Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Ada smiled and shimmied closer into my embrace. “I’m glad you like it,” she murmured in response then fell back asleep, taking me with her.
***
We slept late the next day. Since we weren’t part of the official wedding party, Ada and I were free to while the morning away with no obligations. I was the one to wake first, kissing my way down her body until her eyes flickered open, hazy and surprised as she sucked in a sharp breath.
“What are you doing?”
“Making it up to you for last night,” I murmured back then slid the luxury undergarments down her shapely legs before burying my face between her thighs.
Sometime later, we finally got around to sharing that bath. I reclined against the tub while Ada’s back rested against my front, my hand splayed across her stomach, and the subtle scent of hibiscus and lemon balm filled the air.
“It’s just so heartbreaking,” Ada said after I filled her in on why I’d disappeared yesterday. “Poor Derek. And gosh, his daughter. It must be terrifying when your child is going through something, and you can’t even figure out how to help them.”
“I hope he takes my advice and finds a professional for her to speak with.”
“Right,” a faint smile shaped her lips. “I’d forgotten you’ve been newly converted to the benefits of counselling.” She paused as I absentmindedly stroked her stomach. “It was good of you to stay with him.”
“I think it’s hard for him to tell his friends and family the full truth of what’s been getting him down.”
“It can be difficult to be honest with family,” Ada agreed. “Especially when their opinions matter so much to us.”
After our bath, we ordered breakfast from room service before getting ready for the wedding. Ada disappeared into the bathroom for a while as I donned my suit, and when she emerged, my jaw dropped, hands balling into fists at my sides. Her thick hair had been styled in an updo, with loose strands hanging down around her face. Her eyes were painted with dark liquid eyeliner, rendering them even more sultry, if that were possible.
I battled the urge to throw her down on the bed and tear her clothes off. To hell with it if we missed the ceremony. And her dress, bloody hell, her dress. It was a deep red colour and clung to every swoop and curve of her body. It reached just below the knees, and on her feet were a pair of delicate velvet sandals with straps that wound temptingly around her pretty ankles.
“You look …” I ran a hand over my jaw, desire and love and need all fighting for dominance. I adored her. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
She flushed and rolled her eyes as she stepped towards me. “Okay, there’s no need for hyperbole.”
“I’m not lying.” My mouth dipped to hers and kissed lightly. “You’re perfect. It’s like I invented you from all my fantasies of the ideal woman.”
She laughed softly and pressed a hand to my chest, pushing me back just as my fingers had started to roam her hips, sliding up to the underside of her breasts. “Down, lover boy. We have a wedding to attend, and I’m not turning up with smudged makeup.”
I leaned in, capturing her lips gently. “What if I promise not to—”
“No!” She giggled at my disappointed expression. “We have to leave soon.”
I shot her a playful scowl. “Fine, but we may end up missing part of the reception. I’m not sure how long I’ll last not throwing you over my shoulder and carrying you back to this room.” I teasingly nipped at her earlobe, soliciting a sharp gasp from her as I finally withdrew.
“I would say you scrub up well, too,” she said. “But I see you wearing a suit every day, which is a torture in itself, so maybe today is payback.”
I smirked at that. “Oh? Is seeing me in a suit on a typical day a bit of a struggle for you, baby?”
She narrowed her gaze, lips twitching as she suppressed a grin. “Yes, and I have a feeling you know it. If you weren’t such an intimidating and scary boss, I’m pretty sure half your female employees would’ve propositioned you by now.”
My smirk transformed into a teasing grin. “How do you know they haven’t?”
“I’m not rising to that. Even though I know you’re trying to mess with me, it still makes me infuriatingly jealous.”
“Good,” I purred, taking her hand in mine, turning it and lifting her knuckles to my mouth to lightly graze my teeth over her skin. “Because I get ridiculously jealous of any man who even so much as glances your way, so that makes us even.”
She giggled when I nuzzled into the spot behind her ear before we grabbed our things and headed out to meet Maggie.