Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 23578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
I don’t move. I can’t.
The air between us is thick and charged. Something deeper than just attraction is crackling between us.
Then he exhales and rubs a rough hand over his jaw. His expression shifts, like he’s remembering something. Something serious.
His gaze drops to my shoulder and a flicker of regret darkens his face.
“I’m sorry,” he says, his voice raw and gravelly. “The tattoo… I didn’t mean to…”
I reach over my shoulder, pressing my fingers to the spot where his name is now permanently etched into my skin. My heart is hammering, but my voice comes out steady.
“Why did you do it?”
He swallows hard. His dark eyes burn into mine, wild and unfiltered, filled with something deep. Something desperate.
“Because I wanted you to be mine.” His voice is a rough whisper, but every word hits me like a strike of lightning. “I wasn’t thinking. My instincts took over. It was primal. It was…”
“Fate?”
His eyes are so piercing. They grip me. They seize my soul.
“Yes.”
“We’re mates, aren’t we?”
He takes a deep breath and my heart races. “We are.”
A shiver runs through me at the intensity in his voice, at the weight of his words.
We’re meant to be together. He’s the man for me.
In this moment I know it’s true. The weight of it cements itself in my soul.
Everything changes.
“I felt like I ruined everything with that tattoo,” he says, looking crushed.
“You didn’t,” I say as I run my fingertips over it.
Because the crazy thing is… I don’t hate it.
I never did.
I like that his name is on me.
I want to be his.
“The truth is,” I say as I slowly walk up the creaky wooden steps, coming face to face with him. “The tattoo—the white lily—it was supposed to be a pledge to my soulmate. It was meant to be a promise to my future husband. To let him know that I was waiting for him.”
He tilts his head slightly as he listens to me.
“So, it doesn’t matter,” I tell him. “It was always for you anyway.”
He’s holding his breath. I think I’m holding mine too.
“A flower, or your name,” I say, feeling my heart pounding in my chest. “It’s the vow that matters.”
He steps forward and I shiver as he slides his hand onto my arm.
My eyes drop to his mouth. His lips are so sexy. Everything about this man is sexy.
He brushes his fingers against my cheek, trailing down to my jaw with the gentlest touch. “Lainey,” he whispers, my name rolling off his tongue like he’s savoring it, like it belongs to him now.
I don’t wait. I don’t think.
I rise onto my toes and tilt my chin up.
I’m not sure if I kiss him or he kisses me, but my breath is ripped out of my lungs as our lips connect.
His kiss is hungry and desperate, like he’s been waiting for this moment forever. And maybe he has. Maybe we both have. A low possessive growl rumbles in his chest as he wraps his arms around me and pulls me closer, gripping me like he’s afraid I’ll disappear again.
The night hums around us—crickets chirping in the distance, the faint sound of cars on the distant highway. The air is crisp and cool, but Julian is like a scorching bonfire, his warmth wrapping around me and making everything just right.
God, I could sink into this kiss forever. This moment, this man, this kiss… it feels like home. It feels… right.
I break away, breathless, my palms sliding up and down his big strong arms. His forehead rests against mine, his chest rising and falling in unsteady breaths.
Then, my gaze drops.
Oh.
My eyes widen when I see his long thick erection standing straight up between us, rock hard and ready to go.
My cheeks burn red as I stare at it, knowing this incredible man is hard for me.
“Sorry,” Julian says, cursing under his breath as he steps away.
“It’s okay,” I whisper, not able to take my eyes off it.
But he’s already in motion, ripping an old tin sign right off the wooden wall like it’s made of paper, sending the rusted screws flying.
He covers his erection with it, looking a little embarrassed. He doesn’t have to be embarrassed, and he definitely doesn’t have to cover it up.
“I keep messing everything up,” he says, his jaw tight. “I’ve been dreaming of this moment every day for all twenty-seven years of my life. I never thought I’d mess up this badly.”
I slide my hand down his chest, feeling his heart pounding under all that muscle.
“You’re not doing so bad,” I say, licking my lips.
His fierce green eyes soften as he looks at me. “Lainey, let me fix this. The tattoo. Let me make it right.”
My friends would freak out if they knew I was here. If they knew I was about to give this guy a second chance.