Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 75289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
20
BLAIR
Who would have known that leaving Christmas lunch up to a bunch of men meant that lunch was actually going to be dinner, and for the most part, it was burned, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Today has been an incredible day, and as I stand with Nick, watching as his family drives away down the long, winding driveway, I finally feel at peace, knowing we’re doing the right thing.
His hand lingers on my lower back, and that one gesture is filled with so much love and adoration, I don’t know how I found the strength to walk away from him in the first place. I fold into him, needing to feel the rush of being in his strong arms.
“That was amazing,” I tell him. “I thought they were going to hate me for breaking your heart and being away so long, but they treated me like part of the family.”
“Because that’s exactly what you’ve always been,” he tells me. “Plus, they know Mom would haunt their asses if they were anything less than perfect.”
A fond smile spreads across my lips as I pull back just enough to meet his gaze. “It was weird seeing them all without her,” I tell him, though I know he feels it. “I’m sorry she’s gone. I wish I could have been here for you. I can’t imagine how hard that must have been for you. I know you were close.”
Nick nods. “Just having you here now helps,” he says. “Some days are harder than others.”
“Just like with Nana.”
“Exactly.”
Nick leads me back inside, and with the house all cleaned up after such a disastrous cooking experience, we’re finally free to relax. We make our way into the living room, and Nick turns off the lights, leaving nothing but the expansive view out of the floor-to-ceiling windows of the huge property and the crackling fireplace that sends warmth through my cold fingers.
The moonlight is just enough to cast a glow across the property, and it’s absolutely breathtaking. “I’m an idiot for walking away from all of this,” I whisper as we snuggle on his large couch.
“I know I should give the typical response and tell you that you’re not an idiot. That you were chasing your dreams and that I’m so unbelievably proud of you for taking that risk and doing what so many others could only dream of. Buuuuut yeah. You’re a fucking idiot.”
“Nick!” I laugh, swatting at his wide chest. “You’re such an ass.”
He smirks and reaches for me, pulling me onto his lap. “I’m an ass who’s still waiting for an answer,” he says. “Don’t act like I haven’t noticed you left me hanging.”
“Oooh, I don’t know,” I tease. “I’d love to live here. Apparently the dude who built it was so crazy about me, he practically pulled the design right out of my brain. But it seems the property comes with an overbearing assface who’s going to be sleeping in the same bed, and I just don’t know if I should be putting myself through that kind of torture.”
Nick flips us before I even get a chance to suck in a gasp, and suddenly my back is against the soft backrest of the couch with Nick’s strong thighs beneath me, forcing my legs wide. He bears down against me. “If you’re not careful, this overbearing assface is going to torture you all night long.”
“Mmmm, I wouldn’t call that torture,” I groan, my hand slipping beneath the fabric of his shirt and feeling the toned, warm skin beneath. “I’d call that making up for lost time.”
He crushes his lips to mine, and the tension between us explodes, replaced by nothing but pure, animalistic hunger and need. He grabs my blouse, tearing through the buttons in his desperation for my body, and I hear the little buttons scatter across the hardwood floor, but nothing else matters but feeling him push into me, stretching me wide.
“Oh God,” I groan as he drops his lips to my neck.
“I’m not fucking you until you tell me exactly what I want to hear,” he growls, and despite his comment, his hands don’t stop flying over my body, removing the pieces of my clothing as I do the same, madly fisting his shirt and yanking it over his head.
“You already know my answer,” I pant as he reaches for the front of my pants, furiously trying to yank them down, only with the way I’m seated over his thighs, it’ll be impossible. “You knew my answer before you even asked me.”
“Blair,” he groans, sounding pained. “I need to hear it.”
I smile against his lips as his arm locks around my waist, lifting me just enough to get my pants down past my hips and down my legs. Then as I’m completely bare for him, he settles me back onto those strong thighs. “Of course I want to move in with you, Nicholas Stone. I want it so bad. I’ve already started working out how I’m going to organize my clothes in that massive walk-in closet.”