Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 24323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Her hands reached back, clinging to his thighs as her body started to shake.
“I can feel it,” he murmured. “You’re close. You’re so fucking close.”
Her muffled moan was his undoing.
Keiran pressed his palm tighter against her mouth, his fingers working her relentlessly as she came—hard, shaking, helpless. Her body clamped around him, her moans swallowed by his hand as she slumped against the wall, spent.
An eternity seemed to pass before Cadence was able to find the strength to look up, and her chest squeezed when she saw his hooded gaze.
"W-What now?" The words came out in a tremulous whisper. "Are you going to pretend nothing happened between us?"
"No." His lips tightened. "I'm going to pretend I won't do it again."
Cadence
PRESENT TIME
Memories of our past blur, and I'm not even surprised to find my cheeks wet with tears. Just a week after our first kiss, we'd eloped. Two months after that, and my father had destroyed our marriage with his poisoned whispers.
Of course he's after your money, you idiot!
Do you really think a man like him would want you for anything else?
You said it yourself—-he's gone every night, and he never tells you where he's going? Wake up, for fuck's sake!
I remember begging Keiran to explain.
But he had been so proud.
Too proud.
When all I could do was cry, he hadn't even waited for me to speak.
He had just...walked out.
On me.
Our marriage.
And the life we'd built.
My heart's been in pieces since then, and it had shattered even more when a couple of months ago I found out - completely by accident - that my father had lied.
Keiran had never cheated on me. Instead, it was Keiran who had caught my father having an affair with his secretary...and Marvin selfishly deciding to destroy my marriage to keep Keiran from ruining his.
What's done is done, Cades.
There's no going back from the past, and I quickly wipe my tears away with the back of my hand. There's still work to do, and—-
SHOOT!
My heart nearly leaps out of my chest when I see my ex-husband inside my kitchen, and looking far too handsome for my mind, heart, and body to bear.
Oh...no.
My fingers dig into my palms as I fight against the urge to fidget.
Distract yourself, Cades!
Distract yourself!
And so the first thing I blurt out is—-
"I've had my hair cut."
—-something so idiotically obvious, I am seriously questioning if even I have a functioning brain at this point, aaargh!
"I did notice that, yes."
His words draw out memories I once thought were long buried.
Oh cripes.
And I suddenly find myself remembering how he used to love gripping my hair while I pleasured him with my mouth.
Cripes, cripes, cripes!
Why am I remembering things that are making my stomach clench with need? Mortification fills me even as desire makes me shift on my feet. My gaze flies back to him guiltily, and that's when I see his nostrils flare.
Oh no.
Why do I have this bad feeling he knows exactly what I'm trying my best not to think of?
And when I see his gaze narrows—-
Crap.
I'm absolutely certain now.
He knows I still want him, and it's why my heart breaks when he starts to turn away.
Keiran knows how I feel.
But he's still going to leave me.
I know I told myself that there's no going back from the past, but instead I still hear myself whisper his name.
Keiran.
He stiffens, but he still doesn't turn my way.
"I'm sorry I doubted you," I choke out.
A part of me is already convinced this won't change anything.
But it does.
Because the next thing I know, he's suddenly standing right in front of me, his strong fingers cupping my chin as he makes me look up...so I can see the unforgiving darkness in his gaze.
"Are you saying this because I'm a lot richer now?"
Hurt lashes my heart at his words, but I tell myself I deserve such a question, and all I can do is shake my head.
"Then what exactly are you saying, Cadence?"
My heart hammers in my chest. "Just s-sorry—-"
"And that's it?"
What else does he want me to say?
"Because this is the only chance I'm giving you to tell me what you want."
My mouth dries when I realize what he's asking for.
"I won't ask you again after this."
And it's something that I've long given up on—-
Because he once told me he was never the type to give second chances.
To anyone.
Agonizing fear and excruciating hope war inside of me. But as soon as I see Keiran straighten off the wall as if preparing to leave, my world threatens to crumble, and one thing becomes painstakingly clear.
I can't lose him again.
And that's when I hear myself whisper, "Please take me back."
Cadence
PRESENT TIME
Quinn Enterprises Under Federal Investigation
It's become my habit in the past week to check the news as soon as I wake up, and I'm not surprised to find all the local papers - whether it's Harbour Locke Daily or Connecticut Today - still talking about my father's downfall.