Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 50828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
“I hope you do. I’ll be happy to tell them you’ve stolen my wife’s personal effects, and you assaulted her when she tried to take them back.”
“Assaulted her? She fucking kneed me in the balls.”
“After you roughed her up and bruised her. I have pictures to prove it.” I snapped them while Isabella slept. “And I can probably persuade her to press charges…”
“What the fuck do you want?”
“The rest of her things—all of them. If you threw anything in the trash like you threatened…” I shake my head and tsk. “There won’t be a rock small enough for you to hide under. And if you think I won’t beat the shit out of you, you’re sadly mistaken. I’m a former marine, a boxing champ, I have a black belt in karate, and I spent most of my time in the service with special forces. Try me. I dare you.”
“Jesus, dude. Have her, then. She isn’t worth this bullshit. Just take her stuff and get the hell out.”
As I expected, Eric Meadows is a typical bully—lots of bark, but when confronted by someone who’s bigger than five-foot-two and has a history of combat, my wife’s ex has no bite. The douche simply rolled over and showed his vulnerable belly. What a coward.
From the closet, I grab a flowery duffel that can’t possibly be this asshat’s and pile in the rest of the shoes, socks, lingerie, and personal effects that seemingly belong to my wife. Then I pin him with a glare. “Where is her jewelry?”
“Top left drawer of the dresser. Hurry the fuck up.”
“Trust me, I don’t want to spend quality time with you, either.” I rifle through the contents of the shallow drawer and pull free her earrings, necklaces, bangles, and costume jewelry rings. Finally, I spot a little beige velvet box and pry it open. Yes, it’s her mother’s pendant. With a smile, I slip it into my pocket. Then I zip up the flowered bag and turn to Meadows. “I’m finished.”
“Make sure you got all that cunt’s stuff. I don’t want it here. I don’t want her, either.”
Not only is he sniveling, he’s lying. If Isabella came back tomorrow, he’d welcome her. Then he’d betray her again because he’s immature, arrogant, and selfish. But she doesn’t have to worry about him anymore.
“You upset her, and you bruised her. Did you feel brave beating up on a female half your size?” I scoff. “If you ever call her a cunt or put your hands on her again, I will nail you to a wall—literally—before I skin you alive and feed you your balls as you’re bleeding out. Those aren’t big words, and that’s not an idle threat. I will hunt you down. I will find you. I will follow through. And no one will ever find your body.” I grab his shirt and shove him against the wall. “Are we clear?”
Isabella’s ex swallows like he’s trying to shove down a goose egg. Then he nods. “Fine. Take your goddamn hands off me.”
“Say it out loud. Tell me you understand.”
“I get it. Fuck. Just leave me alone.”
“I will as long as you leave her alone. If not…you know what to expect.”
“Hi, baby girl,” I croon as I slide into my bed, steeped in night shadows, beside my bride an hour later.
I’m clean after showering Eric Meadows’ stench from my body, I’m naked, and I’m hard as hell. Again. I can’t get enough of Isabella.
But first things first.
I brush my lips over hers once, twice, gratified when her lashes flutter open. “Nathan?”
“Were you expecting someone else?”
“No. Is something wrong?” She reaches through the shadows for the bedside lamp.
I grip her wrist to stay her. “Nothing. I wanted to give you something.”
“What?”
With a devilish grin, I roll on top of her and kiss my way up her neck. “Spread your legs.”
“Now?” But that little whine in her voice isn’t a complaint; she wants me, too.
The fact that she’s wet when I lave one of her stiff nipples and probe her entrance tells me so. She lifts her hips to me, too, taking me deep in one thrust. When I bottom out, we both groan.
“Are you always this insatiable?”
“When it comes to you,” I murmur in her ear as I fuck her slow and soft.
She melts under me. “Nathan…”
“Baby girl.”
“I swore that all I wanted was a full night’s sleep, until you came to bed. But you’ve rewired my body. Every time you touch me—even look at me—my body pings, and I ache for you.” She tosses her head back and offers me her throat. I take it and nip at her soft skin while I glide deep inside her. “Yes…”
Her confession nearly turns me inside out. Women like Isabella don’t crave sex with a man they don’t have feelings for. Just like I’m more attuned and attached to her as we spend time together. That’s the best wedding gift I could have asked for.