Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 32313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
“I am her fiancé and the father of her unborn child.” Markis’s arrogant look drops as he looks at me, stunned to be hearing this. I feel horrible. I should have told him immediately but seeing him brought back all of these memories of our talks and phone calls and I just couldn’t hurt him like this.
“My Lilah, is this true?”
“She is your nothing, asshole.” I put my hand on Blake’s chest and plead with him.
“Please, let me talk to him.”
“What is there to say. Tell him the fucking truth so we can be done with this shit, my flower. We have a wedding to plan.” Ugh. Why is he so impossible? Showing him how upset I am with him, I squint and flare my nose. “So cute when you try to be upset. Come on baby. Let’s be done with this. I miss you.'' He kisses my nose and I melt a little. He is such an Alpha. But I love him, and he is right. I need to put on my big girl panties and handle this, so we can all move on. Markis included. Using my thumb, I turn my engagement ring around before facing Markis.
“Yes, Markis. It is true.” I hold my hand out so he can see it. “The wedding part anyway.”
“The baby part is true too, little flower. Don’t ignore our son growing in your belly.” This man is too much. I have to admit though, that my heart and pussy are both cooing at the same time. Hell, even my ovaries are swooning. Jerk.
“Anyway. I never meant to hurt you, Markis. I don’t know what would have happened if I had not needed to come home, but I did, and this is where fate took me. I hope you can forgive me and one day you find the girl for you.” I mean every bit of that.
“Are you sure this is what you want, Lilah. You can really be happy in the spotlight, your every move recorded, scrutinized, and controlled?” Well, when he says it like that. I am ashamed to admit it, but I do hesitate to answer for a moment. A brief moment, but a moment, nonetheless. Blake feels it and he squeezes my side and looks me in my eye. I see his promise in that gaze. The promise that this won’t be our life forever. The promise that we will be the ones who decide our family, our cause, and our life. The promise that no matter what happens outside of us, we will always be strong, truthful with one another and faithful.
“I am sure, Markis. Thank you for being such a good friend and for worrying about me.”
“Very well. I wish you the best, Lilah. You know how to reach me if you…”
“She won’t.” Blake pulls my back to him and stands there like the husband police. I pinch his thigh as we watch Markis get into a car I assume is a rental. When he drives off, Blake turns me to face him. “I love you, Lilah. I was scared for a second, a tiny second, but long enough to let the thought cross me that maybe you want to be with him and that with him in front of your face, you might walk away from me. I need you to know I would have died, baby. I would have bled out right here at your feet and watched as you walked over my lifeless corpse if you would have chosen him. There is no me without you. I love you, baby. I love you.'' It's like he is begging me for something that already is.
“Blake, I am going nowhere. I love you too. I was just this meek, scared girl when we met. In such a short time, I have found and am finding my voice and my inner strength. It’s you. You give me the courage to be strong and take chances because I feel safe. I don’t want to be anywhere you aren’t. I love you.”
Forever.
Epilogue
BLAKE
FIVE MONTHS LATER
“Will you calm down and stop pacing?” William says, next to me. I look at him like he can kiss my ass because he can. He is not the one standing in a garden, under a trellis or whatever the hell women call these things, waiting on his heart to walk down the aisle to him. Nope. That would be me.
After the events with Markis, everything went full steam ahead. Well, after she had it out with her sister Cat for not telling her he was coming here. Seems Markis found her number from the company website and called her. He explained who he was and who he hoped to be to Lilah. Just as I suspected, she didn’t believe my motives and didn't believe my love for her was real. She saw it as an opportunity to get her away from me. Yeah. That was never going to happen.