?” Rix asks.
“No thank you. Just water and coffee. Lots of both.” Mildred slides into one of the two remaining chairs, and I push it in for her.