Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
She let him clean her teeth, blushing the entire time. But there was something really sweet about Reuben taking care of her like this.
After he’d finished cleaning her teeth, he grabbed a washcloth and wet it, then he proceeded to clean her face even though she’d just been in the shower.
“Just getting all of your makeup off,” he murmured.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
Finally, he dried her hair. Then he picked her up and carried her to the bed. He laid her down on the side furthest from the door. Was that a coincidence?
Somehow, she didn’t think so.
Reuben was so protective that he was likely to think about things like sleeping closest to the door.
“I’ll be back in a moment.” He brushed a kiss over her forehead before disappearing back into the bathroom.
She sighed in pleasure. This bed was absolute luxury. Of course, anything would feel amazing after sleeping on a horrible sofa bed with springs that loved to torment her.
Still, this bed was extra luscious.
There was just one problem.
She wasn’t sure if she was going to be able to sleep. She rolled back and forth, trying to get comfortable.
Reuben returned and climbed into bed. She rolled toward him and he drew her close, tucking her into his side.
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
“I miss Colin,” she told him.
Then she tensed. Oh, shoot. She hadn’t meant to say that.
He rolled her over onto her back, looming over her. “Who the fuck is Colin?”
34
Reuben was feeling murderous.
Who the fuck was Colin and why was she missing him? Her attention should be entirely on him.
Yes, he knew he was a jealous prick.
But he wasn’t about to change. Especially when it came to her.
So this Colin bastard was going to have to die.
“I’ll fucking kill him.”
Tears instantly filled her eyes.
Oh fuck.
Why did she look so devastated? Did she love him? That was going to be a problem.
Reuben Jones didn’t share.
“Fine, I won’t fucking kill him,” he muttered. “But he’s out of your life for good, understand me? What are you doing sleeping with him?”
“He makes me feel good.”
Murderous. Rage.
It was hot and red and violent.
“I make you feel good,” he thundered.
“Well, yes, of course. But I’m just so used to sleeping with him. I understand if you don’t want to sleep with him. It will . . . it will just take me a while to get used to going to sleep without him to cuddle.”
He cuddled her to sleep each night?
This was fucking inconceivable. How had he not known?
“Why did you not say something?” he asked.
She shrugged, looking sheepish. “I don’t know. I guess I was embarrassed about my dependence on him. I’m a thirty-three-year-old woman. I should be able to go to sleep without my emotional support squishy.”
“I’m going to be your emotional support squishy.”
Then he heard what he’d just said and paused.
Faith let out a giggle. “You’re going to be my what?”
“Your emotional support squishy?” he asked, confused.
“Yeah. That’s what I call him. But he’s really my best friend. Which I know is ridiculous, considering he’s a squishy. He’s quite big, so he’s hard to hide. He’s supposed to look like a fish, but I think he looks more like a dolphin.”
“Colin is . . . he’s a toy?” he asked in a strangled voice.
Her mouth dropped open. “Oh. Oh no, did you think that he . . . because his name is Colin, you thought . . . oh no!”
He glowered at her because he could tell that she was trying very hard not to laugh.
And he didn’t think this was funny.
Faith slammed her hand over her mouth, but it didn’t stop the giggles from escaping. “You . . . you really thought . . . I’m so sorry.”
She broke into laughter.
“Laugh now, baby girl. But I was this close to hunting the bastard down.”
“But h-how could you think I’d s-sleep with another man when you a-and I . . . ”
“I don’t know,” he muttered. “All I knew was that I was about to commit murder. Then I likely would have come back and punished you every night from now until eternity.”
“I’m sorry.” Her voice sounded contrite as she placed a hand on his shoulder. But her eyes still twinkled with merriment. “I should have explained. Colin is my big squishy. I sleep with him every night and it’s hard not to have him here.”
Tenderness filled him, and he brushed the hair off her face. “Do you want me to go get him for you?”
Shock filled her face and she gave him the sort of look he probably didn’t deserve. One filled with wonder. She looked at him like he hung the moon and stars just for her.
Maybe he didn’t deserve it. But he’d take it and anything else she had to offer.
“No. But thank you.”
He brushed her hair off her face. “What about another squishy? I could go out and get you one.”