Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
He brushes his thumb across my cheek, wiping a tear away.
“Everyone should have. Those idiots deserve every word they got, and you deserve this.”
I stiffen up as he lands his gorgeous lips on mine, because he has to be fucking crazy. He’s lost his mind, kissing me without his sunglasses on while people watch us. People who will know who he is.
Except I can’t stay stiff in his arms with his mouth on mine. I can’t fight the way I want him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and kissing him back as my tears keep on falling.
“I’m proud of you,” he says when he pulls away. “I’m proud of everything you are, and you should be, too.”
I have no words, only the blooming feeling of raw emotion.
Love.
I flinch as I hear the pounding of feet heading in our direction, but it’s Josh, racing towards us at full pelt.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here,” he says, catching his breath. “I just threw that guy over the railings, and tripped his gobby mate up in the aisle.”
“You did what?!” My eyes widen, but his cheeky smirk shines bright.
“They fucking deserved it,” my boyfriend says. “Nobody calls my princess a trappy hooker.”
“Our princess,” Heath corrects him. “Good for you, Josh.”
Thank fuck there are a bank of cabs waiting at the top of the marina driveway, because my adrenaline spike eases away to nothing and leaves me like a shell.
I need home.
The villa, with its high walls, its secluded grounds, and its beautiful silence.
And my two princes there to share it with.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
SATURDAY
Tonight, there will be no proposal.
Just us. Making love.
Wow, ok. Not what I was expecting.
The proposal takes me aback. And I want to be sure… I need to be sure…
This is another one of Heath’s freshly drawn up revisions. Different kind of pen and paper, like the one last night. I hold it in my hands, re-reading his cursive handwriting, fascinated by the sentiment in his words.
Just us. Making love.
I pass the piece of paper to Josh so he can see Heath’s scrawl for himself.
“No proposal? Really?” I ask our client.
“No, no proposal. Not tonight.”
“There were seven envelopes originally, and this one definitely wasn’t amongst the stack you were holding up on night one.”
“That’s correct. It wasn’t.”
I get a flash of guilt.
“Are you sure this is what you want? If you’re trying to go gentle with me because I got upset earlier, you don’t need to. I’m ok now. I’m fine, I promise.”
The look in Heath’s eyes knocks me back, the pale blue of his irises so raw.
“I’m positive it’s what I want. I’ve never been so sure of a proposal in my life.”
Josh is silent as he holds the paper. It’s not like him to be lost for words, but he doesn’t speak, just nods. Slowly.
He must be feeling the sentiment, just like I am. So much power in such few words.
He folds up the proposal and puts it back in the envelope, placing it between the three of us on the coffee table.
I’ve performed plenty of proposals as Holly the whore by now, packed full of hardcore, or roleplay, or specific kinks and desires. But making love?
The butterflies are so fierce, they’re like palpitations.
“How about you, Ella? Are you ok with that?” Heath asks.
I feel churned up by just how much it means.
Or could mean.
Fucking hell.
“I’m more than ok with that. It’ll be amazing.”
“And you, Josh?” Heath says. “Are you ok with it?”
My stomach ties itself in glorious knots when I see the conviction in Josh’s eyes.
“Have to agree with Ells,” he says. “It sounds… incredible.”
Silence.
Heavy, beautiful silence. Like thick orange clouds on a sunset sky.
Heath’s smile breaks the tension.
“Good. But first, I have things planned. A lovely farewell surprise before my sweet curvas wave their goodbyes in the morning.”
His smirk of a smile shows the irony. Curvas… sure.
“Come,” he says. “Our meal should be arriving soon.”
“You’ve got us a takeout?” Josh asks as we follow our host through the villa to the dining suite.
“A tad more upmarket than a pizza delivery with a side of fries, but yes, it’s a takeout. It’s being delivered from a bistro in town. Coq au Vin, Beef Bourguignon and Sole Meunière. With some additional sides, of course. I thought we could share a platter.”
I help Josh set the dining table while Heath disappears to prepare the wine. We share a look as we lay the cutlery, and my heart bleeds for my boyfriend. Heath’s simple words have touched deep, that much is clear.
“Has he ever asked you to make love before?” I whisper, and Josh shakes his head.
“Not like that, no.”
I give him a gentle smile.
“It’s amazing,” I say. “This whole thing has been amazing.”
“I know. So amazing that things will never be the same again.”
“Would you want them to be?” My heart thumps as he lays out the last of the spoons.