Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 61657 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61657 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
“What?” I shouted.
But, it wasn't hotel management or housekeeping. It was Mia standing there with her beautiful face startled into shock. “I'm sorry...I…I shouldn't have come,” she stuttered as she began to walk away.
I wrapped my arms around her before she could move a muscle. “I didn’t think it would be you. How did you find me?”
Mia chuckled softly. “There are only three hotels in Carpinteria. This was the second hotel I've been to.”
I pulled her closer to me, smelling her hair. My heart ached. I'd missed her so much. “I'm so sorry,” I sputtered. “I should have told you everything. I guess I was afraid you'd leave me, but then, you left me anyway.”
Mia shook her head. “I should have believed you in the first place. Penny drove us apart. She knew I'd fall for it because I still hadn't believed you actually loved me. I have insecurities, Theo and I let them blind me to the truth.”
I held her face in my hands. “What? I love you so much. You've got to believe that.”
She bit her lip and nodded. “It's hard to believe someone like you would love me.”
I kissed her lips, her forehead, her nose, her cheeks. After each kiss, I whispered to her, “I love you. I love you.”
Another guest walked by, staring at us. Pulling Mia into my darkened hotel room, I brought her over to the bed and sat her down. “Please believe me when I tell you I love you. I've never felt this way about anyone before. I never will. You're it for me.”
Mia tucked her hair behind her ears. “I believe you. I looked at the video again closely. I didn't want to, but I did. I even ran it through the doctoring detection software. It was doctored like you said. I should have believed you from the beginning. I should have done that the first time I saw it, but I just felt so hurt and betrayed. I know you've done nothing to show me I can't trust you, but I didn’t think it through all the way. I didn’t realize the truth was how we both felt about each other.”
I kissed the tops of her knees. “Thank you, Mia! Thank you! I would never hurt you. You've got to believe me.”
She cleared her throat and continued. “Of course, there is more to all of this.”
I sat back on my heels. How was I ever going to convince her I truly wanted her to be my wife outside of what the Board wanted?
In a quiet voice, Mia said, “I realize that even though Board wanted you to get married, it didn't mean you had to.”
I took her hand and pressed it to my lips. “I'd been thinking about marrying you anyway. It just so happened for the first time in history, the Board and I agreed on the same thing: you. You are the best thing that ever happened to me. Everyone can see that. You've changed me. You've shown me love, and I can't live without you. I can't go back to the Theo I was before. I need you in my life, Mia.”
Mia took a deep breath and looked me straight in the eye. “I need you, too, Theo. I love you.”
I cup her face in my hands. “I adore everything about you.”
Mia blinked rapidly and tears slid slowly down her face. I kiss them away. “I took you to meet my family. I told you my darkest secrets. You're the one I want to start a family with. You are my forever, Mia.”
Mia kissed me pressing her lips to mine with need and urgency. I held her in my arms breathing in her sweet floral scent.
“Will you marry me, Mia?” I asked carefully.
Mia sobbed in my arms. “Yes! I'll marry you, Theo. Yes!”
My world was now complete. Even if Pictogram was soon to be taken away from me, I had Mia and that was what truly mattered.
EPILOGUE
Mia
Two years later.
I was just throwing a load of clothes into the washing machine when Theo strolled by. Since I was wearing just a long shirt, the CEO got a full view of my panties when I stood up on tiptoe to reach the detergent.
“Holy fuck, baby, you’re hot,” he groaned before squeezing my ass with his big hands. “What are you doing?” he asked, kissing my neck.
I giggled and pushed him away. “Hey, stop it! I'm trying to do laundry, what else?”
He pulled me against his huge chest, his hands already roaming over my luscious curves. “Yeah, but can't Gina do it?”
I struggled to get to the washer as Theo nibbled at my neck distracting me. “Gina isn't here today and the baby needs more onesies.” His kisses still sent a current of excitement down my body.
Theo yanked my panties down. “Laundry can wait.” He rammed his fingers inside my pussy, which was already soaking wet just from him kissing my neck.