Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
I flinch. “It shouldn’t have come to that.”
“I know.” She gently places her hands on my bare chest. “I won’t pretend that things will be smooth sailing between us. You’re overprotective and I’m fiercely independent. You’ll try to make decisions for me and I’ll shut you down the moment you do. You’ll step back and allow me my freedom, even if it scares you. We’ll figure it out. I have the utmost faith in that.”
I can’t stop myself from catching her hips and tugging her a little closer. “You have a life here. You have your work. And Pope.”
“Yes,” she says simply. “I’d like to visit Pope when it’s feasible. But the rest? There’s no shortage of work to be done in your territory.” Her smile broadens. “Your sex workers don’t have a guild like the other trades, even if they’re not persecuted the way professionals are in this city. I’d like to create one for them.”
She takes my breath away. “That will take time and a lot of effort.”
“It’s a good place to start.”
I nod slowly. “You’re right. It’s a good place to start.” I make myself release one hip to stare at the slightly crumpled contract again. “You really mean this, Eve? A marriage. A partnership. Potentially children?”
“I love you.”
I shiver. “I’ll never get tired of you saying those words. I may need to hear them a few hundred more times. Immediately.”
She laughs, the sound pealing through the apartment. “Sign the contract, marry me, and you can hear them as often as you like.”
I pull her with me as I move to the short table in front of her couch. There’s a trio of pens there, as well as another stack of papers. “What’s this?”
“Oh, I had to figure out what to do with my stuff and finances. I signed it all over to Pope with instructions on how to donate. Their notary was already here with the lawyer, so it will be done as soon as I’m gone.”
She hasn’t been home long enough to change her clothes, but she’s managed all this? It seems to defy belief. I look into her dark eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Her brows pull together. “Are you? I realize that I just threw this at you and you may need some time to—” She watches me sign and smirks. “Guess not.”
I take her hand and bring it to my lips. “Marry me, baby girl. Be my queen.”
“You aren’t a king. Technically.”
I shrug. “Both things can be true at the same time. You may not—technically—be the territory’s queen. But you’ll be my queen.”
Eve beams. “In that case, I accept. But you should know that I want a lavish wedding and will likely drive you bonkers in the planning.”
I can’t keep a goofy grin off my face as I rise and pull her into my arms. “Believe me when I say I literally cannot wait. I’ll relish every moment.” I kiss her. “I love you. Come home with me.”
She smiles against my lips. “I love you. Take me home. Forever.”