Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 113812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 569(@200wpm)___ 455(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 569(@200wpm)___ 455(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
He calls me babe like it’s my name. And I gobble it right up every time, savoring the sound of it for when I’m not here.
“Everything is picture-perfect, and that’s not how life works. I’m on top of the world, but the clouds still threaten.” I glance away, searching for clarity on how to explain it. I’m not sure I find it, but I’ll still try. “I’m treating this like a vacation, and you’re acting like this is our home.” I look at him, hoping I don’t hurt his feelings. He’s a tough guy, but words can sting sometimes, even if unintentional. “It’s confusing. I’m wearing silky dresses and high heels, eating at fancy restaurants, and acting like this is normal for me because I want to fit into your world so badly.”
“You already do,” he says, grazing the tips of his fingers over my cheek. “You don’t need to change for anyone, especially not for me. I love you, Christine.”
CHAPTER 29
Christine
“Why did you say that?” I ask, sitting upright and staring at him.
“I love you? Because I do.” Tagger is unshakable and not a regret is heard.
My emotions are twisted. I’m not sure what to think about this. “No. The Christine part.”
He chuckles. “So let me get this straight,” he says. “I tell you I love you for the first time, but that’s overshadowed because I used your real name?”
“Yes. It’s Pris. That’s who I am with you.”
With a gentle smile creasing his cheeks, he kneels beside the tub and leans over to cup my face. A kiss to the head is followed by one placed gently beside my eye, then he kisses my cheek and ends the tour on my lips. This one lingers as I lean my head against his. He says, “I love you, Pris. I’m so in love with you.”
Words I never believed I’d hear are said with such fervency that I have no doubt they’re real. Cupping his neck and sliding over the scruff of his face, I pull back to see his eyes so brilliantly alive with color and honesty. “I love you, too, Tagger. So much it hurts.”
“I’ll be gentler then.”
I smile. “No, don’t change a thing.” I kiss him and then sink back into the water to soak in his love, which I’m bathing in. “I love who we are together.”
“Me too.” He breathes a sigh of relief as he gets to his feet. “Hungry?”
“Famished.”
“I’ll take you out to breakfast. No rush, though. We’ll leave when you’re ready.” Walking to the door, he says, “I’ll shower in the other bathroom so you can have some privacy.”
“I don’t need privacy from you, babe. I mean,” I say, wobbling my head back and forth, “you’ve kind of seen everything. Well, not everything, but you’ve been inside me, so I think it’s okay if you see me putting on makeup or doing my hair, drying, and whatever else I’d get up to in here.”
“I love listening to how your mind works,” he says. “You talked me into showering here.”
“Not going to lie.” I start cleaning my body, wanting food sooner than later. “It was for purely selfish reasons.”
“I’m good with that.” He strips off his boxers, freeing his dick from the confines. I’m pretty certain his body part shouldn’t be that attractive. It doesn’t surprise me since it’s him.
Just over an hour later, I’m wearing one of my favorite sundresses and a pair of sandals while walking the streets of New York holding hands with my boyfriend on a beautiful Saturday morning. It’s early, but restaurants overflow with the brunch crowds, and the lines to get a table already extend longer than we’re willing to wait.
“How about we go to the deli and eat in the park?”
“I think that would be better than any crowded restaurant.”
We stop for coffee and pick up bagels, muffins, and some fruit before entering a smaller park surrounded by skyscrapers.
He walks down a path to an empty bench. “Is this good?”
As I look around the park, the leaves are blowing in the wind and the grass appears recently cut and softer than the St. Augustine a lot of us have in our yards. “We could sit in the grass?”
“I didn’t bring a blanket. The grass could stain your dress.”
I look down, wondering if I’m willing to sacrifice another dress to nature. I glance once more at the park bench. I’d rather be in the grass than sitting away from it. “I’ll be careful.”
“My lap is also available.” He scans the area. “There’s a spot over here,” he says, signaling to a patch with no one else around. He sets the bag of food down, then offers me a hand.
Although I had one short-lived ballet class on my preschool résumé, I didn’t remain graceful and sit down without regard for etiquette. While we dig in, I ask, “What do you do in your free time?”