Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
When Kellion drew back, his face was heartbreakingly tense and I had to command myself not to move, had to control myself from soothing his frown away with kisses.
“It feels like you’ve been gone for an eternity,” Kellion said hoarsely.
I shook my head. “Just...fifty hours.”
He didn’t smile. “Something’s still wrong.” His eyes were bleak. “You still don’t believe me, do you?”
Willing myself not to cry, I forced a smile on my face instead. “Silly boy.” I tweaked his nose, the way I did with Ashton when I was teasing him. Doing it hurt, but somehow it felt right, too. I had loved both of them, and just because Kellion didn’t love me back didn’t mean I had to regret loving him.
“You’re just...nervous about tonight.” I covered my mouth in feigned shock. “Maybe you’re...nervous...about filling Helios’ shoes...as President?” I gave him a helpful look. “Shall...I let him...know?”
Kellion didn’t hesitate, answering evenly, “Up to you if you want to die.”
And just like that, we were both smiling. Real smiles. It made me close my eyes for a moment. I wanted to remember this forever.
As we started to walk, I told him, “Don’t be nervous.”
“I’m not nervous.” However, he only sounded half-irritable. The other half was pure nervousness.
I rolled my eyes. “I have a...gift. You’ll get it...once you’re the President.”
“What is it?” Kellion asked immediately.
I smiled up at him even as my heart shattered. “The best...surprise ever.”
And it was.
So please, please, please be happy, Kellion. It’s all I want.
KELLION
Why the hell did the ceremony have to take place in the university’s largest presentation hall? The thought had Kellion irritable and restless in his front row seat. Sure, the place was able to accommodate the huge number of guests invited, but it also meant a long thirty-minute walk from here to the club’s headquarters. That meant thirty minutes of not being able to make love to Aria once this was all over.
Also, the ceremony was taking too fucking long to finish. It was only his personal opinion of course, and one he didn’t dare share with anyone. If Helios got wind of it, Kellion was sure the President would wipe the floor with him. After all, the ceremony had been organized by the President’s wife, and as everyone knew, everything MJ did was perfect as far as Helios Andreadis was concerned.
Time and time again, his gaze would flit towards Aria, a part of him needing assurance that she was still there. Since the day she had found out about Jack, Kellion hadn’t been able to shake off the feeling that he was losing her. Couldn’t keep himself from being terrified that he had already lost her.
Again, he searched for her, his body only relaxing when he found her still seated at the back row.
She smiled at him, the loveliest smile in the world. Had he told her that? He would be sure to include it in his speech later once he was officially President and presiding over his first meal with the club. He would tell her he loved her and in front of every damn biker of the Afxisi, he would even go on bended knee and let everyone know she had him pussy whipped from the very start.
It should make a little monster like her very happy.
Finally, the time came for him to stand on stage, going through the rites of passage, Helios on his right and the club’s honorary member and officer, Leandro Christopoulos, on his left. Once Kellion became President, Helios would have the same standing as Leandro.
When the rites were over, Helios asked in a strong, clear voice, “All members in favor of Kellion Argyros becoming the next President of the Afxisi, shout ‘aye’.”
The thunderous roar coming from the club’s hundred-strong members nearly shook the rafters.
A smile slashed across Helios’ lips at the members’ unanimous approval. He looked at Kellion. “Members, welcome then your new President.”
In unison, Kellion, Leandro, and Helios, together with the rest of the Afxisi, raised their fists in the air.
“AFXISI.”
They roared out the name of their club, a symbol of their determination to rise and grow at all costs.
Kellion waited for the fear and despair to set in, waited for the doubts to crawl back to his heart and whisper sly thoughts about his inability to lead, to exist, to be important.
But none of that happened.
Instead, he simply felt the most amazing sense of completion.
Because of Aria, he no longer felt lost, no longer felt the need to be seen in order to exist. Because of Aria, he was able to realize his purpose.
As the applause died down and members came forward to congratulate him, Kellion couldn’t help but search the crowd for Aria. This time though, she was near impossible to find, with the bikers already on their feet, and most of them bearing imposing height that was sure to conceal Aria’s tiny form.