Forever Branded (Billionaire Love Series #1) by Jessa Eden Read Free Book Online Page B

ask?”
    “I guess not.” I folded my arms and bit my lip as I thought about my answer. It was hard to put my feelings into words. “I’m tempted to say I really want him to forgive me, which I do. I could also say I really want him to know the truth about why we broke up and how I never wanted to hurt him.”
    “Those are all valid reasons, Marla, but what is it you really want?”
    “Oh, Grace.” I shot her a desperate glance. “I’ve loved Beau for a long time now, but so much time has passed it’s hard to believe we could ever be together again. He hates me,” I admitted in a defeated voice. “Do you think it’s even possible for us to find our way back to each other?” I asked in a broken whisper.
    She smiled in that knowing way of hers, like the universe let her in on its biggest secrets. “Of course you can. There’s gotta be a reason this is happening right now. You have to believe the stars are aligned to give you the biggest desire of your heart after so many years of waiting for him.”
    Such conviction in her words. I wanted to believe her, but it had just been so damn long. “I don’t know. We had our chance and I blew it, or at least I was forced to blow it.”
    Her glance burned with a bright curiosity. “Ooh, that sounds like another juicy part of your story.”
    My eyes suddenly filled with tears as the pain came rushing back. “It wasn’t juicy. It was horrible.”
    She patted my arm comfortingly. “I know it was, sugar. But regardless of how everything went down, don’t you want to believe love conquers all?”
    I laughed despite my tears. “Are you quoting what I said about Jane Eyre ?”
    She smiled warmly. “Yes, I am. You know it’s true, though.”
    I shrugged casually, not wanting to convey any emotion at all, even as my insides churned with the seeds of new hope. “Maybe.”
    She grabbed my upper arms with both her hands, her green eyes blazing with strength. “Listen, you’ve carried this burden far too long. It’s time to lay it down and let yourself believe in love again.”
    “That might be too hard for me, Grace. I don’t know if I could ever be that open again.”
    “You’re not a girl, anymore. You’re a woman. You’re a kick-ass single mom who runs a successful business and one of the best human beings I have ever known. Hold on to the desires of your heart. I will hold faith for you that Beau will come back to you and I know Emma will do the same. Just let faith take hold of you, Marla. Don’t get in the way of something great happening with Beau.”
    Her words pierced me like grey skies suddenly departing in the face of fierce rays of sunshine. “Okay, you’re right. I do want to believe in love again. I just don’t want to get hurt.”
    She gave me a comforting smile. “That’s just part of living, sugar. There are no guarantees Beau won’t hurt you again. In fact, this is probably going to get a lot messier and more difficult before it will get better. Just stay present and live every moment as you experience it. This is your time, Marla. Grab it and hold on for whatever wild ride is coming your way.”
    She sounded so optimistic; I couldn’t help but believe her.
    “Thanks, Grace,” I whispered, allowing her encouragement to breathe new life into me.
    “Now, give me a hug!” she said, wrapping her arms around my shoulders.
    We embraced and she squeezed me tight.
    God, I was glad to have a friend like her.
     
     
    CHAPTER FIVE
     
     
    Beau:
    Steam.
    Heat.
    Wetness.
    My favorite kind of dream.
    This one was especially vivid. I approached a pool, steam rising from the water as I noticed a young woman in the water alone. Swimming toward me, she came to the edge of the oval pool. Her soft glance was familiar as our eyes met, my cock instantly hardened as I recognized her.
    Marla.
    She climbed out of the pool slowly, Phoebe Cates style with her creamy white tits popping out of the top of her red bikini. Hot. She would taste sweet as I buried my