Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 165(@200wpm)___ 132(@250wpm)___ 110(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 165(@200wpm)___ 132(@250wpm)___ 110(@300wpm)
“I didn’t ask.”
I’m not even surprised by this. I’m starting to realize Devlin doesn’t have to ask for things.
That should probably scare me. My father is the same way, but Devlin is not my father. His bossy, controlling way actually makes me feel protected. Maybe even loved. I think that’s what I’m feeling from him, but I don’t dare say those words out loud. Devlin might make me feel powerful at times, but some insecurities still run deep.
“I don’t understand. What’s happening?” I gasp. “Is he dead?” Devlin shakes his head.
“He wanted me to give you back. Thought I took you to blackmail him for ransom.” Oh. My father doesn’t know I ran from him?
“Was he going to pay?” I don’t know why I ask or even care.
“He was willing to pay.” I wait, expecting him to say more, but he doesn’t. His phone buzzes in his hand, and he starts clicking away again.
“Really?” I find that a bit surprising. “He was going to pay to have me back?”
“You think you could be bought from me? I’m not giving you back.” He shoves his phone into his pocket. His mouth forms a hard line.
“I didn’t think that at all,” I rush to respond. That makes him smile, earning me one of his dimples.
“We need to get you ready. This will have to be quick, but I’ll make it up to you later.”
“I’m ready.” I drop back down onto the bed.
Devlin’s eyes roam over my body. “That’s not what I was talking about, doll face. That will not be quick. I plan on taking my sweet time with you.” He plucks me off the bed, tossing me over his shoulder. A giggle pops out of me.
Nothing turns me on as much as when Devlin manhandles me. Really making me live up to the doll part of my name. He puts me on my feet when we enter the closet where he’d put all my things away.
“This dress is close to white.” He grabs a soft petal pink dress.
It is one of my favorites. It fits snugly around the top but then flares out around the waist. Most of the dresses he got me were styled that way. I wondered if he picked those because they are called babydoll dresses. They not only put all my curves on display, but they actually accentuate them too.
“You want me to wear this now?” I ask, confused. I thought we were supposed to be taking clothes off, not putting them on.
“Yes.” He grabs a white button-up shirt for himself and starts to change. He almost misses a button when I drop all my clothes to put the dress on.
“Are we leaving?”
“No. The judge is on his way here.”
“Judge? Are you in trouble?”
“No, we’re getting married,” he says simply as he grabs a pair of heels for me. He drops to his knees to help me put them on. I stare down at him, still trying to make sure I understood him correctly. “You can go barefoot if you want, but you know I love these on you.”
I do know. When I’d worn them last night he ended up laying me out on his desk naked and feasting on me while I only had them on. Devlin seems to love everything on me or nothing at all.
“Devlin. Did you say we’re getting married?” I stare down at him on his knees. I’d love nothing more than to marry him. I’ve spent most of my life dreading the day my father found a husband for me. Devlin had mentioned to me about no longer being a Calabrezi. That I would be a Harrigan.
“Yes.”
I put my hand on his shoulder to balance myself as I lift my left foot. He slips the shoe on while pressing a kiss to the inside of my thigh. He does the same to the other before he rises in front of me. “You’ll be my wife.” Butterflies fill my belly at his words.
I nod. He must have struck a deal with my father. Had that been the plan when he found out who I was? Marry me and then everything would be okay? Heck, it might be more than okay for Devlin.
I’d heard some of my father’s men joking about how they would fuck me just to get the perks it would bring them. It’s not that I don’t think Devlin wants me. He’s made that very clear from the start.
This is different. I don’t want him to marry me because of my father. I want him to marry me because it’s what he truly wants. It’s too soon for him to want that. We barely know each other. I get it. He’s doing what he has to do in order to keep me and maybe gain an alliance with my father. I guess love could come later.