Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 89238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
My feet aren’t touching the floor. I’m sure I must be floating. He clears his throat, his gaze vulnerable, like it costs him something to say the next thing. “Have you been in love before?”
Right now I think I am.
“Not before,” I say carefully, then since he likes the real me, I don’t hide my romantic heart this time. I open up to him, flinging open the windows on a sunny day. “But I like romance. That’s why I liked your proposal so much by Cupid’s Span. That’s sort of what I always imagined someday. Someone who was wildly romantic and who wanted only me. And I was always drawn to men who seemed romantic. Who made big gestures of flowers and wine and weekends away.” I lock eyes with Gage, my heart beating like a hummingbird. “But never anything like marrying me to protect me.”
He lifts his chin, a proud and deservedly so smile on his face. “Maybe that makes me the almost romantic.” He kisses my cheek, kissing away the remnants of my tears.
“Or more than romantic,” I posit as he pulls back.
“Perhaps I am.” Another kiss. Another embrace. Another stroke of his hand along my hair.
I’m shimmering under my skin. I’m about to ask if he wants to do this again the next day. But he beats me to it. “Want to meet again tomorrow like this? A secret date in the morning? Just you and me?”
And now I’m glowing. “Yes. I can take the girls to school. You can run. We can meet back here before work.”
“Yes. We can.” He runs his knuckles down my cheek. “My more than romantic wife.”
Yes, I’m definitely floating. Or perhaps, falling.
Trouble is, the landing is going to hurt so much. Especially when he sends a bouquet of yellow roses to my chocolate shop that afternoon.
And a note with the words, Like the ones you carried down the aisle.
35
THE MAESTRO
Elodie
The next morning, the girls make plans to have boba after school again, this time with Margo, before they come to my shop. I say yes, then after I drop off Eliza, I’m doing math in my head. Calculating when Gage will return from his run. How much time I have.
Just enough.
I’m compelled. Utterly compelled. I’m not even sure why specifically, but there’s something I want badly for our secret date.
And I want it now.
Picking up the pace, I race walk the final blocks to Zane’s house, fingers crossed. When I unlock the door, I check the foyer for the sign of running shoes just shed. Nope. He must still be pounding the pavement in his sneakers.
I kick off my shoes.
Rushing upstairs, I head to my room, strip out of my exercise pants, then shimmy into a black bustier and matching lace panties.
I hustle over to the nightstand, grab a friend, then lie back on the covers. I click on my favorite site, finding a video I bookmarked a while ago. One that just gets the job done.
I get myself in the mood.
A few minutes later, the door snicks open.
I smile mischievously.
I shift to my side, my back to the door, the phone propped against a pillow. The woman in the video does the same, her hand playing the role of the vibrator, coasting down her curves and over her breasts, then settling between her thighs.
With her first throaty moan, I tremble too, picturing what’s to come as I rub the toy against my panties.
On the screen a man arrives in the doorway, leans his forearm against it, watches her.
My breath catches.
I turn the toy up a level, brushing it against the dampening lace, over my clit. The man stares at her for a few hungry seconds, unbeknownst to her. She startles, but not for long. She turns to him, a come-hither look in her eyes.
My pulse surges as the man on the screen stalks into the room. Then it speeds even faster when Gage calls out, “Hey, baby.”
My eyes flutter closed from the nickname.
“Upstairs,” I call out, a little raspy already.
His footfalls echo on the steps as adrenaline spins higher in me, as my fantasy meets my reality.
Gage has no idea what’s in store for him. Just like I had no idea what was in store for me that morning at Cupid’s Span. I’m returning the favor. A thrill rushes through me knowing how much he’ll like his surprise.
Opening my eyes, I rub the head of the toy cock right where I want it, arousal spiking in me.
His footsteps grow louder. He’s almost here. I rub a little faster, more urgently. Then he stops and a low, appreciative groan rumbles across the bedroom. “Best day ever.”
I smile wide and pleased, but I don’t turn to him yet. I keep playing with myself as he stalks over to the side of the bed behind me.