Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 108926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
My breath heaved out of my lungs as my heart raced at the steadfast look in his gaze. Most of my hurt feelings fled at the way he so easily called me family and promised to keep me safe.
“The men I’ve hired are the best at what they do. They’ll keep you protected.” His finger toyed with the edge of my robe, trailing down from my neck to the top of my breasts. “But you’re not meeting them until you’re dressed.”
“Like I’d walk down there half-dressed, knowing there are other people in the house,” I huffed, pushing his hand away to get up and stomp towards the closet.
I yanked clothes that had mysteriously shown up in his closet off the hangers, muttering to myself about his high-handedness as I dressed. When I stalked back into the bedroom, Nic was waiting for me. I gasped at the sight of him kneeling down on one knee. He snaked a hand into his pocket and pulled out a tiny, dark blue ring box stamped with ‘HW’ on the top. With his thumb, he flipped the lid open and my jaw dropped open at the sight of the ring inside.
An oval-shaped diamond center stone, bigger than any stone I’d ever seen before, was framed by micro pavé diamonds. They were set on a glamorous micro pavé platinum band. It was a delicate, feminine design that I could easily imagine had been made especially for me, even though the diamond was larger than anything I would pick out for myself. One thing was for sure, though, nobody looking at me would miss it. I was sure that had factored into Nic’s thought process when he was picking it out, but this was one occasion where I wasn’t going to hold his caveman tendencies against him.
Tears streamed down my cheeks as he lifted the ring from the box and slid it on my finger. “Weren’t you supposed to ask me something first?” I sniffled.
He rose from his knees, pulling me tightly against his hard body. His head lowered, his mouth crashing down against mine in a thorough kiss. His tongue swept inside, tangling with mine. He didn’t stop until I was weak in the knees and leaning into him so I could stand.
“There’s nothing to ask,” he whispered against my lips.
I pushed at his chest, but almost forgot my point as the diamond ring twinkled up at me. Straightening my spine, I jutted my chin out at him. “You got down on your knee, but you didn’t actually ask me to marry you.”
“I didn’t need to.” He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.
“You’re ruining a perfectly romantic moment,” I chided.
“You’re lucky you got me on my knees without your sweet pussy in my mouth,” he growled into my ear, making my legs tremble. “And I don’t need to ask because you already said yes.”
“Under duress,” I moaned when he nibbled at my neck.
“Were you under duress when you called me your fiancé to the nurse at the hospital?”
I couldn’t believe it; I’d been ratted out by his mom. “Oh, never mind,” I grumbled.
His laughter rang in my ears as he tangled his fingers with mine and led me downstairs, his thumb sliding along the ring as we walked. Four men were waiting for us in the living room. They were unlike the others I’d seen hanging around Nic. Although they were dressed much the same, in dark suits with sunglasses, they reminded me of soldiers. Tightly cropped hair, paired with an air of restrained power and supreme confidence, set them apart from Nic’s men. Not that the guys I’d seen around were buffoons or anything like that, they just weren’t up to quite the same level as these men.
They stood as we entered the room, their attention somehow focused on Nic and I but still scanning the area for possible threats. Nic kept me anchored to his side as he introduced me to them, calling me his fiancée and practically peeing circles around me to make it abundantly clear I was under their protection, but off limits.
Each of the men shook my hand, their gazes completely professional without the slightest hint of flirtation. And yet when the last one turned to Nic after our introduction, his eyes lit with humor.
“Another one bites the dust,” he murmured.
“Shaddup,” Nic drawled.
His exaggerated mafia-guy accent made me giggle, drawing both men’s gazes my way. Nic practically growled at the bodyguard, tugging me closer to his side.
“Brecken wasn’t kidding when he said you were gone over her.” He glanced down at my hand where it rested on Nic’s arm. “I’m pretty sure they can see that rock from outer space, dude.”
“It’s not that big,” Nic grumbled.
“Maybe you should knock her up just in case the ring doesn’t warn other guys off her,” the other guy joked. “It worked for Brecken with Hadley.”