Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 23651 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23651 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
~ ~ ~ ~
An hour later, I found Annabella outside in the gazebo. It was a long way from the mansion and I felt a tickle of annoyance that she was out here on her own, unprotected. She must have seen the annoyance on my face as she rolled her eyes when she caught sight of me before turning back to look out at the water. I wasn’t used to people ignoring my anger or the harsh looks I shot at them. She acted as if they were nothing more than a pesky fly, that they had no effect on her. It drove me crazy but it also made me want her more. Here was a woman who was able to turn me into a docile kitten. Fuck, it’d only been a few hours and yet I was ready to do anything she asked of me… Anything other than letting her go of course.
The gazebo was built out on a large pond that was a half mile wide with a small dainty wooden bridge leading to it. Benches sat around the edges, and soft fairy lights lined the interior at night. Striding across the bridge, I stood at the entrance of the structure, silently asking for permission to join her.
I watched her sit on one of the large seats, her knees pulled up to her chest, staring at the ducks swimming by. Golden rays of sunlight streaked through her hair and I was at a loss for words to describe how beautiful she looked at that very moment. I rubbed at my chest, trying to calm my racing heart.
“Who’s Claire?” she asked, still not looking at me. I felt the bite in her question and I wondered if I had heard the bite of jealousy there.
“May I join you?”
Looking at me, she nodded her head in ascension. I walked over and sat directly at her feet, facing her. Reaching my hand out, I ran it gently up and down her calf. I couldn’t seem to stop myself from touching her. I saw a small plaque with an inscription that I’ve read a thousand times in front of her.
To my precious wife Claire,
“By night, Love, tie your heart to mine, and the two together in their sleep will defeat the darkness.”
With all my love, forever, Griffin
Annabella traced the plaque with a finger, waiting on my answer. No one but the staff came this far out on the property so I never had to explain my past before.
“Claire was my mother. My father’s name was Griffin as well. He had this built for her. This was her most beloved place to be. In your exact spot, actually.”
Annabella’s eyes met mine and I could see a mixture of relief along with more questions. I was a little relieved to see hesitancy and perhaps jealousy in her gaze as well.
“What happened to them?”
“My parents were killed in a car accident a long time ago. It’s not something I like to talk about.”
Taking a deep breath, I looked down at where my hand was still stroking her calf. Gently, she reached her hand down and entwined her fingers with mine.
“It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me. My parents are dead too.”
She gave me an out, but suddenly, I didn’t feel like taking it.
“I was in the car at the time. That’s why I don’t like to talk about it. I was trapped in the back, that’s how I got my scars. I was able to get free, but I wasn’t able to save them.”
I looked up and saw tears in her eyes. It touched my heart to know that she cared so much for a stranger she didn’t know.
“I apologize for how I treated you and how things have turned out between us.”
She rubbed her thumb across my hand, keeping silent.
“I want you to know I asked for your file. I wanted to know more about you, to understand your want to be here.”
She stiffened but didn’t respond to my confession.
“I want you to trust me. I want to show you that I’m a man worthy of you. Will you spend the day with me? Will you let me show you the grounds and keep you company today?”
I nearly choked on my words trying to get them out. I sat there, tense, waiting on her words of rejection. I needed to remind myself that she still thought that I was her husband-to-be. I had this driving need to hold on to her. To please her, and to own her. This dilemma weighed down on me and I wasn’t sure how I should handle it. To Bella, I was her life now. I didn’t want to deceive her, but maybe if she could fall for me like how I was falling for her right now, she might not want to leave.
“I would really like that, Griffin.” She flashed me the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. Out here, in our own perfect world, with the sun shining down on her perfect face, I could pretend that she was truly mine. And in that moment, I felt my heart bound to hers.
CHAPTER 5 *Annabella*
Something had changed. Most of the anger I’d seen every time I looked into Griffin’s eyes had faded. He half-smiled at me, making the scars on the side of his face scrunch up slightly. Catching me looking at his scars, he turned his face away so that all I could see was his good side.
“Please don’t do that,” I pleaded softly.
Shifting to face me, he asked, “Do what?”
“Turning away from me so that I can’t see your scars.”
He remained silent, as if contemplating my words. I reached up, slowly and gently caressing his cheek. Closing his eyes, he leaned further into my touch despite the pained expression on his face. Leaning forward, I scattered butterfly kisses onto the most puckered scar and I felt his body tense up and his eyes clench shut. I wish I could ease away some of his self-consciousness. Bringing my lips up to his ear, I whispered, “They don’t bother me, Griffin. And if they bother other people, then that’s their problem, not yours.”