Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“What the fuck ever,” Koyn growls. “By the time dinner is over, the people of the internet will be dissecting the hell out of this shit.”
The files are all out there. The Crowne Unity Project—or CUP of lies as I like to think of it—and their CUP Star soldier program. We can thank Theo for that access, though I still haven’t fully forgiven him. There’s also a ton of information on Stem Lock that Koyn’s group stole from the facility when they came for me and Kaitlyn. That implicates Doc Junior and Huxley. Even everything about Solomon and Ava’s nefarious ventures were exposed, including their client list, which had people like Huxley and other important government figureheads on it. Every bit of it is being forced through the media channels my father owns.
It’s a lot.
Overwhelming, in fact.
But it’s necessary.
They’re all going down some way or another, starting with their reputations.
“I think that’s all we can do for tonight,” Koyn states, fatigue in his voice. “We’ll see what the fallout looks like tomorrow and pick it up from there.”
I can’t believe this nightmare has an end in sight.
It’s weird to have a date night.
Caius and I haven’t ever dated. Our lives were woven together, completely out of our control, and we just went with it. But tonight, it’s just us, good food, music, and cool drinks.
“You look horny,” Caius says, smirking from behind his bottle of beer. “Stop looking at me like you want me to put another baby in you.”
“We can’t have sex yet,” I grumble. “I was just thinking this is a weird, and really late, first date.”
He snorts out a laugh. “Until Nova was born, you had a date every night with my dick.”
“Funny guy.” I roll my eyes and sip my sweet iced tea. “You think the girls are okay? What if I don’t have enough milk bagged for Eva?”
“They’re fine,” Caius assures me. “Come here.”
I abandon my chair and drink to crawl into Caius’s lap. He smells like smoke from the campfire. I run my nose along his neck, inhaling his masculine scent.
“We could do other things,” I tease as I nip at his flesh. “With our mouths.”
He tightens his grip on my ass. “You’re obsessed with my cock, love. Can’t a guy just wine and dine his woman without having to put out?”
I giggle at his words. When he’s relaxed, Caius is exactly the type of man I’d have wanted to date. It’s crazy to think I hated him at first and would’ve preferred Theo over him in the beginning. My, how times have changed.
Speaking of Theo…
I sit up and scan the group around the fire. It’s still hot during the days, but the evenings are definitely cooling off as fall is upon us, so the fire is welcome. Dragon has Cove straddling his lap as they make out in front of everyone. Theo sits awkwardly beside them, his eyes on me.
A flash of guilt surges through me and is followed by anger that snuffs it out.
Theo chose to do the things Theo wanted to do. He has no one to blame for himself. If only he’d asked me out rather than kidnapping me, maybe things would have gone differently.
Caius rubs my ass over my jeans. Sure, Theo is attractive, but he’s not him. Not my Caius—the man I can’t seem to ever get out of my head or my heart. I don’t want to either.
“I love you,” I murmur softly.
“I love you too.” He shifts so he can shove his hand into his pocket. “Figured I’d do it in a more romantic way, but I don’t think it gets better than this.”
I marvel at the ring that glitters in the fire light. It’s different than the fake engagement ring he gave to me months ago at the fancy event we went to. He slides the simple solitary diamond ring on my finger. It looks good there. After everything we’ve gone through, it’s more meaningful to wear his ring now.
“I love it,” I whisper. “Yes. The answer is yes.”
He chuckles. “I didn’t ask.”
“Not that you would have anyway. You’re more of a guy who tells rather than asks.”
“But you don’t like being told what to do.”
“Except for with you. I trust you, Caius, so the answer is yes.”
I twist so I can see his handsome face. As Gibson strums a country song on his acoustic guitar and Nees’s laughter can be heard not far away, I admire my soon-to-be husband’s handsome features.
It’s hard to remember him from his stone-cold, stiff, suit days. This jean and T-shirt wearing, scruffy jawline, and overgrown hair thing he has going on is totally working for him. He’s unbelievably sexy.
His hand slides into my hair at the back of my head as he draws me to his lips. The kiss is sweet at first, but then he’s devouring me like I might not be here tomorrow. I’m keenly aware of the fact we’re now the dopey couple in love who makes out in front of everyone. Still, I don’t care.