Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“They weren’t stupid—” he begins, rushing to my defense, but I roll over him, pulling out of his arms.
“So fucking stupid,” I castigate myself as I wave my hands around like a lunatic. I look at him despondently and ask, “How could you want someone so stupid?”
I can tell when Luc’s had enough of my pity party, because his lips curve upward in a smirk. “You’re really going there, Steph?”
“I’m trying to bring home the full magnitude of my own absurdity,” I tell him with a glare.
“Stephanie,” he says softly, opening his arms back up to invite me into their safety.
But I haven’t earned that right yet.
“I love you, Luc,” I tell him truthfully. The most truthful words I’ve ever spoken in my life. “I just…I love you more than anything, and I can’t believe I was so afraid to admit that. I’m just so sorry if it made you feel bad about yourself that I couldn’t admit it. You’re the last person in the world I’d want to hurt.”
“You didn’t—”
“I did,” I reaffirm, and that beautiful, sweet, loving, and understanding man lets me shoulder the responsibility of this because he knows I need to. He merely nods to give me that.
Stepping up to him, I put my good hand to his cheek and warmth flows through me as he leans into it.
“I love you,” I tell him again, and it sounds even better this time. “And I’m not afraid to love you. I’m not afraid what that means. I’m not even the tiniest bit worried that I’ll get hurt by you. It’s all so clear now…”
My words drift away, along with my gaze, which slides off to the side for a moment as I consider just how very close I came to losing the best of what life has to give me. When I look back to Luc, I admit, “Actually…it was clear from the get-go. I just refused to give myself credit that I deserved it.”
“But you do,” he tells me.
“Oh, I know I do,” I say with a smile. “Just as you deserve to be happy, and Luc…I’m just so grateful it’s me who does it for you.”
“You so do it for me,” he murmurs as he leans down to brush his lips over mine.
My hand curls around his neck and I press my mouth to his. We don’t kiss, we just stand there with our lips open and touching, breathing into each other.
Luc murmurs into my mouth, “Say it again.”
“I love you.”
He pulls back and frames my face with his hands. “Let’s see if I can freak you out some more.”
I give myself over to him with absolute trust. “Bring it.”
“Will you marry me?” he asks without hesitation, and he does so because I see a reciprocal trust in his gaze.
“Yes,” I return without hesitation, and I’m absolutely charmed for life as his eyes fill with so much happiness I’ll never forget this moment as long as I live.
“Really?” he asks. I know he’s having a hard time believing that I’m just taking the leap so easily.
“You’ll catch me,” I tell him.
“Pardon?”
“I’m jumping off knowing you’ll catch me,” I explain. “I just know it.”
“That’s right,” he promises me. “I will never let you fall.”
Luc bends down and kisses me properly this time. A welcome-home sort of kiss, and oh my…this man is my home. No doubt about it.
The kiss melts away and then I’m in Luc’s embrace, my head pressed into his neck as we squeeze each other in further silent affirmation.
Suddenly, I jolt with the realization of something important he needs to know. I pull away from him and beam a megawatt smile his way. “Guess what?”
“What?” he asks, thoroughly amused by me.
“I’ve got a baby bump,” I say proudly, then I lift my pajama top so he can see.
“Oh wow,” he murmurs, placing his hand on the very slight but totally noticeable swelling there. “Just…wow.”
“Cool, huh?” I ask as I watch his hand just lying gently on me.
“Totally horny right now,” he says as his eyes come to mine and we grin at each other for a brief moment as we share the inside joke between us. “But seriously…it’s amazing. You’re amazing.”
“I feel like a new person, Luc,” I say softly. “It’s so fucking weird…but you told me it was time to put up or shut up.”
“I feel like a new person too, Steph,” he says, and I get another sweet, light kiss that speaks of newfound happiness that will grow each day.
“What do we do now?” I ask him, eager to get started on this new life with a man I’ve been insanely in love with for a long time but was too afraid to admit it until now.
“I have an idea,” he says slyly. “Let’s go pick out an engagement ring.”
“Right now?” I ask dubiously.