Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 92941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
“Conceding with grace isn’t really my MO,” she grumbled.
“You and I are connected now,” I reminded her, pulling the tie out of her hair so it tumbled down her back. “Consider it a human marriage on steroids. Would you argue with a husband?”
“You know the answer to that.”
“I stepped right into that one.”
“You really did.”
“Let me take care of this, Reese. I know you like your job, but we have the money. Take the leave of absence. Once we’re able to spend periods of time apart, you can come right back.”
She was quiet for a few moments, her hands stuffed up the front of my shirt so that she could press her palms to the skin on my stomach.
“Things are changing too fast,” she whispered with a grimace.
“We’ll figure it out. Let’s stay at your place tonight.”
“Yeah?”
“Sure. I need to fix your door anyway.”
Reese nodded and dropped her forehead against my chest with a thud before straightening back up. She pulled her hands out of my shirt and marched back into Noah’s office.
“I’ll take a leave of absence on two conditions.”
“Jesus Christ,” Noah muttered as I followed her into the room. “What now?”
“First, I get my job back when all of this mating crap is over with—even if you find someone absolutely brilliant to replace me. You’ll fire them anyway.”
“Done.”
“And second,” Reese said, hands on her hips. “You and Mr. Miranda come to dinner at Beau’s parents’ house later this week to meet them.”
I was pretty sure the man wouldn’t have been more shocked if she’d punched him.
“His mom really wants to have my family over so everyone can meet each other,” she said with a huff. “And I don’t have parents, so you’re up.”
“We’d be honored,” he replied, one hand pressed against his chest.
“Oh, don’t be a sissy-lala,” she said, waving him off. “It’s dinner.”
“We’ll be there.”
“Good.”
She took a step toward him and then thought better of it and sent a little wave his way before turning back toward me.
“Let’s go.”
As we headed down the hallway toward the door to the lobby, Reese paused.
“I love you too, you old pain in my ass,” she called over her shoulder before reaching for my hand and tugging me along.
Hours later, I found myself lying on her couch while she put dishes away. For some reason, she refused to let me help even though I’d offered multiple times.
“Do you think my landlord will charge me for the new doorframe?” she asked, glancing at me over her shoulder. “Technically, I didn’t run it by him first.”
I looked at the doorframe in question. The piece we’d replaced looked the same as the old one, only in better shape.
“I doubt he’ll even notice.”
“You just always see those horror stories of people not getting their deposit back.”
“Would it really matter?” I looked around the apartment. Reese kept it clean, but it was impossible to hide how run-down the entire complex was. “How much was your deposit?”
“None of your business.”
“It couldn’t have been that much,” I mused.
“You’re a snob,” she announced, her face appearing above mine.
“I’m not a snob.”
“It couldn’t have been that much,” she mocked, her face pinched. “Actually, Beaumont, it was a month’s rent, and even though these apartments were built when disco was big, the neighborhood is expensive.”
I couldn’t tell if she was actually offended or just fucking with me.
“Come here,” I ordered, reaching for her.
“Snob,” she grumbled as I tugged her down onto the couch with me.
“How are you feeling?” I asked when she’d gotten comfortable, her body blanketing mine.
“It’s bearable,” she replied, bracing her elbows by my head so we were nose to nose. “You?”
“Better now.”
“You’re going to need blood soon,” she murmured, brushing my hair off my forehead.
“I’m all right.”
“It’s already getting a little easier. You haven’t needed it since this morning.”
“Eventually, it’ll only be once a day.”
“Really?”
“Your need will supersede mine,” I told her quietly. “For now, it’s equal, but eventually, it’ll be your half of the bond that keeps us from spending any length of time apart.”
Reese wrinkled her nose in disbelief.
“Not that I’ll ever want to spend time apart,” I continued. “I just won’t be physically uncomfortable because of it.”
“Aw, you won’t ever want to spend time apart?” She pinched my cheek.
“You’re my mate.”
“You don’t even like me,” she said, rolling her eyes. “It seems like you’d be jumping for joy to get some time apart.”
“Rethinking my position on that,” I confessed, running my hands down her back.
“I knew it would happen eventually,” she replied with mock seriousness. “You just have to give it a minute for my awesomeness to really sink in.”
“Oh, is that what it is?”
“Yep.”
“I fucked up in the beginning.”
“I didn’t exactly put my best foot forward.” She shrugged. “You probably thought I was a freak for jumping you right after we met. Your mate for eternity, you say? Yes, let’s make that commitment even though we know nothing about each other.”