Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 24576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
In fact, I hadn’t let her return after that visit. She’s been living at my place since, commuting to class and continuing with her part-time catering job.
“Well, I want to at least keep working,” she said stubbornly. “I can’t let you pay for everything.”
“Why not?” I said. “I clearly have enough.” It was sound logic. She couldn’t argue, could she?
She looked around the apartment. I lived in a loft with soaring ceilings, a grand piano, and top of the line appliances. Nor did she have to cook or clean. My housekeeper and private chef took care of that.
“It’s just that …” she began, stopping.
“What is it?” I said.
“It’s just that … we don’t know each other,” she said. “I mean, I only met you a week ago, and now you’re saying that we should move in. I want to make sure that I have something just in case … you know … if things don’t work out.”
I’d been preparing for this. I pulled open the drawer to my bedside table and pulled out a jewelry case I’d stashed in there. I heard Wildflower’s breath catch when she saw the velvet box, and her hand instinctively fluttered to her throat in surprise.
“Don’t worry,” I growled. “Even I don’t move that fast.”
Maybe it wasn’t an engagement ring yet, but it would be soon if I had my way. She slowly opened the purple box, revealing a diamond-encrusted bracelet, slim yet elegant on her narrow wrist.
She gasped, at a loss for words. The value of that bracelet was probably more than a year’s rent at her old place. I kissed her wrist, on the sensitive part where her pulse fluttered and gently skimmed my finger over her cheek, stopping to rest on her pouty, delicious pink lips.
“Wildflower, this bracelet is my pledge to you,” I said. “If you need to move out for any reason, you’ll be able to sell this and buy a small house. So go easy on yourself, okay? There’s no need to keep that catering job. Besides, I’d rather have you here, underneath me,” I growled, rolling over on top of her.
She gasped and then smiled sweetly at me, my heart turning over as she looked deep into my soul. With a soft kiss on my lips, she nodded her acquiescence and I groaned low in my throat. My cock had started to twitch again, and it was time to give Wildflower more of those love marks.
7
Alison
It’s hard to accurately describe just how fast Liam overwhelmed me. He was so rich, so domineering and assertive, that it wasn’t hard to see how he’d come to be the head of a music empire. He was the CEO of Atlantis Records, a businessman and musician rolled into one. On more than a few occasions, I’d heard him tinker at the piano, and he was truly talented. Even my lovesick heart recognized that he had a real gift.
But as much as I loved this man and his magnificent apartment, I had my pride. I’d been poor my whole life, contributing to my family as soon as I was able to start working. I’d started as a gas station attendant, graduated to waitress, and during college, got the catering job which let me work evening hours so I could keep going to classes.
I love my family, but I’m not ashamed to say that we were poor. It was really just my mom, my gran, and me. My dad had been some rich guy who’d slept with my mom a few times, filling her head with dreams of a mansion and a big family, only to leave when he found out she was pregnant. It had been so hard raising me as a single mom that she’d basically given up her dreams of a career in journalism, instead working a secretary to support the three of us.
I was determined not to fall in the same trap. Sure, Liam was rich and he was promising me the world, but I wanted to make sure I had a back-up plan. I was going to keep going to school, get my degree, and then who knows? The world was my oyster.
In the meantime though, I’d been swept off my feet by this gorgeous man. Just last night, he’d gotten home from work and surprised me with another piece of expensive jewelry, this time a ruby ring which glinted in the light.
“Oh Liam, I can’t!” I’d exclaimed, looking at the priceless gem. “I’ve taken so much from you already, I can’t take anymore.”
“Nonsense,” he growled, pulling me into his arms. “It was made for you,” he said persuasively, wrapping his arms around my waist. “Plus, it’d look great with the red lingerie I got you last week,” he whispered into my ear.
I giggled a bit. “It would be perfect, wouldn’t it?” I breathed, turning around. I kissed him with all the longing in my heart. He was my man, this breathtaking alpha male whose mere presence made my heart leap. I felt myself melting against him, succumbing to his magnetic pull. He laughed softly in my ear, nipping gently at my neck as his hands found the opening to my sweatshirt.