Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 14601 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 73(@200wpm)___ 58(@250wpm)___ 49(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14601 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 73(@200wpm)___ 58(@250wpm)___ 49(@300wpm)
“Well, I hope you don’t die because I kinda like having you around,” I say, half-pouting, half-teasing, and it makes him laugh. God, I’m the worst cook, and it’s driving me absolutely nuts. How am I supposed to feed a family if I can’t even cook?
“I’ll eat anything you make.” He tries to get me to not be upset, but it’s hard. I’ve been cooking all week and it seems to be one failure after another.
“I want you to actually like it, though.”
“I love it because you made it, I love it because I get to sit at the kitchen bar and watch you move around making me something to eat. I’ll love it more when you’re barefoot and round with our baby while doing it.”
I wrap my arms around his neck, the disappointment in my culinary skills fading fast.
“I love you,” I tell him before I pull him down to kiss me. His mouth meets mine, and I only kiss him for a moment before pulling away. “Oh my God, I can still taste that muffin and it’s terrible. How did you eat the whole thing?”
He shrugs like it was no big deal, and I can’t help but laugh. God, I love him. He would do anything to make me happy.
“I’m going to bring some wood in for the fire.” He pulls me off the counter and gives my ass a firm squeeze. “Why don’t you get your book and lie on the sofa and wait for me.”
“Mmky,” I say blissfully, knowing what’s coming. I may have only been staying with Vlad for a week, but we already have a routine. In the late afternoons, I lie on the sofa in front of the fire while he brings his laptop out to work. I switch from reading to taking little catnaps. During one nap I know I’ll wake up with his mouth between my legs.
It’s my favorite part of the day. Okay, maybe second, because the first is lying in bed with him at night. I had no idea life could be this sweet, and I’m soaking it up, waiting for the other shoe to drop. I haven’t heard from my mother since the wedding, and I know she knows something is up. She watched me all night at the wedding, and Vlad did not do his best at hiding that he wanted me, even though he thinks he did an okay job and held himself back. I’m not sure he knows what holding back really is.
I watch him leave, then I go to our bedroom to get my book. Making my way down the hall, I go straight for our room. Our bedroom is the only one on this floor. Five other bedroom are upstairs. It almost feels like this home was plucked right out of my dreams. Vlad had it built years ago, and it sits right outside the castle, not even a mile away. But there’s a small road that only we can use to get to Alena and Roman. I like that it’s easy to see my sister.
He told me he never thought about why he built a house so big with no plans of ever marrying or having children. But after our first night here, he told me he must have known deep down I was coming. He’d built it for me. I might have cried all over him. He was right. He would always give me what I want. He was doing it before he even knew what it was. What I love most about the house is that while it’s big, it also all feels cozy and intimate. It’s warm and feels like a home.
I grab my book off the nightstand and go to the living room, which connects to the kitchen. I debate having another stab at baking, but decide I really should order some cookbooks or something first. But I haven’t had much desire to leave the house. I want to keep the outside world away from us.
I’ve wonder if my mom has been trying to get a hold of me. I know I was supposed to meet with a potential husband a few days ago, but the day came and went and nothing happened.
Sitting on the sofa I’m surprised when I hear a knock at the front door. I glance towards the way Vlad went out and wonder what I should do. I have a strong feeling he wouldn’t like me answering the door. Plus, I’m only wearing his shirt.
“Tabitha, open the door right this minute.”
I feel a knot form in the pit of my stomach when I hear my mother’s voice. I clutch my book in my hands, desperate to do anything but face her. But I know I have to. I can’t keep living in fear that I’ll be taken from Vlad at any moment.