Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 65104 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65104 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
I want to be his escape, not his burden.
And that’s what this place is for us. An escape.
Here, there’s no such thing as the Bratva. In fact, we’re so removed from reality, I start to wonder if any of that is even true. I’ve never seen him do anything illegal, not directly. He’s gentle with me, and so kind. Other than that first day at the office, with the men with guns, and the brutal way he handled Rick, I haven’t actually seen anything that proves what Becca told me.
Besides, Rick deserved it.
When I’m in Damien’s arms, the world narrows to just the two of us, to his breath on my neck, his hand sliding along my hip, the steady thud of his heart beneath my cheek. It’s easy to pretend there’s no danger here. And if there’s no danger here, maybe none exists at all.
Tonight, we walk the beach after dinner, our fingers laced together, toes sinking into the cool sand. The sky is lavender and navy, the last hints of sunset painting the horizon. He’s been quiet, but it’s been a comfortable silence. We don’t need constant chatter to feel close to one another.
“I’ve only been here once,” he says, his voice low.
I glance at him, finding that hard to believe. “Really?”
He nods, eyes on the sea. “I bought this place to disappear. No calls. No meetings. No bullshit. Just the ocean and the silence. But before I met you, I could never really force myself to leave the world behind even for a few days.”
I squeeze his hand and sigh happily. “I wish we could leave the world behind forever.”
He looks down at me, and his mouth tilts into a small smile. “Me too.”
We keep walking. At one point, I let go of his hand and wade into the shallows, water lapping at my calves. He watches from the edge of the surf. When I come back in, he kisses my forehead and pulls me close, and we stand there like that for a long time. Finally, we let go, and he leads me to a hidden part of the beach.
The sky becomes velvet. The stars pop out and twinkle like they’re putting on a show. Moonlight spills across the sand, painting the beach in silver and shadows. I’ve never seen anything more beautiful.
Damien lays out a blanket and starts unpacking the bag he brought with him. First, he pulls out a bottle of wine and two glasses. Then he takes out an assortment of fresh fruit, cheeses, and a divine-looking chocolate dessert.
He sits on the blanket and reaches a hand out to invite me to join him, his eyes half-lidded as he watches me approach. His expression is so soft and unguarded. Gone is the man who commands rooms. He’s been replaced by someone silent and contemplative, who buries his bare toes in the sand like he’s part of the landscape.
We haven’t talked about tomorrow. This week has been such a magical getaway, but that’s no guarantee of what our lives will be like when we get back home.
I don’t want to ruin the quiet. So I walk over to him barefoot, wearing nothing but a thin white dress that sticks to my skin in the humid air. The hem flutters against my thighs as I step onto the blanket, and his gaze lifts to meet mine. He doesn’t speak. He just reaches for my hand and pulls me gently down to him. I settle between his legs, my back to his chest, and he wraps his arms around me protectively.
We sit like that for a while, just listening to the waves lapping against the shore. The only light we have is the moonlight, and it would be easy to get lost out here. We could stay in this dark inlet forever, wrapped around each other for eternity. If only life were that simple.
His hands trail deliberately over my arms and my hips. “You’re quiet tonight,” he murmurs against my hair.
I sigh happily, relaxing further into him. “I just don’t want this to end.”
He kisses my shoulder, lips brushing the strap of my dress. “Then let’s make it last,” he murmurs against my skin.
I turn my head to meet his mouth, and the kiss we share is slow and deep, filled with something I can’t name. His mouth is warm and inviting, and I’m greedy for him. Maybe it’s just the pregnancy hormones, but I literally cannot get enough of him.
His hands move more firmly now, sliding up my sides to the curve of my breasts, and I let my head fall back against his shoulder as his fingers tease under the fabric.
I reach behind me to touch his jaw, guiding his mouth back to mine. He shifts, turning me around, laying me down gently on the blanket until I’m beneath him, the moon casting a soft glow over his face. His hand trails under the hem of my dress, fingers grazing the inside of my thigh. I arch into him, craving more, craving all of him.