Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 48446 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 242(@200wpm)___ 194(@250wpm)___ 161(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48446 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 242(@200wpm)___ 194(@250wpm)___ 161(@300wpm)
“Web.”
“Cy.”
“I don’t want to put more on your plate, so I’ve been keeping a lot of things to myself.”
There was only one response. “Do you think of this as our house?”
“Of course. It’s more yours than anyone’s,” he stressed to me. “When any one of us isn’t here, it’s okay. But when you’re not here, Web, it’s empty. You make this house a home. You’re the one we all love and need. You’re the strong one.”
I slid from his body, his muscles releasing me, and turned him slowly around to face me. My hands went to the thick chestnut hair, pushing it out of his eyes so I could see them. “Then lay all your crap on me, all right? I can take it. I’m strong. Please let me shoulder it, Cy, whatever it is, whenever it is. It’s my right as your husband, as the man you love. Respect me enough to trust me with the bullshit as well as the good stuff.”
He nodded.
“Yeah?”
“Yes, Web,” he said, nearly collapsing in front of me, so I grabbed him and helped him to the bed. He was sprawled out, the picture of a sated man.
I sat beside him and stroked his hair. “Lemme go get you some water.”
“Not yet,” he said, taking hold of my hand. “Let me roll around in our alone time for another minute.”
“They’ll move out eventually,” I said, fingers tracing over his eyebrows, “and you’ll miss them somethin’ fierce.”
“I love them all, and I love them being here,” he assured me. “But I would also like for you to put me over the kitchen table sometimes too.”
“That’s gross,” I teased him, laughing.
“You know what I mean.”
“I do.” I sighed, straddled his hips, and sat over his groin. “We need to carve out a bigger chunk of time for us. I will work on it the minute I get back from soccer camp with Tris.”
“I sound so needy,” he said, his hands on my thighs, sliding over them.
“You love me and want alone time with me. How is that needy?”
“But I have to understand that I share you with four other people.”
“We will make more time. Just don’t stop talkin’ to me. I have to know everything that’s goin’ on in that head of yours because you ever thinkin’ that you’re anything less than necessary is crap.”
His hands were clutching at my thighs. “Jesus, Web, your body is so hard. I love touching you.”
“Are you listening to me?”
“You look so good, so healthy and beautiful, your whole body… It’s like you were sculpted out of stone or something.”
“You ain’t listenin’ at all,” I groused.
“I am.” He chuckled, hands reaching for my face, easing me down into a kiss.
It was a blur after that.
I woke in the night because I was cold, and when I reached for him, I came up with chilly sheet instead of warm body. I lifted my head and saw him standing at the window, wrapped in a blanket, staring out at the city lights.
“Not bored of your life, are you? Wish you were back out there, on the prowl?”
He looked at me over his shoulder. “No, I’m just glad we got things straight tonight. I wanted to know where I stood, been wondering for a while, and you told me. I know you love me and need me, and that me not wanting to be in control all the time, of everything, doesn’t make me weak.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
He nodded. “I brought you a bottle of water for when you woke up.”
“Thank you,” I said, still watching him.
“I can deal with you being gone now that everything is all cleared up.”
“You always knew, inside, didn’t ya?”
He looked out at the lights again as it started to rain. “I hoped. I never wanted anything or anyone like I wanted you, Web. Only piece I was missing to make my life how I always wanted.”
“Christ, aim higher next time.”
He was scowling when he turned, and I started laughing.
“You’re such an ass. I was having a moment there.”
“Oh.” I grinned. “Sorry, by all means, then, have your moment.”
“Well, now I can’t. You ruined it.”
“C’mere.”
He flipped me off.
“You gonna make me get up?”
He stalked over to me, irritation rolling off him, and when he was close enough, I grabbed his hand and pulled him down into my arms.
“I want the blanket,” I told him.
“So you’re just cold,” he snapped at me.
“Yep.”
“You didn’t want me at all?”
I grunted.
“Maybe a little?”
“Maybe a little,” I agreed as he lifted, aligning our bodies before lying on top of me.
“So you’ll keep me?” he asked as I put my hands on his face, easing him up higher so I could kiss his throat, which I loved to do. It made him shiver every time.
“I’m the orphan,” I told him between kissing and sucking, my teeth dragging over his skin, jarring him, his hands clutching at my shoulders as the sensations rolled through him. “You gotta keep me.”