Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 104151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
“You can let her go.”
I shook my head. “No. I can’t. I tried that, and it didn’t work.”
“Have you talked to Peter?”
“Not recently.”
“Well, you need his permission before you run off with his daughter.”
I rubbed the tension from the back of my neck. “I will ask for his blessing, but we’ll live without it if he doesn’t give it to us.”
“Kyle—”
“Fred, I’m not asking for a dowry. This isn’t an exchange of goods. Eve is an adult. And as sure as her father can refuse to give us his blessing, she can walk out that door without it and live her own life.”
“Just steal the girl!” Anne yelled in the background.
“What is wrong with you,” Fred said to her.
“They’re in love, honey. Let them be,” she said.
He grumbled.
“This is your fault. You told us to move here,” I said.
“That is bullshit.”
“Fred!” Anne scolded.
My brother cleared his throat. “That’s nonsense.”
I chuckled. “You’re right. It’s nobody’s fault. Our love is not a fault at all. It’s beautiful. She’s beautiful and kind. Funny and irresistible. And I plan to spend the rest of my life loving her. So either you can get onboard or get out of the way.”
Again, he grumbled.
“I love you too,” I said. “See you soon.”
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
LOVERBOY, “HEAVEN IN YOUR EYES”
Eve
I stared out my bedroom window a little before midnight. Lights were still on in the main level of Kyle’s house. My family was asleep after hours of arguing over my decision. But my parents were outnumbered, so they eventually went to bed. I knew they’d pick things up in the morning after Sarah and Isaac left and Gabby headed to a friend’s house. Grandma wouldn’t be there. It would be two against one.
“Screw it,” I mumbled to myself, jumping out of my window seat and throwing on my clothes.
I hopped through the snow, riding a wave of adrenaline, and tapped on Kyle’s back door.
The lock clicked and he opened it, standing before me in jeans and a hoodie. “It’s past your curfew.” He stepped aside.
I toed off my boots and unzipped my coat. “After exhausting fights with my parents, I used to drink. But I don’t drink anymore, so I need something to replace that bad habit. Something to help me relax. Got any ideas?”
Lines of concern spread across his forehead.
“Did you miss the part where I said I’m not going to drink?” I rubbed my finger along his worry creases, trying to erase them.
“What did you have in mind?” he asked, relaxing a bit.
I grinned, ghosting my fingers from his forehead down his nose and across his lips. “I’m sure it’s just me because I’ve never lived on my own or with anyone except my parents, but I was wondering …”
“What were you wondering?” He nipped at my fingers.
“I was wondering what it will be like when we’re living together and we can have sex before Josh wakes up in the morning. And when he’s at school, on days you’re not substitute teaching, we can have sex. Like so much sex in every room. And after Josh is in bed at night, we can shower together. Sex against the bathroom vanity while looking at each other in the mirror. Sex in your truck when you take me fishing.”
He smirked. “You’re such a perv. You need to lay off the George Michael songs.”
I started to speak, but he kissed me instead, snaking his good arm around me to hoist me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist, and he carried me upstairs.
As soon as his bedroom door was locked, we discarded our shirts. My bra landed on the floor a second before my back hit the bed. He unbuttoned my jeans while sucking my nipple into his mouth.
“Yesss …” I arched my back and grabbed a fistful of his hair. His urgency fed my greed as he peeled off my jeans and underwear.
We skipped the slow seduction, and he had his jeans off and a condom on in the next breath. He entered me slowly at first but quickly moved into hard thrusts. It had been too long, and need became the theme that night.
He kissed me to muffle my moans and his own as I curled my fingers into his backside, gripping him harder while he drove into me faster. The best sensation unfurled in endless waves. Kyle hiked my leg closer to my chest and pistoned his hips faster until he came hard with an agonizing expression that settled into a huge grin when he opened his eyes and collapsed onto me.
I didn’t want him to pull out or move or speak. Despite the suffocating feeling of his body draped over mine, I felt wholly loved and wanted.
Desired and accepted.
I felt like a woman and a lover.
He rolled to the side, taking me with him. His gaze swept along my face. “Let’s take a shower,” he said with a grin.