Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Still, Malcolm isn’t saying anything. My boyfriend looks at me, and his expression is blank. Finally, I shake myself and force words to my lips.
“It isn’t what you think, Malcolm,” I begin in a trembling voice. “I know what it looks like, but I swear I would never cheat on you. I have no idea where these photos came from.”
Malcolm’s quiet.
“Really? So you don’t talk to Ronald anymore?”
“Yes!” I exclaim. But then I take a deep breath. “Okay, I did bump into him in the hallway at Ligne recently, but it was more of a coincidence than anything. I told him I was seeing you, and he also revealed that he’s seeing a Playboy bunny, so I have no idea why he sent me these photos. This is just a cruel joke, or some perverted trick in his mind. He’s trying to ruin our relationship and please please please, don’t believe his lies.”
Malcolm is still quiet, and I’m about to lose it. I’m going to scream and cry from a combination of terror and horror, but then, something flickers in my boyfriend’s eyes, and I stop. The blue depths gleam with humor and then the handsome man laughs. It’s more of a bark than true laughter, but still, it’s mirth.
“What’s so funny?” I ask. “I don’t see anything funny here.”
Malcolm sighs and bends down to retrieve a towel before wrapping the thick terry around my curves, rubbing his hands up and down my arms like he’s trying to warm me up.
“It isn’t funny,” he says. “It’s sad really, that Ronald is so pathetic he’d try to get back at you this way.”
I sniffle and Malcolm cups my cheeks, wiping my tears away with his thumbs. “So you believe me?”
He smiles and presses a kiss to my lips. “Of course I believe you, baby.” The handsome man stares into my eyes. “I trust you. I know you would never hurt me like that.”
I shake my head fiercely. “No, I wouldn’t. I swear.”
He smiles. “I know.” Then he gives me another sweet kiss, and when he pulls back, that cocky smirk is back.
“What?” I ask.
“I just can’t believe Ronald thought that would work. Clearly your ex doesn’t know you very well and is a complete idiot, thinking he could fool us with those photos.”
I stare at him, perplexed.
“What do you mean? You can’t see the woman’s face in the snaps. And who knows? Maybe I do like doing things like that.”
Malcolm merely grins, taking my hand in his before holding it up to the light.
“Well, if Ronald had two brain cells to rub together, he’d know that you keep your nails natural. You’d never wear those claw-like acrylics that the woman in the picture has, with flashy red nail polish too. I don’t have a clue who is in those pictures with him, but I know it isn’t you, baby. Did you say your ex is dating a Playboy bunny now, sweetheart? Maybe it’s her.”
Relief fills me, and I collapse into Malcolm’s arms, burying my face in his neck. Tears stream down my face as I cry, but Malcolm merely holds me while massaging soothing circles into my back. “It’s okay baby. We’re okay. I trust you. I’d never let an ass like that ruin what we have.”
Malcolm pulls back enough to look at me and cups my face before tilting his head to capture my mouth with his own. His touch is sweet at first but grows into something fierce as passion flows between us. Soon, I’m melting against him and mewling my need when he pulls back.
“I love you, Leslie,” he says harshly. “I’ll never let anything, or anyone come between us. You never have to worry about that, sweetheart, because I’m all yours.”
I’m crying again, but this time it isn’t fear or worry that have tears rolling down my face. Instead, it’s the realization that this beautiful man loves me and wants to be mine.
“Baby, don’t cry,” he shushes between kisses. “There’s no reason to cry.”
I shake my head and smile through the waterfall. “No, these are good tears.” Then, I lean up on my toes and kiss him. “I love you too, Malcolm. I love you so much and I’m glad this hasn’t come between us. It was just a stupid revenge scheme on Ronald’s part, and I’m grateful you saw through it within seconds.”
Heat flashes in his eyes and the billionaire kisses me hard then, claiming me like never before. My towel falls to the floor, and I wrap my arms around his neck, trying to pull him closer. Malcolm must feel the same because he runs his hands down my sides, around my waist, over my ass and then down the backs of my thighs. With a grunt, he lifts me into his arms and I smile as my legs wrap around his torso, our bodies pressed tightly together. At that moment, the laces of my bikini bottom come apart, the fabric loosening and then falling away, but Malcolm merely growls, his eyes hot, as he strides into the master suite.