Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 58353 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58353 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
"I was," he growls, storming inside. His energy is erratic; like a living snow storm. I'm happy to see him, but my joy is tempered by his mood.
"What happened?" I ask.
"She lied to me."
My eyes pop wide. "She what?"
"Lied to me!" he snaps, whirling to face me. "My darling mother was faking the return of her cancer this whole time!"
I grip a kitchen chair to stay on my feet. "But why..."
"To force me and my brothers to sign the damn CEO contract. It was a ruse to pressure us. She said we wouldn't have taken her seriously, taken the business seriously, without the threat of her death."
I swallow hard, feeling my heart pound in my chest. "That's... that's terrible."
"You're telling me," he snarls, pacing back and forth. "I wasted all this time, thinking my mom was dying. I was so upset, I couldn't even think straight. And now...now I don't even know how to feel."
I reach out a hand to him, but he shrugs it off. "Hey, it's okay."
"How?" he snaps. "I don't even know who I can trust anymore. My own mother lied to me about something so serious. What else has she been keeping from me?"
I take a deep breath, thinking carefully about what to say. "Well, for starters, you can trust me."
He looks at me then, his eyes softening. "You're right. I do trust you." He sees me with fresh eyes, grabbing me tight, pressing me to his firm chest. "God, you're the only good thing in my world. I love you, Filia. I don't need my toxic parents. I never did. But it was hard to accept that without something...someone...to soften the fall."
"I'll catch you each and every time," I whisper sincerely.
He's silent as he embraces me. Then he steps back, hands still clutching my shoulders. "You mean that."
"Of course."
"Then..." His eyes dart to the wooden plane. He releases me and hurries towards it. I'm unsure what he's doing when he takes it, fiddling with the top. To my surprise the hatch pops open. "I was going to wait. But now, this moment feels right."
"What are you––Marco?" He's come back to me with the plane. He holds it out until I take it warily. Looking inside, I see the item in the hatch. My heart pulses, I doubt it will ever slow down. "No way."
"Take it."
"Marco, is this what I think?" Pulling out the velvet box, I turn it side to side. He grabs the plane so I can use both my hands. I don't, though. I just stare.
"Go on," he urges me.
Swallowing loudly, I pop the box lid. Inside is a shining silver-gold ring with a diamond as big as a boba tea ball. "Oh my god."
He takes the case, dropping to one knee. "Filia, will you marry me?"
Tears prick my eyes as I look down at Marco. He's staring up at me, his eyes full of love and uncertainty. "Yes," I whisper, "I will marry you."
He lets out the breath he's been holding and stands up, sliding the ring onto my finger. It fits perfectly. "I love you," he tells me, his voice thick with emotion.
"I love you too," I whisper back, and he pulls me into his arms, kissing me hard. I wrap my arms around his neck, my fingers tangling in his hair. We kiss like we're starved for each other, like we've been apart for years instead of just one day.
Eventually we pull apart, gasping for air.
"We should celebrate," Marco says, grinning at me.
I smile back at him, feeling lighter than I have in weeks. "What do you have in mind?"
He winks at me. "I have a few ideas. Tell me, if you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?"
"Tokyo," I say instantly.
His eyes brighten. "Then we'll celebrate our engagement in Tokyo."
Letting out a breathy gasp, I link my hands in his. The ring feels alien on my skin, but I adore the sensation. "I want to celebrate here, first."
"I've always wanted to fuck my fiance," he chuckles darkly. "Let's go. Get on your knees."
My eyes widen, but I do what he says, sliding onto my knees in front of him. He takes off his belt slowly and I watch in rapt attention as he unbuttons his jeans, pushing them down just enough to free himself. His cock is long and hard already, and I lick my lips hungrily at the sight.
Marco takes my hands and guides them around his shaft.
"Touch me," he groans as I begin to stroke him. His breathing becomes ragged and his hips buck against my grip as I work him faster, until his fingers are tangled in my hair and every muscle is tensed with pleasure.
Leaning forward, I flick out my tongue before taking him into my mouth. It feels so good––the taste of him flooding me with warmth––that I moan around him. Marco's hips jerk forward involuntarily as he responds to the sensation and the pleasure quickly builds.