Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
I moved away with a smirk. The scent of her pussy filling the air was enough to make me think I couldn’t be trusted out in public with her yet. The urge to drop and fuck her up against anything available was still too strong.
I cast my eyes out to the twinkling golden lights that dotted the carnival grounds, tiny little specks of people shuffling around below us.
“How crazy would you think I am if I said I’ve never been on a Ferris wheel before?” She popped a cloud of pink cotton candy into her mouth and smiled.
“I’d say you’re bat-shit.” I squeezed her thigh, our bodies pressed close as we sat suspended atop the carnival grounds. “And I’d say what kinda childhood did you have if you’ve never hung in a metal basket above a crowd at deadly heights?”
I grinned, thinking that despite whatever else, if felt so damn fun to experience the silly side of life through her eyes again. I’d grown up with a pretty stable childhood in every way, aside from a few traumatic moments. I didn’t carry much from my past, but there was something a little darker that clouded Daphne’s eyes sometimes.
“There wasn’t a lot of room in the budget for things like cotton candy and carnivals and—” her eyes averted, taking in the nighttime crowd below us “—laughter.”
“It’s a good thing you found me, then.” I snaked her fingers in mine.
“I think you found me.” Her bright smile returned. “This big fluffy elephant you won me thanks you too.” She petted the soft gray stuffed animal in her lap. “I’ve had so much fun tonight.”
She popped another cloud of periwinkle cotton candy into her mouth and savored it as it melted on her tongue.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had this much fun at a carnival.” The metal cage we were locked in shifted into gear, moving us slowly around the wheel as riders exited at the bottom. “The last time I was here, I had pimples and Coke-bottle glasses.”
She burst into a quiet giggle. “I can’t imagine you with nerd glasses.”
“Good. Don’t ever try again. I’ve long buried all the photo evidence.”
“Surely I can sweet talk your mom into sharing the goods?” She was teasing, but it sparked a thought in my mind.
“Hey, why don’t you come the next time my mom does family dinner?”
Her eyebrows rose, eyes swirling with some inexplicable emotions. “And like”—she tipped her head adorably—“meet your people?”
“Yeah, I guess that’s what I mean.” The Ferris wheel moved forward a few more places.
“Are we really ready for that step?” She was kidding me, I could tell, but I liked it.
I adjusted in my seat. Just the act of her bare thigh being pressed against mine for the last ten minutes of this ride was enough to remind me what she tasted like riding my tongue.
“Oh, we’re definitely ready, Peaches.” The pad of my thumbs settled on her full bottom lip, gently sliding across the tender flesh before I pressed our lips together in a tender kiss.
I didn't give a damn if we did look like lovestruck teenagers. I was lovestruck, well and twisted head over heels for this woman.
“You make me so happy, Arkin. I didn’t know it was possible to feel so —” she licked her lips “—safe.”
My heart collapsed at the use of the word safe. It wasn’t the first time she’d expressed sentiments like this one and wasn’t the first time I’d wondered about the details of her life before I’d come into it.
“I’m vowing to you right here and now, on my word as a man, you’ll always be safe as long as I’m around, Daphne. You never have to worry about that.”
She nodded, happiness splitting her cheeks in a grin. “You keep proving that to me, over and over.”
“I’m a man of few words but a lot of action. It takes some getting used to.”
“Not for me.” She spread her palm on my cheek, her thumb tracing the arch of my cheekbone. “It’s just one of the things I love about you.”
“Mm.” I placed another hungry kiss on her lips. “Let’s talk more about all those other things you love about me.”
The rusted metal door creaked on its hinges as a teen carnie swung the door wide, gesturing us out. I clasped her hand, and we ran out and down the steps, laughter and the scent of fried dough filling the night air.
“The comedy show just started at the stage. What do you say we throw popcorn at him every time he cracks a corny joke?”
“Sounds like the best idea yet.” She grinned up at me, eyes dancing with fire and amusement and everything sweet in life that I wanted more of. Whoever had wronged this woman in the past would have a one-way ticket to hell if I ever crossed their path.