Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68594 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68594 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
“That must have been terrible.”
“I saw the real her. Luckily, it blew up before she took anything much from me. But it was ugly. She had a lot to say about me. None of it particularly flattering.”
“She broke your heart.”
“She shattered my trust.”
“Then you thought I was doing the same thing.”
I shook my head. “A huge mistake on my part. I know you’re different. You’re real. You didn’t contrive to meet me. You’re not after me for my bank account or to relieve the boredom of being married.”
“That’s what she said?” Quinn asked, horrified.
“Yeah, she liked to walk on the wild side and top up her bank account. Apparently, I was even more boring than her husband, but I was a decent fuck.” I shrugged at Quinn’s startled expression. “She’d thought I’d be rougher.”
Quinn’s eyes widened. “I see.”
I realized she was still confused, and I sighed. “When I was twenty-two, I won the lottery. Not a huge amount—just over a hundred thousand. But instead of spending it, I invested it. I had my finance guy take some risks that paid off, and we doubled it. Then I stashed it in various places—some high-risk, some not. I invested in real estate. I’m not rich, but I have a good solid nest egg. Cody’s education will be paid for. That was my gift to my sister.”
“You always put family first.”
I nodded in agreement.
“But she saw that large amount, plus the money from the houses, and thought she should have some of it. Most of it, if she had her way. Pretend to marry me and get access to the accounts. Drain them and walk.” I barked out another laugh. “She didn’t expect to be found out, and she had no idea how hard it would be to get at the money. She walked away with nothing but a few things I gave her and some cash I kept on hand. Her husband found out what she was doing, and he divorced her. Last I heard, she’d moved to Toronto. Changed careers since there aren’t a lot of farmers living in the big city. I feel sorry for whatever business she chooses and whoever she sinks her claws into next.”
“I’m sorry you went through that.”
“I think we both struck out with our exes.” I took her hands, kissing the inside of her wrist. “But that’s in the past, and we’re looking forward now, together. Right?”
“Yes.”
Then she crawled into my lap, looping her arms around my neck. “You’re not boring. I find you intelligent and interesting. Funny.” She winked. “Even when you’re being a grump.”
I laughed. “Good to know. I live a simple life, Quinn. It’s what I know. What I’m comfortable with.”
“That’s what I want too,” she replied. “A simple life. That doesn’t mean boring. It means being happy, surrounding myself with the people I care about, and enjoying the world around me. Money doesn’t buy happiness. If anything, my marriage taught me that. For all the money Preston has, I don’t think he’s ever been happy since he started accumulating it. Being rich was his goal, but somewhere along the way, he forgot to live.”
I pulled her closer. “So you wanna try not being boring with me for a while?”
She pressed her mouth to mine. “Yes.”
I kissed her, groaning as our tongues slid together in a slow, sensuous dance. She buried herself tighter, her grip on my neck tightening. I slipped my hand under her shirt, tracing her spine, smiling as she shivered. I dropped my hands to her ass, cupping the cheeks and grinding against her. I felt her heat through the material that separated us, and I knew she’d be wet for me.
I pulled back, my breathing fast. Our gazes locked, and she licked her lips.
“You don’t kiss as if you’re just a decent fuck,” she whispered. “I think you’ll make me forget my name.” She ground against me. “And I want you to show me.”
My cock was hard as marble, her dirty confession echoing in my mind.
I gazed down the hall. “Does Abby wake up a lot?”
“No.”
“You really want this? Want me?”
She buried her face into my neck, kissing and biting at my skin. “Yes.”
I stood. “Then hang on, baby. I’ll remind you of your name later. Not that it’ll matter. All you’ll have to remember is that you’re mine.”
I carried her to her bed, laying her down. I pushed the door closed behind me, then turned to look at her. Her dark hair was spread over the pillow, her lips swollen and her gaze warm. Sultry. Focused on me.
She sat up, then pulled her shirt over her head. She wasn’t wearing anything else, and her breasts were full and tempting, the nipples pink and hard, begging for my mouth. My teeth.
I yanked my shirt over my head, dropping it on the floor. In one swift motion, I undid my jeans, pushing them off my hips. My erection tented the front of my boxers as I kicked away my pants and stared at her. I crossed the room, pausing by the edge of the bed, then leaned on my hands, caging her between them as I kissed her. I balanced on one hand, pulling her close with my other. She arched her back, her chest pressing into mine. She was soft and warm against my rougher skin, the delicate bones of her back melding to my hand. I kissed her until she began to tremble, gripping my shoulders and pleading my name quietly. I laid her down and, in one move, stripped her shorts off, revealing her to my eyes. For a moment, she looked panicked until I shook my head. “You are so incredibly beautiful, Quinn. I can’t wait to taste every inch of you. Feel you wrapped around me.”