Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 151097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
“She’ll have to wait,” Ocean replied, making my heart stop. She? “I’m taking my fiancée on a date.”
Abel looked at me then, so I flipped him off with a smile. Ever the grump, he shook his head as he turned and left. Ocean had already closed the door and was walking toward it when the plans he shared with Abel finally registered.
“We’re going on a date? I thought I was meeting your mom today.”
“You’re having lunch with her on the terrace after.”
“Oh…okay.” Nervous butterflies flitted around my stomach as I gripped the blanket tighter and followed him into the bathroom. My eyes went straight to the enormous sunken tub I’d internally squealed over last night. Knowing I preferred soaking to showers, Ocean had already filled it with water and bubble bath that smelled divine. “You know, for a psycho, you’re incredibly sweet and generous.”
“Whatever I am, I’m yours,” Ocean said as he turned and forced my fingers to let go of the blanket. I don’t know why I was shy around him all of a sudden. I guess it was because we sort of broke up, even though it only lasted a day, and now we were back together. “Till death do us part, Coby Perry.”
The blanket fell to the floor, and I was naked once again.
“We haven’t said our vows yet.”
“We will,” Ocean promised.
It sort of sounded like a threat. A gentle reminder that he wasn’t letting me go without murdering a few dozen people. Ocean kissed my knuckles before helping me inside the stone tub. Once I was sitting in the water, he did too—except he sat on the flat, wide ledge and pushed up his thick sleeves. He then grabbed one of the sponges stored in the glass container next to him.
“I know it’s a bit late,” I said as he dipped his hand in the warm water. “But I have one more condition for marrying you.” Immediately, I sank my teeth into my bottom lip. While Ocean was incredibly patient, gentle, and generous with me, I didn’t know if this latest request would send him over the edge. I didn’t want him to think I was taking advantage of him, especially when our relationship only existed because my brother stole from him.
“And what’s that?” Ocean didn’t miss a beat as he brought the sponge to my neck and began washing my skin. Slowly and thoroughly, he made his way down. “I-I want Hunter taken care of. Everything you’re offering me, I want her to have it too. For every year we’re apart, I want her compensated and protected. She doesn’t want for anything. Ever.”
Something shifted in Ocean’s gaze, his eyes becoming so molten, dark, and predatory that I stopped breathing. And then in a blink, the look was gone as if it had never been. “If that’s what you want, then I promise you, mo aingeal, your friend will receive my full and undivided attention.”
After my bubble bath, I dressed in the red athletic leggings, white cropped pullover, sports bra, panties, windbreaker, headband, gloves, and hiking boots that Ocean provided. I was starting to think of him as my own personal genie—granting all of my desires before I even knew I needed them.
I was curious and excited about our date as I followed him down one hallway after another and then out of the enormous house and into the early morning.
The cold smacked me in the face as soon as I stepped out.
Winter was weeks away, but this far north, it felt like it had come early.
I held Ocean’s hand as we approached a sleek, matte-gray sports car with red calipers waiting further down the path. He opened the passenger door for me, and I went to climb in when he stopped me. Ocean stared into my eyes, and I didn’t know what he was waiting for until I smiled. Satisfied, he leaned down to kiss me, and I rose onto the tips of my toes to meet him.
I guess we’d forgiven each other.
We drove for hours to reach the hiking trails.
The air was brisker, and the winds were harsher this close to the enormous lake and Canada’s border.
I cut my gaze at Ocean as I followed him up the cliffside, wondering if this was more punishment for attacking him. I loved to hike (as I’d previously shared with him), but I wasn’t fond of the cold—something I forgot to mention. Fortunately, the views made it a teeny tiny bit worth it.
An hour into the hike, I barely noticed the temperature.
After a few more miles of silence, Ocean led us through a break in the trees. The trail had reached a plateau bordered by trees on three sides, some of whose gold and red leaves were already decorating the ground.
My steps faltered when I saw the multicolored sandstone of the cliffs beyond. They surrounded the sparkling beaches below, and I could see more than one rushing waterfall peeking out from the gilt and ruby foliage. I’d never seen anything like it, only pictures of places like this online, but never through my own eyes.