Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 139803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 699(@200wpm)___ 559(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 699(@200wpm)___ 559(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
I hated that my bottom lip trembled. He brushed his lips over mine, soothing my soul and the torment running through my body. After a moment, he pulled back from me and linked his fingers through mine, holding my hand as he pulled it to his chest, placing it over the steady beat of his heart.
“Meghan, I’m not in this with you for a little fling,” he told me, his eyes steady on mine. “I want you, baby. Not for just now, not for just the next month. I’m in with you for the long haul, Meg.” Tears trickled down my cheeks as my heart swelled in my chest for the man in front of me. My chest ached at the amount of need I held for him.
He released my fingers but pressed my hand firmly to his bare chest, a silent order for me to leave my hand there. He reached up and cupped the back of my head. “Meghan, I committed a felony for you.” I swallowed thickly as more tears cascaded down my cheeks. “I didn’t do it to trap you—never think you’re obligated to be with me because of that. I did it because the knowledge of that son of a bitch hurting you not once, but twice, fucking tore at the very core of my soul,” he confessed. “I wasn’t able to protect you from him, Meghan, but I made sure he can never touch you again.” His hand shook in my hair as he spoke. “I love you, Meghan Fallows.”
My breath hitched in my throat. Fear and terror rushed through my veins. It was too early—too much. Julian had to be out of his mind.
I jumped out of bed, snatching the blanket with me to cover my body, suddenly feeling extremely open and vulnerable. “You don’t mean that,” I pleaded, shaking my head at him.
Julian got out of bed. I trembled as he took a step closer to me, but I was unable to step back. My feet were frozen solid to the floor. “Julian, no,” I whimpered, tears blurring my vision. “You can’t love me.”
“I can, and I do,” he told me softly. “Meghan, I fucking love you,” he repeated. He couldn’t love me. I was too fucked up for someone like him. This couldn’t be happening. Julian couldn’t settle for someone as ruined and destroyed as me.
“No,” I cried.
Julian took steps closer to me before I could will my feet away from him and yanked me against his body, his lips covering mine. Tears poured down my cheeks. “I love you, baby girl.”
“I’m fucking ruined, Julian.” This wasn’t what he wanted—not when he could have so much better.
“You’re not, baby,” he soothed. “You’re fucking perfect,” he tried assuring me. He tugged the blanket from my grip, letting it fall to the floor. “Let me show you how perfect you are.”
* * *
✶ ✶ ✶
* * *
I giggled as Julian moved up behind me, his hands planting themselves on the kitchen counter, caging me in. He brushed his nose along the column of my neck. “What are you making?” he asked me. “It smells really fucking good.”
“Vegetable soup,” I told him as I turned around in his arms to face him.
“And she makes the best fucking soup in the whole damn world,” Vincent announced as he walked into the kitchen and headed straight for the fridge. My cheeks reddened at his compliment. “Honestly, if you give that woman some seasonings and a damn crockpot, she can make anything.”
Julian placed a kiss to my jaw. “Hmm, a good cook, a damn amazing dancer, and a fucking goddess in bed. Anything else you’re good at that I need to know about?” he teased.
“Gross, bro,” Vincent muttered. “She’s like my sister.”
Julian laughed quietly as he drew me into his arms, flattening my back against his torso. Axel walked into the kitchen. “The food summoned me,” he announced, shooting me a wink that made Julian scowl.
“Bro, the food isn’t even ready,” Julian told him without turning to face him.
“Oh, God, is my mom here?” Joey panicked, his feet pounding down the stairs.
Julian snickered as Joey burst into the kitchen. His eyes scoured the room before they landed on the crockpot. “Oh, thank God,” he breathed, dramatically placing his hand on his chest. “Fuck. I panicked. I thought she did one of her surprise visits, and I have last night’s hookup upstairs in my room still.”
Julian pressed a kiss to the top of my head and stepped back from me. Desiree stepped into the kitchen with one of her cheer friends. Julian let out a groan as he rolled his eyes up to the ceiling. I arched an eyebrow at him.
“Julian, baby!” the girl squealed as she rushed forward toward my boyfriend.
My boyfriend.
I was still getting used to that.