Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 100716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
We shiver and shake as we ride the tidal wave threatening to swallow us whole until it subsides enough for me to realize not all of Ark’s tremors are from his release.
Some are from my fingertips brushing the scars on his back.
32
ARKADIY
Ilet go.
I freed her hands.
And then I came when her spiral into climax saw her desperate enough to stop the unrelenting pummels of my hips with her hands.
I came while being touched.
That’s unheard of.
I’ve not once achieved that before, and I was with women not on the cusp of learning not all my abuse was nonsexual.
Jesus fucking Christ.
What is this woman doing to me?
33
MARA
My throat feels hoarse when I peer down at Ark’s hips. Our eagerness means his pants and boxers are huddled around his knees, and his cock is still buried deep inside me, but try as I may, I can’t miss how the whiteness of my thumb contrasts with the pinkness of an old scar.
I didn’t notice this one earlier because Ark’s business shirt hung over his cropped but still manly pubic hairs. It isn’t as mottled as the scars on his back, but it still displays the torment a child was forced to endure against his wishes—torment I added to since I’m clearly incapable of keeping my hands to myself when blindsided by a ferocious climax.
“I’m s-so sorry.”
I snatch my hands away, mortified I broke his trust the instant he rewarded me with a snippet of it before shuffling back far enough to remove his semi-firm cock from my pussy.
“I d-didn’t mean to to-touch you without p-permission.”
Ark looks horrified, and since it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with our combined releases glistening on his cock, it doubles the gurgles of my stomach.
“I’m-I’m not on birth c-control, but I can get the m-morning after pill.” His horrid expression augments. It matches mine to a T when his cum dribbles down my thigh. “I-I’ll go get it n-now.”
I don’t get a step away before Ark snatches up my wrist and pulls me back. He doesn’t speak. He leaves the ball in my court. Again.
Sheepishly, I raise my head, aligning our eyes. He looks at me like he hates me, so you can picture my shock when he does the last thing I expect.
He kisses me senseless.
It is unmistakably possessive and makes me feel like I am the most delicious thing he’s ever tasted.
By the time he pulls back, I can’t remember the reason for the wetness pricking my eyes, much less the ache in my chest. There’s too much throbbing in an area several inches lower to give a little heartache an ounce of attention.
“But…” I stop, too confused to continue.
Ark smiles, seemingly pleased by my bewilderment, before asking, “What was your preference for dessert again? Ice cream or…?”
He leaves his question open for me to answer how I see fit.
I follow along nicely.
“Mousse. Mousse was my pick.”
His smile makes me so hot that you’d swear I didn’t recently climax.
“Did we remember to get mousse?”
I stare at him as if he is daft. It is all an act. A man as brilliant and motivated as him wouldn’t be mindless. I, on the other hand, wouldn’t remember the name of the cleaner I’ve used every day for the past six years if asked right now. Nothing but working out how I can keep Ark’s smile planted on his face is on my mind.
“We didn’t buy any because I already had some,” I answer when Ark patiently waits. “Chef made way too much Thursday night.”
“Ah. Yes. That’s right. I forgot.” He’s lying. Don’t ask me how I know. I just do. “Dessert?”
He doesn’t wait for me to answer. He moseys to the fridge and rifles through the limited items inside like he’s lived here as long as me.
It takes a few moments for my bewilderment to clear enough for lucidity to take hold.
His reaction wasn’t in response to me touching him.
Horror only filled his face when I stuttered.
Gosh. Does that mean what I think it does? Does he fear me stuttering in his presence more than he does me touching him?
This is horrible for me to admit, but I hope that is the case.
Trust is one of the greatest gifts you can give someone, second only to love.
34
ARKADIY
Icy barbs pierce through the scars on my back when I bury my head under the water pumping from Mara’s showerhead. I can’t face scorching-hot showers. I haven’t since I was a child. It is either cold or freezing. It will never be close to warm.
As I work my jaw from side to side, I step under the spray more. I’m meant to be prepping to officially meet Mara’s daughter, not fighting to rid my skin of sweat that plagues it anytime I consider becoming someone’s stepfather.
My stepfather was a monster, a reincarnation of the woman who birthed him. He did terrible, horrible things, and although I’d give anything to pledge that I am nothing like him, my mother’s concerns have my mood circling the drain any time Mara brings up Tillie.