Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
“Pulsing?” she whispers.
“I could feel how close you were getting to a release,” I tell her.
“That’s hot… that you can read me through my body.”
“And we’re only just beginning,” I say, kissing her on the cheek. “We’ve got a long, long time for me to learn even more ways to make you shiver all over.”
“What happened to only living in the here and now?” she whispers.
“I want you, lucky charm, not just for tonight, not just for the moment. I want you forever. Ever since entering the bakery, I’ve desired that, despite my attempts to resist. I need you, a stór.”
I almost say I love you. But I can’t go that far, not yet, not until I take care of Owen and Uncle Frank. Not until I know for a fact, I’m going to make her my queen.
“I need you too,” she murmurs. “I’ve been alone for so long, I thought I preferred it… But that changed the second you walked into the bakery.”
“I need to give you one last chance to back out,” I say.
“What the heck are you even saying?”
“Something I don’t want to say,” I tell her. “But something I have to. I wouldn’t forgive myself if I didn’t give you the choice.”
“What choice?” she snaps.
“Being my mafia queen will mean there’s always a chance our lives could get violent again. There’s a chance there will be more fires, more gunshots, more terror… I’ll do my best, every single day, to keep you safe. I’ll take bullets for you. I’ll let nothing happen to you. But… but it’s the reality of the life.” I let out a trembling sigh. “I could lie to you, angel, but I refuse to do that.”
“If I told you yeah, it’s too scary – if I told you I can’t handle it – would you be able to handle that? Living your life without me?”
I smooth my hand down her arm to her Claddagh ring, gently caressing it. “It would tear me up,” I snarl. “I’d never be happy. I’d live my life on autopilot, doing what was necessary to keep this city safe and sane, to keep the traffickers out, to keep us on the right track…”
“You need your lucky charm,” she whispers, bringing her lips to mine. “I’m ready to be your queen. I’ll even bake us some pastry crowns to celebrate.”
When she laughs, I feel my ice walls melting, my resolve draining. I laugh with her, stunned by how easy it feels, stunned by the closeness and the love.
But I can’t get carried away, not yet.
This could still blow up in our faces.
“Have you eaten?” she asks.
“You know I have…”
She giggles, nudging me. “Ew,” she says. “You know what I mean.”
“Why don’t I order us some pizza?” I say. “Don’t worry. They’ll deliver it to security. They’ll bring it up. We can veg out in bed, and then I’ll hold you until we fall asleep.”
She lays her cheek against my chest. “That sounds just about perfect.”
Twenty-Three
LUCY
It’s the best sleep of my life, wrapping my arms around Killian’s solid body and pressing myself against him, his muscles, his bulk, his presence making me feel more protected than I ever have. I half wake a couple times just to sink my fingers deeper into his solid frame and reassure myself he’s still here.
In the morning, though, he’s gone. I smooth my hand over his side of the bed, hoping to find it warm, hoping he’s just gone to the en-suite for a shower. But it’s cool… and I don’t hear anybody in the bathroom.
I sit up, spotting a note on my bedside table.
Lucy, my perfect lucky charm, I’m sorry you’ve woken without me at your side. You looked so beautiful this morning when you were sleeping, so peaceful. I just watched you for a few minutes, finding it difficult to believe or accept how lucky I am. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. Every day for the rest of our lives, I’m going to be the best thing that ever happened to you, too.
But that has to begin after I’ve handled Frank and Owen. I got a call early this morning, a tip about where they might be. It could be dangerous. I know I’m going to have to be hard and focused. That’s why I didn’t wake you. You bring out a side to me I never knew existed before we fell in…
I bite down when I see the word love crossed through.
I haven’t crossed that out because it’s not true, his letter goes on. But because I know I can’t declare that essential truth until I know we have a future together. There’s still too much risk, too much up in the air, for me to make this declaration. But you can read me better than anyone. You know how I feel about you.