Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
She laughs, bringing a smile to my face. Lifting my head, I brush her hair from her face to look down at her. Her eyes sparkle as they meet mine.
“What’s so funny?”
“You. I don’t remember you being such a workaholic when…. You never used to work this much. I know you told me why, but I still find it funny to see,” she says.
“A lot about me has changed, I guess. Work is all I’ve had over the years,” I reply.
I intend to change that.
I let my thoughts wander a bit. I’ve had one thought pushing its way to the surface for the last hour. I search her eyes, but she looks away from my probing and rests her head back on my chest.
No matter how much she opened up to me last night, it’s clear we still have a long way to go. It stings to wonder if she will ever love me the way she once did. However, like always, I’m a man of action.
I know what I want. I’ve never had a question about that. I never will.
I begin to trace her soft skin again, my fingers taking a lazy trip. “Marry me,” I say without hesitation.
Chlo pops up, turning to look back at me. I lock eyes with her and hold her gaze. I keep my face impassive as I wait her out. Her face, on the other hand, speaks of her shock and confusion.
“What?” she says when I say nothing more.
“Marry me,” I repeat.
“Have you lost your mind?”
“No. Your biggest worry is that I’ll leave you again. Marry me. If you’re my wife, you will know for sure I’m not leaving. You will never have to question whether I plan to stay or not,” I reply.
“Bullsh—”
“Chloe,” I warn. “Watch your mouth.”
She narrows her eyes at me. I love that fire I see as she stares back at me, but she knows where I stand when it comes to that mouth. I sit up and palm her beautiful face.
“I love you. Marry me. If you still feel you can’t bear to be with me in a year.” I pause as I work my jaw. “In a year, you can walk away, and I’ll let you live your life without a worry about me.”
She takes a shaky breath. “Gregor… you said piece by piece. What the—” She pauses and takes another breath. “I opened up. Isn’t that enough?”
“No. I want you as my wife. We’ve… I’ve wasted so much time without you. I know what I want and it’s you, baby. Marry me,” I repeat the words.
“So you want to go through with a real engagement when we go back?” she asks with furrowed brows.
“No,” I say, shaking my head.
Her lips pout and her shoulders sag. As I see the hurt and disappointment, I don’t think she realizes what I’m saying. Leaning in, I peck her lips.
“Marry me today,” I say against her lips. “We’ll go through the engagement party and wedding for the sake of my family, but I want you to marry me today. Here, now, me and you. I want you to be my forever, Cee. Or at least…”
“For a year?” she says softly. “I can go in a year?”
My heart squeezes. I never want to let her go, but if I haven’t convinced her how much I love her in a year, I will finally set her free. It will kill me, but I’ll do it.
I nod. Not able to say the words. I don’t even want to breathe life into them because I plan to do everything in my power to show her we belong together. We’ll be celebrating a year of marriage and making our way into many more if I have anything to do with it.
Somehow, I will find a way to break through to her heart again.
She brings her hands up to cover her face. I tense as I think she’s going to burst into tears. Instead, she releases a long groan.
“You make me crazy. I know I should get up and walk out of this room, but I’m considering this insanity,” she says.
I wrap my arms around her and pull her into my chest, kissing the top of her head. Breathing her in, I try to find the right words. This is right, now how do I make her see that?
“You, as my wife, makes all the sense in the world to me. I’ll place the world at your feet, baby. Marry me, Chloe. My heart needs your heart,” I reply.
“I’m terrified,” she breathes.
“So am I. I’m terrified of losing you. I love you, Chloe. Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she says it so low I barely hear her.
I tilt her head back to look into her eyes. I ask again with my gaze, and she nods as tears spill. I take her full trembling lips and pour all my love into the kiss.