Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
I can’t help but let something like a smile spread across my face as I take in the sight of those kisses. Here I am letting my mind delve into dark places when I’ve got the love of my life waiting for me on the other end of the phone.
Shaking my head, I let out a feral sigh.
The love of my life?
The situation seems so real when I think of it in those terms, and yet I can’t bring myself to shoot the words down, to disprove or dismiss them in any way. Because if Zoey isn’t the love of my life, what is she?
The second I saw her I knew I’d never be the same again.
My mind drifts off to what should be ridiculous places as I wait, studying the apartment building, my heartbeat pounding through me as though reaffirming the thought that just arose in my mind.
I think about how gloriously she’ll smile on our wedding day, the way her cheeks will light up when she’s cradling our firstborn child, a vignette of her and our children huddled close around a fire, embracing warmly.
Love-love-love hammers through me.
I wonder if I should tell her, but then decide against it, at least for the time being. I have no idea how she’d react and I don’t want to disturb what we have, even if I know I’m going to have to tell her eventually, and maybe soon. But for now, I just want to be with my woman, to savor what we’re building.
Finally, she emerges from the building, causing a wholly different feeling to swell up inside of me. I can’t stop the surging lust that moves through me, my manhood swelling as I study the way her wide hips swish from side to side, as my eyes roam over her full breasts in that shirt.
“That went well,” she says, climbing into the car with a radiant smile that lights up my whole world.
“She took the cash?”
Zoey nods. “She was crazily grateful and kept trying to tell me, no, but I said I’d been left a boatload of cash in an inheritance and I wanted to do this. You should’ve seen her face, Zack. She was so happy.”
I reach over and stroke my hand along my woman’s cheek. I don’t even think about the gesture. It simply arises from someplace deep inside of me, a cousin to the grim carnality that tells me that sooner or later I’m going to lose control and show her what it really means to belong to me.
“And look how happy it’s made you, making her happy. You’re amazing, Zoey.”
She smiles, reaching up and touching my hand. Goddamn, I love when she does that. “What now?”
“I’ve got some business to sort out today,” I muse. “But I can work from home for the time being, on the plan for the new gym. Maybe we should head back and you could fill my apartment with more of your incredible art?”
Her smile gets even wider. I feel it against my hand, her cheek shifting. “Are you honestly saying I have a whole day to work on my painting?”
“Yeah, and not just today. You’ve got as long as you want. You can paint every single day for the rest of your life if you want. As long as you don’t mind our little ones getting in the way from time to time.”
She blinks and tears glimmer in her eyes. “Tell me this is real, Zack. Tell me this is happening. Tell me this isn’t all some crazy dream.”
“Oh, it’s a dream, my little artist,” I snarl. “It just also happens to be real.”
She giggles away her sob, pawing at her cheeks. “You’re so romantic sometimes, without even realizing it.”
“And later I’m taking you out,” I say.
She flinches. “Is it safe?”
“Let that bastard show his face,” I snarl. “I’ll show him who you belong to. I’m taking you out like you deserve, and after…”
I trail off when a look of uncertainty comes into her face, derailing the moment. Cursing myself for going too far, I start the engine and pull out onto the street.
“What should I wear tonight?” she asks, changing the subject.
“Anything you want,” I say passionately. “No matter what it is, you’ll be a hundred times more beautiful than any other woman in the restaurant.”
Chapter Fifteen
Zoey
“Okay, I’m ready,” I say, a tremor moving through my voice as I step back from the door.
I’m not sure how to stand. If I should strike a pose or just stand with my hands clasped in front of me. I told Zack I wanted him to see me once I’d gotten ready, but I made the request without really thinking about what it meant.
I didn’t think about what getting ready would actually mean. Really, it’s not like I’ve got a whole closet of glamorous outfits to choose from. But when I was packing to run away to Zack’s apartment some part of me must’ve suspected that we’d be doing more than lying low, because I packed the glittery gold colored dress I bought a few months ago on an impulse when I was at the shopping center for art supplies.