Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 26892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
“Take your time, baby girl. We’ve got all the time in the world.” Gavin moves in front of me, using the table as a seat. His massive frame still manages to tower over my curled form, gray eyes burning with an intense, unwavering focus. He reaches out and places his warm hands gently on my knees, through the blanket, grounding me.
“He, umm… he talked about my body. A lot,” I start, my voice cracking as the memories come to the forefront of my mind after trying to bury them six foot deep in the ground. I look at my hands, unable to meet his gaze as the confession begins to pour out of me. “It was constant, every single day. He told me I wasn’t thin enough. He made me feel like I wasn’t enough in any capacity, as if I was lucky he was even looking at me. He picked apart what I ate, what I wore, how my clothes fit, and even how my nose was constantly in a book.” A low rumble vibrates in Gavin’s chest, but he keeps his hands soft on my legs, letting me speak my piece.
“And the absolute irony of it all,” I say, a bitter laugh escaping me, “is that meanwhile, he couldn’t even keep a job. He’d sit on my couch while I’d work, ask for money, living off me, while picking me apart piece by piece. God, I was so stupid for letting him into my life for as long as I did. It’s not like I loved him. I’m not sure I even liked him, to be honest. He was just there.”
“You weren’t and you aren’t stupid,” Gavin rasps, his thumb stroking me. “You’re kind, Genevieve. He took advantage of your good heart.”
“I have my friends,” I continue, the words spilling out in a desperate ramble. “I knew they didn’t like him. Alex hated his guts from day one, and everyone else kept hinting that I deserved better. Looking back, I know I did, but I was deep in some mystical fog, where you think you can change a man. That’s on me. It took me realizing it on my own to finally kick him to the curb, and because I’ve always been a naturally curvy woman, it wasn’t until I noticed my own drastic weight change that realization hit. I looked in the mirror and saw how thin, pale, and sickly I looked from the stress of trying to please him. The lightbulb finally went off after that.” I take a shuddering breath, my fingers clutching at the fabric of my shirt.
“After I kicked him out, I slowly gained back my curves,” I admit softly, looking at Gavin. A myriad of emotions is written on his face: anger, sadness, and awe. “I got healthy again. Still, I shielded my body from the outside world. I didn’t want anyone to see me or have an opinion on my figure. I started wearing loose, baggy clothes, like the ones you saw me in the office.” I take a deep breath before finishing. “I didn’t want to be seen just for my body to anyone ever again. And when I saw him today…” My voice trails off as tears well in my eyes again. “Gavin, when I saw him standing on your porch, it wasn’t his rude remarks that made me run.”
“Then what was it, baby girl?” He leans in closer, wiping a stray tear off my cheek. Through all of this, he’s remained patient, stayed quiet, and let me get it all out.
“I couldn’t bear the thought of being the reason you lose your son,” I whisper. He catches one tear after the other. “I saw him, realized who he is to you, and my heart shattered. I didn’t want you to choose me over him or him over me. I couldn’t put you in that position. I thought… I thought that if I ran, you wouldn’t have to break your family apart.”
For a second, the room is quiet, too quiet. Then Gavin lets out a heavy breath. Without saying a word, he reaches down, wrapping his large, powerful arms around my waist and beneath my thighs, before he lifts me effortlessly off the couch. I gasp as he sits down in the same spot I just vacated, with me in his lap, straddling his thick thighs, facing him.
His hand tangles in the hair at the nape of my neck and he brings his lips down on mine. The kiss isn’t gentle. It’s deep, possessive, and soul-consuming. A kiss meant to wipe away every bad memory, every insult, and every doubt that plagues my mind. His tongue slips inside, deepening with every sweep of our tongues. My head spins, my mind quiets down, and I’m clinging to his shoulders, gasping for air against his lips. When he finally pulls back, barely an inch, his dark eyes are ablaze with pure devotion.