Total pages in book: 205
Estimated words: 204377 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1022(@200wpm)___ 818(@250wpm)___ 681(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 204377 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1022(@200wpm)___ 818(@250wpm)___ 681(@300wpm)
The more I think about it, the more real it becomes, and the harder I cry.
Dammit, I’m stronger than this. Yeah, it hurts. It fucking hurts like hell, but I’m stronger than the pain.
Get up.
I push to my feet and lean against the window, staring out into the rain. On clearer days, I can see the docks from here. But I don’t need the visibility to picture him climbing aboard his luxury yacht, reclining on the leather couch, and enjoying the comfort of being chauffeur-driven to his office in downtown Sitka.
No doubt he’s completely unfazed by how he left things with me. He’s nothing if not a man in control of his universe.
He has offices all over the map and a range of high-quality vehicles to fit every need—boats, cars, helicopters, private jets, and seaplanes—with a crew of professional chauffeurs at his disposal twenty-four seven.
I’ll never understand why he employs so many people to transport him. He knows how to pilot every aircraft in his fleet, operate all his boats, and drive his own cars. I guess when a man has more money than sense, he has no problem paying others to do everything for him.
And yet, he can’t take off one fucking day from work to save his marriage.
I don’t know how long I stand there, trying to quiet my tears, but at some point, I sense I’m not alone.
Movement behind me disturbs my hair. A whisper of air. It tickles my neck and sends a shiver through me. My breath catches, and I whirl around.
My gaze sinks into stark blue eyes, and I stumble back.
“Please, stop crying.” Monty pulls me close and lifts me in his arms. “The sight of your tears is killing me.”
My chest squeezes. “What are you—?”
“There are few things more unbearable in life than seeing you sad.” With his mouth pressed to my forehead, he carries me into the bathroom and sets me on the counter. “I can’t stand it.”
Trembling and numb, I say nothing as he runs a washcloth under warm water and brings it to my cheek. Gently, he washes away my tears and kisses each spot he cleans. Wiping, kissing, he soothes every inch of my face and neck.
This right here. This soft, tender side of the notoriously apathetic and untouchable Monty Novak was how he wore me down that first year. It was how he convinced me to look past his womanizing ways and agree to that first date. It was how he seduced me into his bed and one year later, claimed me as his wife.
It was how he won my heart.
My eyes drift shut as he draws me closer and tucks my face against his strong neck. He’s my shelter, my protection against the cold, even when he causes the chill in my bones. With his arms locked around me and his hand stroking my back, I let myself hope.
He’s here.
He never left.
It’s a start.
Now he just needs to say the right things, beg for forgiveness, and convince me that he’ll be the father our child deserves.
I’m expecting a lot here, and the whole thing is so fucked that my tears start falling again.
“How do I fix this?” He cups my face, using his thumbs to dry my cheeks.
“You know how.”
“Frankie, if you have this baby, it will…” He lowers a hand, trailing a knuckle down my abdomen. “It’ll rob me of your body, your time, and your love. I won’t…” He pulls in a tight breath and exhales vehemently. “I don’t share, dammit. I refuse to share you with anyone, not even a child.”
“Your child.”
“I’m a selfish prick.”
My teeth clack together.
“Think about it.” He clutches my hips, squeezing roughly. “Do you really want this insanely perfect body to stretch and swell?”
“Are you seriously that shallow?”
He arches a dark brow as if to say, Absolutely. “And after the little fucker destroys your body, it’ll spend the rest of your life demanding every ounce of your love. What would be left for me?”
“I’ll love you both equally, Monty.”
“Not acceptable. I don’t share, remember?”
“Unbelievable. It’s like I’m talking to a child.” I push away, only to be yanked back by strong arms.
“What about your time?” He slides a hand between my legs, cupping me through my undies. “Diapers and vomit and feedings…I know you, Frankie. You’ll put all your time and attention into taking care of the snot-nosed cockblocker. What will become of our sex life?”
“It’ll be an adjustment at first.” I shove at his wrist, not in the mood to be fondled. “I can tell you that insulting our baby doesn’t help your argument. But go ahead and dig yourself into a deeper hole.”
With an irritating smirk, he digs his fingers into my hole.
“You have the sexiest goddamn cunt I’ve ever laid eyes on.” He yanks the crotch of my underwear to the side, exposing me to his greedy touch. “I need access to this at all times.”