Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
She was a girl of nineteen to a man of his thirties.
Someone who should've felt too young for someone like him.
But she never did.
If anything, Bailey had always acted wiser beyond her years, and more intuitive than a monster like him could ever deserve.
Was this what made Dmitry choose Tahey over a life of vengeance?
Was this why the Devil broke every rule in his book to be with Sheena?
He had always thought that love was too pure and selfless to be possible for someone like him.
But maybe he was wrong.
Maybe all it took for love to be within reach...was for Stelios to find someone like his wife.
'Bailey will take care of you, too.'
Those were Astro's exact words.
'She's a very special girl.'
It was another thing her grandfather said, and he believed that now.
Had believed it for a long time, since there was not a day that passed that Bailey didn't do or say something to prove it.
Bailey was the only one in this world who could face people like Kayra and him without fear.
The only one who could listen to their truth without judgment.
His wife was the only one who would never hesitate to hold on to them no matter what they said or did—-
And that was the most special thing about her.
Bailey was the anchor for his soul, and so if it was a baby she wanted...
A baby, my God...
His baby and Bailey's...
A part of him was still uneasy at the thought of fathering a child, but if by not facing his fears he could end up losing his wife for good—-
What would You have me do, God?
Hearing his wife ask for a divorce earlier almost had Stelios losing his mind, and only years of disciplined training had him looking fucking calm and in control.
But inside of him?
All he had been able to think about was death.
All he had wanted to do was kill for the sake of killing—-
Just fucking kill and kill and kill in order to purge the boiling rage that was urging him to lock his wife up and keep her his even if it meant making her hate him forever.
Bailey, for better or for worse, had become his personal barometer for sanity.
There was no rhyme nor reason for how or why it happened.
It was as if something had just fucking clicked - or snapped - and she became everything to him in a fucking instant. For as long as she was by his side, he would stay sane...but he would rather burn the whole fucking world if that was what it took to keep his wife from running away from him.
It was just how monsters like him operated, and if there was anything Stelios learned from today, that would be it.
Bailey was the only thing that kept him human, and there was no keeping his rage or obsession in check...if his wife were to insist on a divorce.
A dream come true
I'M NOT SURE IF I SHOULD feel relieved or disappointed when I wake to another one of Stelios' notes waiting for me on the bedside table.
Out with Astro. Call me when you're up.
~ S
I'm tempted to pretend I never saw his note and use it an excuse not to call him, but since I also know the five security cameras installed in our bedroom can easily expose my lies—-
Riiiing.
My husband picks up almost immediately. "Hello, wife."
"Hey, dude."
A part of me is just waiting for him to complain about this like always, but instead I hear him say musingly, "That's interesting."
Huh?
Stelios sends a request to switch to video call, and my husband's gorgeous face pops up on my screen.
"Can you say it again?"
"Say what? Dude?"
My husband's expression turns satisfied. "Nothing used to be as irritating as hearing my wife call me 'dude', but right now I find the word practically endearing."
"Riiiiight."
"I think it has to do with how things have changed between us," he says thoughtfully. "Now that I'm free to play with your body as I wish—-"
"Oh my God, Stelios!" I have no idea where he is, but I can literally see the people standing behind him avidly listening to our conversation.
"I don't think I'll even mind if you were to scream 'dude' when I make you come—-"
Well, that does it.
"Um...hello? Stelios? Are you still there? I can't quite hear you. You're breaking up."
I struggle not to laugh when the last thing I see before disconnecting the call is my husband rolling his eyes at me.
'Stop talking about stuff like that in public,' I type on my phone before hitting Send, and it takes only a moment before Stelios' answer hits my inbox.
Stelios: Your happiness will always be my number one priority, but that one I cannot promise. I love seeing you squirm. It turns me on.
Me: Perv.
Stelios: Only with you, Mrs. Diamandis.
I know I shouldn't take that as a compliment, but my body is already betraying me with the way that place between my legs has started to tingle.