Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 116547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
“I can only hope,” he said, placing his hand over mine and offering me a smile. “In the meantime I will not allow it to dampen our occasion, for we have fought quite hard for this victory no matter what your brother says.”
“Now you have the courage to speak against him.” I rolled my eyes.
“I will not risk his temper till I am sure we are wed.”
“Let us risk it just once more,” I replied and leaned in closer to him.
He smiled, leaning in as well before kissing my lips, and all of me tingled once more. I was sure we would have stayed there if not for the sound of heavy footsteps. Quickly we separated.
“We shall continue…tomorrow,” he replied, squeezing my hands tightly.
I nodded, too happy to speak as he led me out and toward the dining room.
Only when we were seated, eating and talking, did I notice for the first time: We were all happy. Evander picked on Theodore, Theodore did his best to defend himself while throwing light jabs back, only for Aphrodite and me to giggle at their silliness. Even Emeline happily hummed as she ate. I never thought…it could be us. That in this house, the place where my mother had passed, in this place where I was born without her, there would be so much joy.
I could not wait for this to be our forever.
Epilogue
Theodore
“NO!”
The sound of her scream caused me to bolt up from bed. I was still not altogether used to it, seeing her suffer so terribly at night like this. Her bonnet falling off her head, her curls every which way as she twisted and bent into a ball, clinging to herself. Shifting in bed, I turned and wrapped my arms around her, hugging her gently.
“You are all right,” I whispered into her ear. “My love, you are all right.”
I said it over and over, holding on to her tighter and tighter, until she finally relaxed and her breathing evened. It was only a few moments until she was completely calm. I let go of her and sat up in the bed, reaching for where her bonnet had fallen. The last thing either she or I needed was for her to wake up mortified at the state of her hair. Though I feared, since the sun was just beginning to rise, there was little she could do to save it. However, just as I had reached for the headpiece, I heard her voice whisper to me.
“What are you doing?”
Withdrawing my hands, I glanced down at her, smiling. How could I not when she was the very first thing I saw every day now? “Your bonnet fell off. I wished to retrieve it.”
Her hands went up to her hair and I shifted, allowing her to sit up in bed.
“Did I have a nightmare again?” She frowned, her shoulders falling. “I thought I was getting better.”
“You are,” I said, brushing a few curls from her face, though they bounced back intently. “You made it through the whole night and it has been a while since your last one.”
She was still not pleased with herself. “I do not mean to keep disturbing you—”
“You are not disturbing me…”
“Theodore—”
“What have I told you to call me?”
She tilted her head to the side, giving me a look. “Theo—”
“That is not correct…wife.”
“How long am I to simply address you as ‘husband’?” She giggled, staring at me.
“For as long as we are married, and so forever.” I grinned.
“It is cumbersome to say always. At least ‘dearest’?”
“I have no problem with ‘dearest,’ it is you who cannot say ‘dearest.’ ”
“I can say it!”
“Very well, go on.” I nodded to her.
“Dearest.”
“In a sentence.”
She opened her mouth but looked away from me. “Dearest, will you—”
“To my face!”
“Theodore!”
“See!” I laughed.
“I can do it!” she proclaimed, once more turning to me, her eyes directly pairing with mine. She took a deep breath before speaking again. “Dearest, will you please…I cannot say it when you look at me like that!”
“How am I looking at you?”
“As though you wish to devour me.”
I grinned. “That is how I am always looking at you. So, go on.”
She glared and I waited. We went on and on with our staring competition before she spoke again. “Dearest, I am tempted to hit you.”
“Very good, know I shall accept only ‘my dearest,’ ‘husband,’ or ‘my love.’ ”
“How did we get on this topic?”
I shrugged, reaching over and pulling her closer to me. “I do not recall, my love, but let us not dwell on it, as we have more pressing matters to attend to.”
“Such as— Theodore!” She gasped when I flipped her onto her back.
“ ‘My dearest,’ ‘husband,’ or ‘my love,’ ” I repeated as I kissed her neck. “How many times am I meant to teach you this lesson?”
“I am unsure, as I am quite stubborn…” She giggled as I began to lift up her gown.