Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
“I really would’ve liked to ask a bunch of questions about tomorrow,” I told Austin as we climbed the stairs.
“Me too. But I’ve asked everything we need to know, and we’ve gone over it. He couldn’t have offered any more insight, and we would’ve bored everyone else.”
“Not Aurora. She listens to every word you guys say about business.”
“Earnessa and Mac, then.”
That was true.
Mr. Tom stood from the couch when we entered. “Hello, miss, sir. I trust you had a lovely evening, utterly exposed as you were without anyone to keep an eye out.”
“We managed, Mr. Tom, thank you,” I said. Austin barely paused before heading into the bedroom. “I should’ve told you not to wait up. You can—”
“Nonsense, miss. Who would pour you a glass of wine if I were off somewhere, freely going about my evening?”
“Riiight… Well, we’re headed to bed, so you can head to your room. Or elsewhere—”
“Get out,” Austin yelled.
I tried to keep a straight face.
“Ah. He’s in one of those moods, is he?” Mr. Tom arched an eyebrow. “It’s the sugar. When he consumes too much sugar, he’s all over the place. I know the signs.” He sniffed. “Fine.” He poured me a glass of red that I didn’t want and wouldn’t be drinking, then a bourbon for Austin. “Don’t stay up too late, miss. I know you can heal him and yourself, but you have a big day tomorrow. First impressions are everything. You’ll want to be—”
“Get out,” Austin yelled again, and I broke down into giggles.
“Yes, well.” Mr. Tom cast a sour look at the bedroom before heading for the door. “I’m glad you and not I have to deal with him. I’ll bring you breakfast tomorrow at ten a.m. sharp. I have your key. Good night.”
I threw the deadbolt, a habit from my Jane days, and then paused because it meant Mr. Tom would be locked out. Knowing I’d never hear the end of it, I undid the bolt. Breakfast brought to me was worth a little danger.
“Did he say he still had our key?” Austin asked as I slipped into the room.
I didn’t answer him because he knew the score here. Instead, I ran my hands up his broad back and to his shoulders. “You’re looser now,” I murmured in a feminine purr, trailing my fingers down the back of his neck and hooking them into his collar. I pulled, stripping his shirt away.
“It’s easy to have confidence when your hero believes in you,” he said softly.
I smiled with the warmth in his tone. I loved how much he loved his family, how tightly they’d bridged the gap caused by their past. He thought the world of his brother, and I was glad Kingsley got to see that.
“I assume you don’t mean me,” I joked as I moved around to the front of him and grabbed fistfuls of his undershirt.
His eyes were deep and serious. “You are the love of my life. My heart. My eternal happiness. You are my everything, and I’d give you the world just to see you smile. But no, not my hero.”
I blurted out a laugh as I bared his torso. “Well then, I guess we know where we stand.”
He put a bent finger under my chin and lifted. I angled my face up to his as I walked my fingertips down his chest.
“Thank you,” he said, brushing his lips against mine. “Thank you for helping me rise to this place, where I’m reaching for a noble purpose. Where I can use this rolling darkness within me for good.”
He deepened the kiss as his arms came around me. His fingers found the zipper on my dress, and warm air caressed my quickly exposed back.
“Thank you,” I murmured against his lips, dropping my hands to his slacks. “For joining me on this incredible journey with these very weird people.”
I felt his smile against my lips. “I’ll walk with you, no problem, but I will not take credit for the weird people. If anything, you shoved me into that, not the other way around.”
His zipper whirred before I pushed down his pants. “Fair enough.” I matched his smile as my dress pooled at my feet. His slacks and boxers, and then my panties, quickly followed. “I love you,” I told him, and wrapped my fingers delicately around his length. He sucked in a breath and swiped his tongue through my mouth. I backed off a little and ran my teeth against his lower lip before sinking to my knees. “Let’s get you good and distracted. I’m not going to heal you—I’m going to work you until you’re too tired to keep going, and then I’m going to cuddle close and sleep soundly against your incredible body.”
I licked him before taking him in my mouth. He went deep before I struck up a rhythm, my hand moving in time to my suction, slow at first and then faster. His fingers fisted in my hair as I looked up at him, marveling at the cut muscle and then falling into those beautiful cobalt eyes. He watched me strive, his hunger and pleasure plain. Faster and faster I went, my arousal coiling as I watched him near the edge. His body tensed, and his fists tightened…and then he released with a long, low groan.