Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 73250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
The old Ella shone through when she shrugged. “Didn’t have anything better to do.”
With every one step forward, somehow, we ended up tumbling three steps back.
That didn’t mean I’d stop trying.
“Ella, would you clean this mess up?” Tor asked distractedly.
“Why me?” she complained.
And Tor simply looked at her. “Because I asked you to. Now, please. I don’t need this shit right now.”
A few days had passed since our last talk. Ella had been avoiding me since. And it probably wasn’t a good idea to get involved here, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself from chiming in. “Honey, it’s the boys mess.”
Tor glanced at me before checking the time on his wristwatch. “I know, but-”
I don’t know what possessed me, but I cut him off with, “Then you know that the best way to raise men who respect women is to treat them equally in every way, including cleaning up their own mess.”
His light sigh told me I was pushing it. “I don’t have time for this, Tori.”
That’s okay. I did. “So, let me deal with it. I’ll show them how it’s done. Make it fun.”
And my husband threw me a look of sheer skepticism. “You think you can get those little monsters to clean?” He laughed through his nose. “I’d like to see you try.”
You’re on, buddy. “Challenge accepted.”
When Ella glanced at me, I winked at her and when she looked away, I swear she wore the tiniest smile. Tiny, but still there.
It was around nine pm when Tor walked through the door. I stood in the foyer waiting for him. My hair was a mess, I was certain I looked stressed the fuck out, and my smile was crooked. But the mess was gone and when his gaze passed the clean, toy-free floor, Tor’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “You did this.”
“I did not,” I squawked, insulted.
And he walked into the room, surveilling it slowly before he put his hands to his hips and said, “You’re tellin’ me the boys, my boys, Adriano and Domenico, those two walking natural disasters… they did this?”
My smile was less crooked then. “Uh-huh.”
“How?”
How?
Oh God. I couldn’t tell him I was mere seconds away from a mental breakdown. Rather, I said unevenly, “Patience and persistence.” Just as I said it, a lock of hair fell over my face.
He stared at me for a solid minute before he sauntered over and took my face in his hands. I know he meant nothing by it when he said, “I like it when you play at being mommy.”
I didn’t mean to pout. “I’m not playing.”
And his face changed then, grew thoughtful. “No. You’re not, are you?”
He drew close and kissed me, and I breathed him in. When he led me upstairs, I glanced at the bed and hesitated. Tor obviously felt it enough to ask, “What?”
I was so worried about offending him that I stumbled over my words. “I’m just- I’m so tired. I don’t think I have it in me to…” At the look on his face, I backpedaled instantly. “But you can, if you need it. I’m just too tired to…” What was the right word to use here? “Participate.”
It was the wrong thing to say.
I couldn’t understand why he appeared angry when he uttered a hushed, “What did you just say?”
Oh hell. I was screwing up. Again. “You’re a very virile man and… I’m your wife… you should be allowed to… you know… whenever you want.” Quietly, and a little frightened, I gently reminded him, “You told me to never deny you.”
For a moment, he didn’t move. He simply stood there, assessing me. His stormy features dimmed some and when he said, “Take your clothes off,” he said it evenly.
My stomach clenched at his false calm. But he was my husband. This was his right.
I did as he asked, and once I was nude, I turned towards the bed, but he grasped my hand and tugged me in the opposite direction. I blinked in confusion as he turned on the bathroom light, took off his jacket and reached into the large cubicle to lift the lever. Hot water billowed out of the showerhead until steam swirled around us. He adjusted the temperature, held out his hand and with zero hesitation, I took it.
He walked me in and under the spray. The sigh that left me was one of pure bliss.
I didn’t even notice he had undressed until he slipped in behind me. That sigh of bliss turned into a heavenly moan when he lifted his hands and began to massage the knots out of my neck and shoulders. I fell back into him and although my knees wobbled, he held me up, washing me with a tenderness and care I didn’t know he had in him.
Afterwards, he dressed me before he dressed himself and sat me down between his outspread knees. He brushed my hair and kissed my neck as my eyes wearily fell closed. I yawned when he pulled back the sheets and helped me in. My head hit the pillow and I muttered sleepily. “Tor?”