Total pages in book: 767
Estimated words: 732023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3660(@200wpm)___ 2928(@250wpm)___ 2440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 732023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3660(@200wpm)___ 2928(@250wpm)___ 2440(@300wpm)
Yet she’d slept with him.
“After a week or so, he made a move on me when he’d been drinking, and it pissed me off. Then little things started to add up. He would come home late, with vague excuses that he’d had to work late or had to stay for a meeting.”
“He was cheating.”
“Yeah. He was annoyed that I wouldn’t put out.”
“He wasn’t good enough for you.”
“That’s one of the reasons I come to the Quarter, Jax.” She sat up to look at him. “I don’t date. And I won’t go to a club in New York, just in case someone I know is there. It’s something I need.”
“I’ll take you as often as you want.” No matter how earnest her pleas were, he wasn’t going to relent. “Sex is complicated for me too.”
“Men don’t have the same feelings about it that women do.”
“That’s a broad stroke. And not true for me. Because I didn’t know my mom, don’t know whether I’m legitimate or the bastard my dad thinks I am, I controlled my impulses. I didn’t want to hurt any kid of mine the way I’d been hurt.”
She steepled her hands in front of her face.
“I channeled all my energy and time into making something of myself and helping others along the way. Maybe you don’t like the way I do it, but I kick the asses of a million people a day, men and women who rely on me for their dose of inspiration. So, Willow, I mean it when I say sex is damn important to me. Which is why I cherish the fact you chose me. You were absolutely right to be wary. Sleeping with a man came with a whole lot of consequences for you.”
* * * * *
Willow’s favorite song blasted through the room, dragging her from her sleep. Who the hell was calling her so early? She glanced over at the phone’s screen. Dad. Of course. Who else would it be? Obviously after slipping from bed before dawn with a promise to return with breakfast and coffee, Jax had called her father.
She tossed a pillow on top of the device, trying to shut out its happy, annoying tune.
After three more rings, it fell silent, and she was on edge, waiting for it to ring out again. It would. No doubt.
Knowing she wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep, she propped pillows behind her and sat up. She’d been sucked into Jaxon’s vortex. She didn’t regret their scene or offering him her virginity. With him, she had completion that she’d never experienced before. On the other hand, no man had ever irritated her more. Why the hell did he have to be a self-proclaimed knight in shining armor?
The phone sang out again. She couldn’t dodge her parents all day. If she did, they’d probably get on a damn plane and show up at the hotel. Her voice tight with fake sincerity, she answered. “Morning, Dad.”
“Congratulations, Willow.”
She dragged the blanket around her bare breasts. How much did he know? Afraid to unintentionally reveal something, she kept her mouth shut.
“Jaxon asked for permission to marry you. Of course, your mother wishes she had more time to plan the wedding…”
What? Her father’s voice buzzed in her ears, but she couldn’t make out a single word.
“But she finds Jax’s suggestion agreeable.”
She shook her head. “Wait. Can you repeat that? What suggestion?”
Her dad sighed. “She’s agreeable to a private ceremony in the next month or so, but she wants you to have the full church wedding and big reception later. She thinks it will take at least a year to plan it.”
The vortex tightened around her.
“I’d put your mother on, but she’s busy talking to her friends and searching for venues. She’s thinking about the Sterling Downtown. Their rooftop atrium, perhaps? Jax mentioned you don’t have time to be involved in many of the decisions because of your studies.”
Good of him. She pulled the covers over her head. She’d been right when she said she was going to end up hating him.
“I’ll let you get back to your future husband.”
Arguing with her father would do no good. She had to deal with Jax straight-up.
By the time he returned, she was dressed in blue jeans and wearing a T-shirt with an inspirational saying. Despite the fact that she was pacing the confines of the room, she was in control, no longer the woman who’d done scandalous things with the billionaire.
“Morning.” He held a cardboard to-go tray containing two cups. “Room service will be up with breakfast in half an hour.”
She took a step toward him and pointed a finger at his chest. “My dad called.”
“Ah. I expected he would.” His lips twitched. “I’m crazy about you, princess.”
And…she was lost. His transformation from resolved to shocked to humored unraveled the knot in her stomach. She lowered her hand.