Page 28 of Beauden & Yelena

“And follow my heart? Ignore all the bells and whistles in my mind? I’m an accountant, damnit. I calculate every move before I make it.”

“Calculate. Formulate. Do whatever it takes for you to stay here with me. Let me take care of you.”

“Ugh!” She sighs loudly. “Stop saying sweet stuff like that. You’re making this hard.”

“Simple. I told you. I’m just a man that wants you. So, ask me anything and I’ll answer.”

She rolls her eyes then smiles a little. “Okay. Where do I start?”

“Wherever you want.” I shrug.

“Would you ever leave here?” she asks right out the gate.

“I did when I was younger. I’ve traveled the world and did the big city thing. But nothing compares to this. Nothing. I’ll visit anywhere but I know this is my home. I have everything set up for my wife and kids.”

“So, marriage is the end goal?

“Of course. A man isn’t complete without his peace and a woman isn’t without her protection.”

“Peace and protection. That’s marriage for you?”

“Yes. This world can be fucked up at times, especially for us. But when we love and make that commitment to one another, that shit becomes easier to navigate. My wife will calm me when this world wants to rattle me and I will fiercely protect her from it. Together, we will be a loving and united force.”

“What happens if you two are different and the differences become too much?”

“We will deal with it because marriage is about mutual respect, understanding, and genuine love. It's a journey. Differences are natural but as long as we are walking side by side, offering each other solace, understanding, and support, we will be good.”

“And where do the children fit into this?” she asks.

“They add to it. I definitely want that. Do you?”

“Yes. I am an only child. Although my parents gave me the world, I missed having a brother or sister. So, I want at least two. How many brothers or sisters do you have?”

“One brother.”

“Let me guess, you are the oldest.”

“Why do you think that?”

“You give off big brother, protective vibes. Am I right?”

Right for me; that’s for damn sure.

“You are. What else?”

“Let me think. If I have more. I’ll ask.”

After holding my head up, I kiss her until I steal her damn breath away. Tonight and tomorrow, I’m going to show her exactly why she needs to stay here with me.

ChapterEleven

Jesus, help me. The universe! Somebody, please!

The past two days have been amazing and so was this morning. Waking up in Beauden’s big bed with his handsome face between my legs was the cherry on top of everything. If we weren’t spending hours talking, we were spending hours exploring each other’s bodies and both experiences were perfect, absolutely amazing.

He has me so entranced that my crazy ass is actually thinking about staying here. Between my private ride on Midnight Love, the picnic by his fireplace, and the toe-curling sex that night, the next morning, again after the horseback riding with my coworkers, and the sex this morning, I’m satiated in the best way. My body knows exactly what it wants but my mind is confused.

I want to stay with him.

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