Total pages in book: 167
Estimated words: 157175 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157175 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
‘Ava—’
Her finger lands on my lips, hushing me. ‘But I’m constantly hungry for you. For your voice, your words, your need to take care of me.’ She smiles a little, almost shyly. I keep my mouth firmly shut, desperate for more of this. Her hunger. ‘I know exactly why I fell in love with you, even if I don’t remember doing it. Because it’s happening all over again.’
There’s a wobble in her voice, and I’m certain there would be in mine if I were to speak. She’s falling in love with me. I gulp down the relieved emotion crawling up my throat.
‘You are the most passionate man I’ve ever met, and you keep it all for me and the children. I can see that. Everything you do, you do it with such intensity. Whether you’re mad. Or if you’re playing. Or making love to me. Or simply loving me. It’s all so passionate, and I love it. I love that the children and I are the centre of your world. That you love us with a power that’s sometimes a little overwhelming. What woman wouldn’t want to be loved with that much intensity?’
Her palms land on my cheeks, her thumb catching a single teardrop as it tumbles. I feel suffocated by my happiness, because for the first time, I see true hope past the possibility of her never finding her memory. She can fall in love with me again. Our love flourished because it was supposed to. Because we were meant to find each other. That hasn’t changed.
‘You are the man of my dreams, Jesse Ward.’ She kisses the very edge of my mouth. ‘And I imagine you’re the man of many other women’s dreams, too.’
‘Well they can’t have me,’ I vow, as if that would ever be a worry for Ava. ‘I belong to you, as much as you belong to me. That’s just how it is.’
Her teeth sink into my bristly cheek, her arms locked around my neck. ‘Now that we’ve cleared that up, are you going to spoil me like you promised?’
‘Yes,’ I affirm, pulling back. ‘Right after you’ve had a relaxing soak.’ I carry her to the bath and place her gently down, kissing her forehead, and then leave her to get herself ready. I can’t bathe with her. We’ll never make it to the party. ‘Wear the lace dress and meet me in the hallway at seven thirty.’ I shut the door behind me, satisfied, because I just know she won’t disappoint me.
Chapter 36
My frame of mind is positive. My heart is hopeful. My trimmed stubble just the right length, my face fresh. My charcoal three-piece suit fits like a dream, and my body in it looks fine. She won’t be disappointed, either.
As I wait for her in the hallway, refixing my hair in the mirror, I hear the bedroom door close.
I move to the bottom step, sliding my hands into my trouser pockets. I can’t see her. ‘Ava?’
‘I don’t think you’ll approve.’ I hear her, but I still don’t see her. And now I’m worried. Has she defied my request for the lace dress?
‘Let me see you,’ I order, containing the annoyance threatening to break in my tone. Tonight has to be perfect. Ava not wearing the dress I requested won’t get it off to a good start.
‘You sure?’ she calls. She sounds nervous.
‘Get your arse in my sights now, lady.’
She appears, cautiously. And I’m utterly blown away. ‘Jesus.’ I exhale my wonder, my eyes following her around the gallery landing to the top of the steps. If there’s an example of perfection, then I’m looking at it.
The dress. Shit, the dress. Lace, everywhere, and the subtle cream tone brings memories of her stunning wedding gown gushing back. The hem just below the knee is perfect, the material clinging lightly to every wonderful curve she has. I ignore the fact that those curves have reduced somewhat in recent weeks, and move up to her face. Pink on her lips is the only subtle pop of colour. It’s all this dress needs. The Bardot neckline reveals the smooth lengths of her collarbones, her hair fixed in a sleek knot at the nape of her neck. Understated elegance. My wife has always had it, and it never fails to render me thunderstruck.
Her smoky eyes are taking me in, up and down, her teeth latched onto her bottom lip. ‘Do you like what you see?’ I ask, sure of the answer. Every inch of her is glowing with appreciation, in her eyes the most.
‘You’re the most handsome man I’ve ever laid eyes on.’ She swallows and looks up at me. ‘Do I look okay?’
‘Okay?’ I counter, taking the stairs up to her, drinking her in. ‘You are beauty personified, lady. And you’re mine.’ I reach her and take her hand, kissing her wedding ring. I peek up at her. ‘Who do you belong to?’