Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 40554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Blake's fingers tangle into my hair as he leans down and claims my mouth in a hard kiss. When he lifts his head, I suck in a deep breath, having lost mine.
"I called you honey when you started calling me Bear." It takes me a second.
"Bears love honey," I whisper. "Wait, I mean, like. Not like you love me or whatever. You know?"
"You keep saying I know, but I don't."
"I know." I can't stop the smirk that forms on my lips, but it doesn't matter because Blake kisses it.
“Are you hungry?”
“I could eat.”
"Come," he tells me, but he's already tugging me off the bed and leading me back toward the kitchen.
"You're bossy."
"Some things never change."
"I don't recall you being bossy with me." Now others, yes. He had his moments, and back then I was more than happy to oblige. I always wanted to please him or get a smile. Following the small orders he would give me felt intrinsically different from the ones from my parents—or anyone else, for that matter.
"You're different." He pulls out one of the chairs at the kitchen island.
"You sit; I want to cook dinner." He pauses. "Please." I peek up at him through my lashes, and for a brief second, I flash back to our childhood and me talking him into something. He had often caved for me.
"You know it's hard for me to tell you no." His face softens, a rarity. It makes him appear younger, more his age. Blake was always dressing in slacks and a button-up, even as a teen.
"I'm remembering." Have I pushed a lot of our memories to the back of my mind to make it easier to try and move on from him? To tell myself he wasn't all I'd made him up to be in my head? “Are you good with pasta?” I know we have the stuff for that.
“I’m good with anything you make me. I enjoyed the appetizer." I pause, turning back to him from the refrigerator. What is he talking about?
“The—” Then it hits me. “Blake!” I hiss his name.
A full smile takes over his face. I’m sure mine is cherry red at this point.
"You're terrible." I turn back to the refrigerator to hide my smile, feeling lighter than I have in years.
Chapter Ten
BLAKE
This time while I watch her sleep, I get to do it while being next to her in bed. I was a dumbass for not clearing the air and talking things out with her sooner. We haven't hashed it all out, but enough was said for last night. I could tell it was a lot for her to take in, for both of us really.
Once she started dinner, we fell into easy conversation that ventured away from our parents and how we came to be married. We both wanted to put it to the side, but fuck, it was nice simply having dinner together and then watching a few of her terrible shows. Ones that I got too invested in and asked her a million and one questions about.
Each time she would pause, her face lighting up with joy slightly to answer them. Then I started finding ones to ask for that reason alone. I love seeing her this way and hate that I’ve missed so many years of these experiences with her.
Once we decided we had enough reality TV for the night, we went up to bed. Neither of us said anything about getting ready together and climbing in. I ended up turning one of her shows back on, not wanting to make it awkward for her, and pulled her into my arms. Truly rested her head on my chest and watched until she fell asleep. It didn’t take me long to follow.
I slept through the night. It was the most restful sleep I've experienced in a long time. Normally a few hours and I'm good. Tension I didn't know I was holding for years lessened. It has been harder on me being away from her all this time than I think I fully understood. Something as simple as having her next to me has soothed a part of me.
You endure and push through; that's what I've been doing. I'm not sure what will be next, but I know two things. Truly and I will stay together as husband and wife, and everyone who played a role in this will pay in one way or another.
I wish I was good enough to leave it up to Truly on her parents' fate, but I'm not sure I can do that. She might have gotten feistier over the years, but at her core, Truly is pure sweetness. That tender heart of hers will try to waver, wanting to show mercy. She still craves guidance. Her body screamed it last night.
My morning wood becomes painfully hard at that thought. It's not about controlling her life. For her, it's about being taken care of. Now I'm seeing she's never had that from her family. I'm going to give her that.