The Favor

by Suzanne Wright

“Not yours,” Dane finished. “They’re my rings on her finger. It’s my name she’s taken. It’s my bed she shares. She is mine. So whether you care for her or not isn’t fucking relevant.”

Well.. with a prologue like that, you bet you ass I’m invested! 🥵

I had my health, I had people who loved me, I had a well-paying job, and I never took any of it for granted. But I felt like I was stuck in one place, existing only to eat, sleep, and pay my bills.

No need to call me out like that…

“One day, you’ll no doubt have the devoted husband you want.” I narrowed my eyes at his sardonic tone. “But for now,” he added, pitching his voice lower, “you’re here with me, wearing my rings, living in my home, using my surname.” The note of possession in his tone made my nape prickle. “Essentially, you’re mine for the time being, Vienna. And I’ll let you go when I’m good and ready.”

🧎🏻‍♀️🧎🏻‍♀️🧎🏻‍♀️

“Dane, he’s not worth it.” “No, he’s not. But you are.”

Swoon

“You have a drop of milk on your chin.” I frowned. “You usually don’t complain when I don’t swallow properly. I don’t know where I am with you.”

I almost spit out my own milk reading this! I love her so much 😂

“What about snakes?” asked Melinda. He shook his head. “I’ve never been bothered by them.” Well, of course not. They were agents of the devil.

You can’t not like this woman 🤣

droll look.

This is the new “vulgar gesture”, and I’m equally annoyed

After that, we meandered around the reptile house. I wondered if the snakes might react to the presence of their evil master, but no.

😂

“They’re my rings on her finger. It’s my name she’s taken. It’s my bed she shares. She is mine.

🫠

“She’s just a possession to you,” Owen insisted. “My most prized possession, as it happens,” said Dane. “And I have every intention of keeping her.

“You once asked if I thought I’d be the same in a relationship as I am in matters of business; if I’d always be pushing for more, never quite satisfied with what I had. The answer is absolutely no. You’re the only person in my life who’s ever made me feel content. The only person I’d ever want to share my life with. And the only person I’d never want to live without.”

🥹🥹🥹

“You know what’s not fair?” “That you’re depriving a village of its prized idiot?”

I want to be her when I grow up

“You told me you don’t need the words, but you deserve to hear them. I don’t want you to ever be unsure of what I feel for you. I need you to know deep down to your bones that you’re the most important thing in my world. I need you to know I could never love anything or anyone the way I love you.”

🥰🥰🥰

I haven’t done anything at all to deserve you, but I’ll never give you a reason to regret being mine. Not ever, Vienna. You can count on that. On me.”