Anywhere (BBW Romance) by Christin Lovell Read Free Book Online

torturous amount of time before asking, “What if I want to keep it?”
    I stifled the hope that surged inside me. “I would be the happiest man alive.” I cupped her face. “I love you, Aeren, but you owe me nothing.” I did not want her decision made out of a false sense of obligation for the house.
    She grabbed my right wrist with her left hand, content to hold it. “I love you, Rahmi, but you owe me nothing.” There came her sharp tongue, throwing my words back at me.
    “You almost lost your life for me, so I owe you everything.” This was a mistake Samuel and I would never forget. I prided myself on my skills of elusiveness, discretion, and obscurity. Jorin never caught me; one of his men caught a past target. My record was solid until now.
    She swallowed hard, wincing. She tried so hard to hide her discomfort from me. “I’ve only ever wanted one thing, Ram.”
    “Anything.” I waited with baited breath. I would give her everything I could. She was blind to her own worth, to her beauty and all of her wonderful qualities. The size of her clothes was appealing to me, but the size of her heart made her invaluable to me.
    “You.”
    My heart stopped for several beats. I looked into her depths, certain she had misspoken.
    “You’re all I’ve ever wanted, Ram. I don’t care what you did in the past. The only thing that matters is how you make me feel. You’ve never hurt me. You’ve always treated me with respect. You make me feel special. I don’t feel like a nobody who can’t figure out her life with you. You make me feel like I have purpose. I feel like I can do anything with you by my side. Maybe it’s not healthy, but you’re my security blanket, and I don’t ever want to let you go.”
    My chest puffed up. I swore to all t he holy gods that I would do better to protect her. She gave me my purpose. I was to love her, to support her, to protect her, and to make her happy.
    “Then never let me go, aşkım. ” I hugged her, claiming her sweet mouth. Only a fool would turn away the love of a good woman, and I was no longer a fool.
    Dropping down on one knee, I humbled myself to he r, to this curvy goddess. “Marry me, Ari. Be my wife and have my babies. I swear never to hide the truth from you again. I will always protect you. I will do everything to make you smile every day of our forever. I want to love you beyond a hundred years if you will let me.”
    I was a strong stubborn man. Nothing had broken me yet. I had killed men before, I had been sho t at before, and neither had humbled me the way she did. She brought me to my knees. I wanted her more than I wanted to avenge my family’s deaths. I wanted her more than I wanted revenge. I wanted her more than I wanted air. The moment she spoke to me, she became my purpose, my reason, my every thing. I lived this life for her. Not for the C.I.A., not for Jorin, not for retribution against any international criminals, not for the citizens of this nation and others. I did what I did for her, and no one else.
    And, no matter her answer, that would never change.

    Chapter Ten
    Two Years Ago …
    Aeren
    “It’s my turn to pick the movie,” I reminded Ram.
    He chuckled, coming to sit beside me on the sofa. “Yes, yes. What torture must I endure tonight?”
    My jaw slackened in feigned offense. I harrumphed, shoving my nose into the air. “Just for that, I’m making you watch ‘ What to Expect When You’re Expecting ’. I had planned on watching it while you were out tomorrow, but now, that will be your punishment.” I poked his chest with my pointer finger.
    He leaned in closer, draping an arm over the back of the sofa behind me. “Spending time with you could never be a punishment.” His eyes flickered with something akin to fire, passion. His gaze assured me he spoke the truth, or what he believed to be the truth.
    I merely stared into his fiery depths. I could look at him for hours. His dark olive skin contrasted beautifully against his