Total pages in book: 19
Estimated words: 17895 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 89(@200wpm)___ 72(@250wpm)___ 60(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17895 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 89(@200wpm)___ 72(@250wpm)___ 60(@300wpm)
"Jesus Christ," I sigh. If the woman kills me, it'll probably be the least I deserve, but fuck it. If it means Seraphina still has a job, I'll suffer through with a goddamn smile on my face. "Ask her to switch."
"You're sure?" Hector arches a brow. "I can ask the other assistants."
"The odds of anyone else in this building being willing to put up with me are slim to none, and you know it," I mutter. "If Miriam is willing, make the switch. If she kills me, so be it."
"It's your funeral," Hector says, shaking his head. "I'll let you know as soon as I talk to her and Jake."
"Thank you."
I offer Seraphina a hand, pulling her up from her seat. We're halfway to the door when Hector says my name.
I pause, glancing back at him.
"I expect a wedding invitation," he says, grinning at me.
"You'll get one."
Seraphina makes this little sound that's half squeak, half gasp, all shock, her body going rigid. Her big hazel eyes meet mine.
"W-what?" she whispers.
"Where'd you think this was going, angel?"
"I…"
There's nothing more beautiful than this woman when she's speechless with stars in her eyes. Nothing.
Chapter Nine
Seraphina
Stone ushers me out of Hector's office while I'm still stuck on stupid, trying to process what he just said to me. I think he broke my brain because nothing is working right. Not even my legs.
He has to help me back to his office suite because I'm a fucking fawn just learning to walk.
As soon as the door closes behind us, he turns to me, more serious than I've ever seen him. "If you don't breathe soon, I'm calling an ambulance, angel."
"I…You…I…" I give up trying to form words and just faceplant into his chest instead, earning a chuckle.
"For the record, that wasn't me asking," he says with his lips against my crown. "I haven't earned the right to put a ring on your finger yet. I've got six months of Thanos-level villainy to make up for first. But when I have, I fully intend to slide my ring right here." He lifts my hand, circling his finger around mine. "And I intend for it to stay there for the rest of your life."
"Brain is broken," I mumble. "You broke it."
He chuckles, his body vibrating against mine. "It's all good, baby. You don't have to say anything. Just know…it's coming." He hooks a finger under my chin, craning my head back. "I don't quit when it matters. You matter."
"Stone," I whimper.
He brushes his lips against mine before groaning softly and taking a step back. "You make it so goddamn hard to behave when you say my name like that, Seraphina. Every time you whimper, I just want to slide inside you, just to hear it again. I want to fuck you raw, just to keep hearing it."
"You aren't behaving right now," I groan, swaying on my feet.
He chuckles, taking an exaggerated step back with his hands in the air. "I'm not even touching you."
"Your words are." I squirm, pressing my legs together. "In places they shouldn't."
His gaze immediately drags down my body, landing on my sex. The way the cerulean color darkens has me ready to climb him like a damn tree, rules be damned.
Instead, I do the smart thing. I scurry to my desk…before I say to hell with it and get us both fired when we're so damn close to getting everything we want.
The rest of the day is a blur. I spend most of it staring blankly at an expense report I need to finish. Does it get done? No idea. I'm in another dimension.
Stone wants to marry me.
I don't even know how this happened. A few days ago, I was more or less resigned to the fact that he'd be my hot, grumpy boss and nothing more forever. Instead, I'm realizing he was never really that, not in his heart and not in mine, either.
I hate that he thinks he has to earn the right to put a ring on my finger…and part of me loves it, too. I hate that he thinks he isn't good enough right now. But I love that he wants to be someone he thinks is worthy of me.
What straight woman on this planet doesn't want a gorgeous man willing to put in work for her? None. The answer is none.
The day is almost over before Stone emerges from his office, a frown tugging at his lips. The sight immediately puts me on red alert.
"What's wrong?" I ask, suddenly too damn nervous to breathe.
"Nothing," he says, strolling toward me. "Just trying to resign myself to the fact that, come next week, you won't be at that desk anymore."
I blink at him, my heart stuttering. "Do you mean…?"
"Yeah, angel." His expression morphs, the frown curving into a big grin. "Hector just called. Miriam and Jake agreed to the switch."