Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
“And you love me.”
“Told you this place was magical,” Harley sing-songs, arching her hands in the shape of a heart. “Now would you like to meet my parents?”
Usually, this would mortify me, but being in Talon’s arms surrounded by this group of friends and family, the only thing I feel is delight.
“Put me down, honey, so I can meet Harley’s parents.”
“Not happening.”
I can’t stop the bubble that escapes my throat, sounding like a girly giggle.
I’m totally in love.
18
WILLOW
“Something’s up with Bex.”
Talon remains quiet, his fingers twined with mine, his thumb running across my wrist.
“She had this mega-insightful revelation tonight about adoration and love. Talking about how Harley, Rowan, and Jewls’ relationships are what romance novels are made of. She stuck up for Ace and his sly method of getting Harley out of Tom’s. Which is kinda sweet in a barbaric, overbearing way.” I prattle on about Bex’s little speech and stop short when I almost blab about the sex conversation.
Still no reaction from him.
He drives around to his entrance and hops out. “Stay here.”
He punches in the code to his door and Wolf runs out, doing a sprint around the car before running through the open gate to the backyard. Talon closes the gate and comes to open my door, scooping me into his arms and carrying me inside.
“Don’t move.”
The brash instruction takes me by surprise as he leaves.
I realize he hasn’t said a word since we left the bar. Is he pissed we stayed longer than he wanted?
Shit, have I already screwed this up?
Tom wasn’t wrong. All the members from Sayge arrived along with a few other famous musicians from the Label.
Ace spread the word about Harley’s last night and she had dozens of co-workers and friends show up in support.
I met more people in one night than I had in the last year. The party went on and Talon never pushed to leave, seemingly enjoying himself.
The only hiccup in the evening was when Nate, a member of Sayge, pulled me into his arms in greeting and held on. There was an audible growl as Talon extracted me from him with a glare so lethal a chill spread across my skin.
Nate was undeterred, grinning like a man with a death wish.
That was the only time I wasn’t connected to Talon’s side.
After our racy display of affection and his promise of what was to come, I was anxious.
Too anxious.
Now that we’re here, reality hits. My nerves kick into overdrive.
Earlier was a spur-of-the-moment reaction. The feelings I’d been suppressing came to the surface. There was no more denial.
But what if I misread his meaning earlier? What if it is way too soon?
He walks back in, ripping his shirt over his head and throwing it to the side.
My mouth goes dry at the sight I’ll never get tired of. I scan over his sculpted frame, my fingers twitching to run over every inch of skin.
He stops in front of me, my hands reflexively going to his chest.
The intensity in his eyes does nothing to help the electricity buzzing through my system.
“Wolf?”
“He’s settled in the living room with Mack.”
“He’s probably looking for me.”
“He’s passed out.”
“Doubtful, you know how he likes to sleep near me.”
“We took the dogs on a run this afternoon. They’re both wiped.”
“Oh.”
“You nervous, baby?”
“I-I-I—” the damn stutter! I swallow the dryness in my throat and try again. “I’m… no.”
“You sure?”
“I’m worried about Bex.” Even to my ears, it sounds weak.
“Bex’s revelation wasn’t mega-insightful. Everyone who comes into contact with those couples knows it’s more than adoration and love. It’s an obsession that lives inside. Never read a romance novel so I’ll have to take her word for it. Ace didn’t use any underhanded methods to get Jay out of that job. He’s been telling her for months he wanted her to quit. He took matters into his own hands.”
“That’s oddly beautiful.”
“Nothing odd about it. Now that we settled that, anything else you want to jabber on about to cover up the fact you’re freaking out?”
“I’m not freaking.” My damn squeak gives me away.
“Fucking cute when you’re ruffled.”
“I’m—” He shuts me up by taking my face in his hands. I’m instantly captivated by the same breathtaking swirl of colors in his eyes from earlier.
“Gorgeous, smart, kind, so goddammed perfect I wonder what I did to deserve you.”
“I’m not perfect.”
“You’re perfect to me. I’ve been in some shitty fucking situations in my life. Walked away from missions knowing luck was on my side.”
My eyes and nose sting and his face becomes fuzzy.
“I love you, Willow. Never thought it could happen, counted my blessings for the life I have. Turns out that luck wasn’t done. It brought you to me.”
His thumb catches the tears that fall as my vision clears. I suck in a shaky breath, knowing everything in my world has changed. “I love you, too. I fought against the feelings because I knew from our first kiss you could wreck me. Somewhere along the way, you obliterated all those fears.”