Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 68743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
He blinked, realizing how badly he’d handled things between them. Instead of setting things up ahead of time, he should have told her how he felt. He grasped her forearms and walked her to an empty place on the mattress and pushed her to a sitting position.
“We need to get something straight.”
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Concern lit up her pretty features.
He could go through all the ways he’d screwed up. He could explain he hadn’t told her his feelings because he wanted to square things with her brother. But explanations could all wait.
He slid a hand into his pocket, pulled out the box, and dropped to one knee.
Her sweet mouth opened. “What are you doing?”
He flipped open the jewelry box. “Nikki Bettencourt, you barged into my life and showed me there are colors where I saw black and white. You taught me to have fun. Being around you healed the rift I created within my family. One I didn’t even know was there. You made me a better man and I don’t want to live without you.”
Not bad for off-the-cuff, he thought.
“Asher,” she whispered, her eyes darting from the radiant-cut diamond, one he’d chosen because the jeweler said it was perfect for women who were bubbly and outgoing, and the stone was radiant, like Nikki.
“Before you answer me, I have a few more things to say.”
Tears – he hoped they were happy tears – filled her eyes as she nodded.
“I know we’ve talked about our age difference and how at twenty-one it’s hard to know what you want. Well, you’re different, as you reminded me. And I believe you know your own mind. I trust that if you say yes, you’re all in. But you need to know you have all the time in the world before you have to think about a wedding. You can experience the world, go to school, work in film, build a career, do anything you want. When you’re ready to get married, I will be here.”
She blinked and those tears trickled down her cheeks. “How do you keep getting more perfect?”
He let out a laugh. “It’s a talent. I have one more thing to tell you.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“I went to Derek and showed him the ring. He’s coming around to the idea of us. By the time we get married, he’ll be in the wedding party. Happily.”
“By the time we get married? You’re assuming I’m going to say yes?” The smile teasing her mouth helped ease the butterflies in his stomach.
Him. A guy. With butterflies.
“Aren’t you?” he asked.
“Yes!” she squealed and held out her left hand, wriggling her ring finger. “Assuming you ever put that gorgeous thing on me.”
He plucked the ring from the velvet box and slid it onto her finger. She held up her hand, admiring the three-carat stone in a traditional platinum setting with baguettes on either side.
“There’s one more thing,” he said. “Something more important than the proposal or the ring.”
“What’s that?”
He rose to his feet and sat down beside her, cupping her face in his hand. “I love you, Nikki, and I wish I’d told you before you felt like you had to pack and leave.”
She braced his face between her palms. “I love you, Asher, your grumpy moods and the happier man you show only me. And I love my ring.”
He grinned. “Serenity has good taste. She helped.”
“That makes it even more special.” Leaning forward, she pressed her lips to his.
Need for her swelled inside him, his cock reacting, growing hard in his pants. He stripped off her clothes with more rush than finesse before pushing her onto the mattress.
Her perky breasts tempted him as he peeled off his shirt and undressed the rest of the way.
Grabbing a condom from the nightstand, he took care of protection and braced his knees on either side of her hips. “If I had patience, I’d devour you with my mouth and taste every inch of your skin.”
“What will you do to me instead?” She teased him with a sassy grin.
“I need to be inside you knowing you’re wearing nothing but my ring on your finger. And in case I wasn’t clear, you have no idea how much I love you,” he said.
At those words, she reached up, grabbed hold of his cock, and settled him at her entrance. “Asher?”
He met her gaze. “What is it, beautiful?”
“I love you, too,” she said, and he thrust deep, filling her completely.
When they’d both come, her twice, they lay on the small side of the bed, the suitcase still stopping them from stretching out and really relaxing. She laid her head on his chest and breathed in and out so slowly he thought she’d fallen asleep.
As he toyed with her hair, he thought about their story.
He’d agreed to take his friend’s sister to the island for her to escape the notoriety and ended up finding the woman meant to be his.