Total pages in book: 235
Estimated words: 227851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1139(@200wpm)___ 911(@250wpm)___ 760(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 227851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1139(@200wpm)___ 911(@250wpm)___ 760(@300wpm)
Wait. “You did what?” She’s spoken to Van Der Haus?
“I don’t think he drugged me, Jesse,” she says, hurrying over her words. “He said he wanted me, so why would he hurt me?”
I gape at her, stunned. He told her, actually told her, that he wants her? “What the fucking hell are you doing talking to him?” My fists ball, my body leaning forward of its own volition.
“He knows that you’ve . . .” Her lips twitch, she bites the bottom corner, then she has her hand at her mouth, getting more nervous by the second. She knows. She knows talking to Van Der Haus was a mistake. “Entertained other women while we’ve been together.”
The fuckhead. There’s only one way Van Der Haus would know I’d betrayed Ava, and I’m hoping Ava doesn’t click. “We agreed never to speak of that again.” Could this day get any worse?
A steely façade falls across her face, telling me things are about to get spiky. “It’s hard when people keep reminding me of it,” she retorts. “How does he know?”
Fuck. My mind circles, frantically searching for a viable answer as she studies me, waiting.
Slowly figuring out for herself that Van Der Haus’s ex-wife was one of the women during those horrendous four days.
“She was one of them, wasn’t she?” she eventually says, so calm.
God damn it. God damn Freja. God damn me. I take a moment, scrambling for air and reason as she stands up. She’s leaving? Holding my breath, I get ready to seize her, stop her, go after her. But she comes closer, leaning over the desk toward me. “You said months,” she grates. “You said you hadn’t been with her for months, that you didn’t understand why she was suddenly sniffing around. You’ve slept with her more than once too.” She states it all as the facts she knows them to be, and I wilt, beaten.
“I didn’t want to upset you,” I growl, mentally doubling the pain I’m going to put Van Der Haus through.
She huffs mildly, a sneer on her lip. “Tell me,” she says, her words steady and strong. “Did you call them up and have them make a queue outside your door?”
“No, they hear I’m on the drink and they’re like flies around shit.” Sarah was the one who let them in.
“I hate you,” she seethes, and I flinch, injured.
“No, you don’t,” I say softly.
“Yes,” she counters. “I do.”
And I fucking hate me too, baby. “Don’t make my heart crack, Ava. Does it matter who it was?”
“No, what matters is that you lied to me.”
“I was protecting you.”
“And it’s hilarious that every single time you do that, you end up hurting me.”
I wouldn’t say hilarious. More tragic. “I know.”
“So, have you learnt?” she asks, head tilted.
Learnt to be honest about everything? Not lie? There’s only one answer. Even if it’s the wrong answer. “Every fucking day.” I reach for her jaw, squeezing so her lips pucker. “I’m sorry.” For that, and for what’s to come. Always fucking sorry.
“Good,” she says, her eyes falling to my mouth. She’s read my mind. I wet my lips, skating my eyes over her face. Fuck, after the day I’ve had, all I can think about is getting inside her and finding some peace and clarity.
“How did this happen?” she whispers, her eyes alive.
“Because, my beautiful girl,” I say quietly, my heart throbbing, along with my dick, “we’re meant to be stuck together. Constant contact. Kiss me.”
“I’ve accepted that you’re an arsehole, so there’s no need to try and get me submitting to your touch now.”
I smile secretly. “I missed you, baby.”
She takes the quickest route to me, and that’s over my desk. Fine by me. I help her, feeling at home with every one of her limbs wrapped around me, her lips on mine, kissing me hard. It’s a familiar kiss. It’s the same kiss she gave me on the night of the anniversary party after she’d overheard some ladies of The Manor discussing my bedroom skills. Possessive. Ownership. My wife’s giving me a run for my money these days. “I wish you were pure and untouched,” she whispers, sadness tinging the words, her mouth relentless.
I lower to the chair, breaking away from her attack with some effort. “I am.” I smile at her flushed cheeks, taking her hands, feeling her rings. “The most important part of me is untouched.” I put her palm on my chest and let it absorb the pounds. Life. “Or it was until you stepped into my office.” That day. I wish I could relive it. The instant shift in my chest, my eyes opening for what felt like the first time in years. “Now it’s being stamped all over and is exploding with pure love for you.” Only you, baby. Never doubt that.
She exhales, satisfied, watching her hand stroke my chest. “I like feeling it beating,” she whispers, wistful. Her head is soon on my chest, and I smile down at her. “I like hearing it too.”