Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 42745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 142(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 142(@300wpm)
The words hit hard, but I don’t argue because she’s right. This wall I’ve erected between us has her questioning everything, and I don’t blame her.
She swallows and keeps going. “You told me there’s something you’re hiding from me, but you won’t tell me what it is. So my mind went everywhere, Penn. Every bad place it could go.” She looks back at me, and the hurt in her eyes cuts straight through me. “You left me to guess. And when someone leaves you to guess, you automatically think the worst.”
I close my eyes for a second. Fuck.
“I know,” I say because there’s nothing else I can say without giving her the truth.
“And I hate it,” she whispers. “I hate feeling like this. I hate wondering what I don’t know about my own husband.”
I lean closer, resting my forehead against the side of her head. “I’m still your husband.”
“Then talk to me.” Her words are soft.
For a second, I almost do it. I could say it in one rushed ramble, and it would be out. But then I picture her face when she realizes what I can’t give her, and I lose my nerve.
“I love you,” I say again, even though it isn’t enough.
Aria pulls back just enough to look at me. “I love you too, Penn. But loving me means you don’t hide things.”
I don’t have an answer for that.
So I kiss her hand again and stay beside her until the water starts to cool.
The whole time, I keep touching her like I can make up for every way I’ve failed her, and that’s been a lot lately.
CHAPTER 8
ARIA
I pull the brush through my hair and can’t seem to wipe the smile off my face.
Yes, there is still something between Penn and me, but maybe it’s different now. He’s lighter this morning. The smile is back on his face, and I can’t remember the last time I saw it. He’s joking around, he’s playful, and he can’t seem to keep his hands off me.
“What are you smiling about?” I ask him.
His smile gets even bigger as he looks at me through the mirror. “What do you think I’m smiling about?”
I set my brush on the counter and turn to lean against it, facing him. “I don’t know. Tell me.”
He puts his hands on my waist and pulls me to him. “I’m thinking about last night. About how good you taste and about how I want more.”
His eyes darken, and he leans in to kiss me.
I kiss him back, but before it gets too heavy, I lean away and look at him. “That’s what you were thinking about?”
He laughs. “Yeah. Well, that and every way I made you come.”
I lean my forehead against his chest as heat rises in my cheeks. “It was a good night.”
He gasps. “Good? Did you just say it was a good night?”
His hands trail up, and he cups my breasts through my blouse. “I guess I’m going to have to do better next time.”
I roll my eyes. “Three orgasms in one night is pretty good, Penn. It was a great night. Awesome. The best.”
He nods like he already knew that. “That’s what I thought. We may need a repeat tonight.”
I lift my eyes to his. “So you’re really taking the whole day off today?”
He cups my cheek, and I press into his touch. His thumb strokes my skin as he forces me to look up at him. “We’re going to my brother’s ranch. I’m going to help him, and you ladies are going to do whatever you do. I’m sure if Skyler’s involved, we’ll eat.” His eyes drop to my mouth. “And when we come back here, I want you naked and riding my dick as soon as we walk in the house.”
I gasp. “Did you really just say that? Now I’m going to be thinking about it all day. I’m going to be a mess by the time we get home.”
He groans. “I might have to take care of you while we’re there. Sneak you into a stall and give you some relief.”
My body trembles, but I force myself to pull away. We’re already running late, and if we keep going like this, we’ll never make it. As much as I want to stay in bed with my husband all day, I know Ozzy inviting us over is a big deal. He’s been through so much since Valerie died, and the fact that he asked his brothers to come help him on the ranch means something. Penn even took a vacation day for it. That means something too.
I put a hand on his chest to hold him back. “If you keep going, we’ll never get out of here, and we don’t want to miss this.”
He blows out a breath and looks down my body like I’m naked instead of standing here in old jeans and a T-shirt. “Do you know how good you look right now?”