Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 52887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 264(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 264(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
"There might be a couple in the drop safe in there. Everyone gets a crown here. Those are the rules."
"Even Killian?"
"Yep." That man would murder a whole city for me, so I'm sure he'd wear a crown for a few hours to help me prove my point. A laugh leaves her, which makes me happy. That was the point of all of this. I kinda knew she was going to be bummed about Tristan.
"Thank you," she tells me again. This is nothing. Lily has been the only friend I've ever had, and I got damn lucky. No amount of friends would ever compare to her. I should put her in the safe. It is big enough, but I’ll need to move things around.
"I love you," I tell her. We hug before she sends me on my way.
Killian is waiting for me in the hallway. "Okay, I wasn't prepared to bring a man home, so there is no big reveal for you. Don’t get your hopes up.”
"Got what I need." He swoops me up into his arms. I let out a small scream that turns to a laugh. He carries me to my bedroom located on the other side of the house. Once we’re inside, he gently puts me on my feet at the edge of the bed.
“I’ve never had a boy in my room.”
“I’m no boy, Zolotse.” He sure the hell isn’t.
“You know what I mean.”
“Another first of yours that belongs to me.” Killian gives me one of those rare smiles. He’s pretty damned pleased with himself at my revelation.
“Actually, I misspoke. Roland has been in here plenty,” I tease him. Killian doesn’t even bother to respond. Instead, he shakes his head at me before leaning down to take my mouth in a kiss. “You want to see the safe?” I wiggle my brows at him.
“I’m far more interested in yours.”
“That’s what I'm—" I pause. “Oh, my vagina!" I snort a laugh that turns into full giggles when he tosses me onto my bed, sending multiple pink fuzzy pillows flying.
"These will be useful." He runs his hand up one of the four wooden posts. A sheer fabric swoops down from one to the next, covering the top as well. I’d never thought about that before. Now I’m dreaming up all kinds of ideas.
"You don't want to man this place up?"
"No," he says, and I watch as he pulls off his shirt. The man could be a thirst trap.
"You are man enough for the whole estate." I laugh at my joke.
“I only care about being enough for you.” Kilian comes down over me, brushing a few pieces of hair out of my face. I stare up into his eyes.
“You’ll always be enough for me,” I tell him. I never want him to doubt that. Killian fits me in a way I didn’t know I needed. He is my perfect match. I may not be able to prove it, but I know without a doubt that Grams sent him to me.
“And you’ll never be too much for me.”
“Killian,” I whisper, my eyes filling with tears. I can’t believe he said that. He remembered me telling him about how people always say that I’m too much.
"Don't cry, Zolotse." His face softens in a way it only ever does for me.
"I'm really happy," I tell him. "I worried that I wouldn't ever find full happiness again once I lost Grams. I'd pretend, but I could never fully get there."
"You're there now?"
I sniffle. "I passed it, honestly," I admit, knowing that wouldn't hurt Grams' feelings; in fact, she'd want that for me more than anything.
"I could barely feel before you. Now I know I couldn't live without you. The world is different now that I have you.”
"I love you," I tell him.
"I love you too, Zolotse." He kisses me, and I wrap myself around him.
My Killian is and always will be my sweetheart. He's worth more than all the crowns and safes filled with gold bars because Killian is right. The world is a whole lot different when you've got your soulmate at your side.
Epilogue
KILLIAN
YEARS LATER
Deadly killer to stuffed animal wrangler. How quickly things can change. My Zolotse has a way of making you enjoy everything. This carnival is one of many examples. Years ago, this place would have been my nightmare. I'd rather be down in a hole waiting to make the perfect kill shot for ten hours, unable to move, before I'd want to be at a carnival.
Now, seeing the way it not only lights up my wife's face but our child's too makes this place feel a whole lot different.
"Daddy, don't choke it!" I glance down at my daughter and then at the giant bunny I'm holding. I do have it in a partial chokehold.
"I assure you it will not die," I tell Olivia, our youngest.