Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 96720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
“I can’t believe I pulled it off,” she said, looking around the lobby in awe.
“I can.” At this point, I believed that Charlotte could do anything. I took her chin in my hand and rubbed my thumb over her bottom lip. “I believe you can do this and so much more.”
“Hey, PDA,” she said, ducking from my grasp.
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t see why we have to refrain. We’re standing in a sex club.”
“A sex club with a bunch of employees,” she scolded me. “I’d like to keep this job. And this company. I finally found something I’m good at—”
I opened my mouth and raised my index finger, about to make a point about her many, many excellent skills.
“Not related to your dick,” she snapped in a whisper. Clearing her throat, she went on. “Let’s be professional, for now. Until the club is open and we’re allowed to behave however we want in here.”
Stepping a respectable distance back, I accepted a glass of champagne, as well. “I’m proud of you, Charlotte.”
She blushed bright red. “Stop.”
“No. This is your homework. Your therapist is working on getting you to accept praise in a non-submissive context, right?” Maybe it was unfair to use therapy against her, but ultimately, what mattered was that she knew she was valued. And, that she should value herself. “And I order you, as your fiancé, to be proud of yourself, too.”
She scoffed. “Your power as my fiancé is limited.”
Turning slightly, I leaned down and whispered, “Then my power as your dragon.”
She shook her head with a smile.
“Charlotte!”
We turned to see Sophie exiting the elevator. “I’m sorry I’m late! Traffic.”
“I thought you took the helicopter,” Charlotte said, giving and receiving air kisses from her friend.
“Air traffic,” Sophie clarified.
“Neil and El-Mudad didn’t come?” I was a bit disappointed. I wanted their reactions to the place.
“No, I told them this was for employees only.” Her eyes brightened. “But we’re not going to miss the soft launch.”
“We are, I’m afraid,” I said with an apologetic wince.
“You can’t.” Sophie looked between the two of us. “You’re the owners.”
“Wedding,” Charlotte said, her shoulders sagging in disappointment.
That only intensified Sophie’s visible confusion. “Wait… you guys didn’t like, not invite me to your wedding, right? Because last I knew, you hadn’t even set a date.”
“We haven’t,” Charlotte said quickly. “It’s my brother’s wedding.”
“And my sister’s.” It didn’t sound any less incestuous no matter how many times I said it, but I took a small amount of comfort in knowing that Scott and Catherine would be going through the same thing.
“Okay.” Sophie frowned and shook a finger at both of us. “But hurry up, you two. I love free cake.”
“You’ll be the first to know,” Charlotte promised with a laugh.
“I’m going to go check this place out,” Sophie said, giving us a little wave. “I need to make sure they used the sofas we fought about for the third floor.”
Charlotte giggled and watched her friend head up the stairs before turning back to me. Her expression fell. “You’re not disappointed that we haven’t set the date yet, are you?”
I shook my head. “Not anymore. We’ve been engaged for a year. I don’t think you’re going to run away at this point. And if you plan to, let me know so I can shackle you to the wall.”
Despite her “no PDA” rule, she put her arms around my neck and rose up on her tiptoes for a quick kiss. “Is that a threat?”
She giggled and her nose wrinkled. Even with her polished new wardrobe, sleek hair, and flawless makeup, she was still the woman I’d met at my best friend’s first, disastrous wedding.
I’d written “no bears” on the RSVP card to his next one.
“Oh, it’s a promise, my princess,” I answered, nipping at her bottom lip.
She didn’t twist out of my embrace this time but laid her hands flat on my chest and gazed up into my eyes.
“That’s exactly what I was hoping you’d say. My dragon.”