Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95816 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95816 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
He hadn’t wanted me or my mother. My mother told me repeatedly he didn’t want children. Would never love me. Was incapable of loving anyone.
What changed? Why did he never come find me?
I vacillated from sadness to anger all night. If I caught his gaze, the anger seeped out. I wanted to scream at him, demand answers, but I knew I couldn’t. None of my anger was directed at his wife or children. I was envious of the love he showed them, of the utter adoration they showed him. I recalled my childish dream of having a dad to take to school. He was the ideal image I’d had in my head years ago.
I was grateful when Luc found me, wrapping his arm around my waist. “Ready to get out of here?” he asked with a frown. “You’re still a little pale, Ash. You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m good. Let’s go.”
In the car, I pushed down the desire to pump him more about Richard and his family. Instead, we talked about other things. How busy his new company was right now. A new piece of software he was developing. A large event I was running in two weeks.
Once we got to the house, my anxiety had eased. Not having to see any of the VanRyan family walking around, secure in their place in the world, helped. I was still wound up, though, and as soon as we stepped into the house, I was all over Luc. His back hit the wall as I lunged, covering his mouth with mine, kissing him. He groaned, lifting me into his arms, quickly taking control. His mouth was hot, and he tasted like the cake we’d eaten before we left, the spices and cinnamon mixing with the sweet icing. I clung to his shoulders, yanking on his hair and pressing myself as close as I could get to his body.
“Are you sure you’re feeling up—”
I cut him off, reaching between us and cupping his erection. “Shut up and fuck me, Luc.”
His eyes were filled with passion, his desire evident. “You asked for it.”
Moments later, I was naked on my bed. Luc’s clothes disappeared behind him as he joined me. We kissed and groped, our hands never stopping in their exploration. Licked and sucked at each other. He dragged his teeth along my collarbone, down to my breasts, where he drew his tongue along my skin, bit teasingly, and sucked. He slid his hand between my legs, groaning.
“Jesus, you’re wet.”
“I want you,” I begged. I needed him to fill me, to make all the chaos in my head go away. I wanted to lose myself with him.
He circled my clit, then slid two fingers inside me, pushing deep. I whimpered when he added a third, pumping hard, and pressed his thumb to my clit, the rhythm intense. When he added a finger to my ass, my body locked down, exploding around him. I cried out as he sat up, yanking me up his thighs and slamming into me. He set a punishing pace, wrapping his hands around my hips, holding me in place. I was lost in a sea of sensation. The feel of him hard and unforgiving inside me, the grip on my skin, the intense look on his face as he fucked me, giving me exactly what I needed right now. To be possessed, to be owned by him.
He bent my leg, changing position, going deeper and triggering yet another shattering release. It detonated without warning like a bomb going off, the shrapnel piercing my skin from the inside out, long tendrils of pleasure laced with pain ricocheting inside me. I cried out, the sound loud and keening. He grunted in pleasure, throwing back his head, cursing, muttering my name, the cords of his neck taut and thick. He stopped moving, dropping his head to his chest, his breathing heavy. Slowly, he lowered my leg, shifting away, leaving me feeling empty without him. He hovered over me, the passion softer now. Warmer. He pressed a long kiss to my mouth, his tongue stroking gently. He dropped more kisses to my cheeks, eyes, and nose, then kissed me again.
“How’d that measure up?” he whispered with a wicked grin.
“Ten out of ten.”
He ran his nose up my neck, pushing my hair out of the way as he kissed behind my ear. He settled beside me, pulling me across his chest. We were quiet for a moment as our breathing settled.
“I love you,” he said, the words simple and perfect. I loved his directness. His insistence on speaking his mind. “I know it’s early, but I want you to know that, Ashley. I love you,” he repeated.
Warmth filled my chest, his declaration erasing the hurt and confusion I’d felt for the past few hours. He always knew the right thing to say and when to say it. I needed to hear those words, to know how he was feeling. They made me feel whole. Complete. Safe to tell him how I was feeling. I pressed a kiss to his shoulder, nestling closer.