ry Starter – Part 1 | Find the other Parts | Other books by this author

Please continue reading if you’ve read the story starter – a very long Chapter 1 – and you’re ready to dive into the story with me.

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About the story: (short description. Click here for longer)

“Let Me Love You” is a tale of love and sacrifice and a poignant story of self-discovery, celebrating the human capacity to find love in the most unlikely of circumstances.

Please enjoy the current WIP of Iris and El. This will be published freely up to a point, like in the old days, and then the entire book will be posted for full download. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. And don’t forget to check out the companion stories. (Wicked Chances, Dreams of Reality, The Convenient Wife, The Other Side of Love, She Works Hard for the Money & Ravenous)

Enjoy, Your Author, Sylvia Hubbard

start reading below

Read more: Let Me Love You – Chapter 66✍🏾📚❤️ #SylLit #WIP #livestory 📖💓 #marriedwife #demandedconsensual #darkromance

AUTHOR’S NOTE:

This was formerly listed as 67, but that was my mistake. It’s the new year, and we are still here. I’m putting together the SHtF moment, and I swear it’s coming. Don’t forget, her cousin’s Essence book is available now. CLICK HERE TO GRAB YOUR COPY

I also updated the Essence’s Divinity website. I took a tab from author Ines Johnson and put the price at the top to inform the reader of the cost. This is a thick book. So, the paperback price is justifiable, and I might create about twenty book boxes.

Let me know if you’re interested.

This year’s money will be tight, but a nice water cup accessory and some Kindle treats are always fun.

If you got the book already, please post your reviews wherever you can and share what you thought about the books with me. Tag me at @sylviahubbard1.

Enjoy and stay warm.

Your author, Sylvia Hubbard

Quickly, Iris got over the sensation her space had been intruded upon and packed up her room so that someone could come and return her items to El’s vehicle. 
There was still time, so she video-called Clem’s phone. She held the phone close so he wouldn’t see the white dress and veil on her head. 
He was ecstatic to hear from her and, as always, understanding of her schedule. Iris used to leave him with her father, but she would never go near that man again. 
“Do you miss Grandpa?”
Clem shook his head. “He tried to come by a couple of times, but Aunt threatened to call the police cause she said he’s not allowed here. I don’t wanna see him anyway, ’cause he talks real bad about you when you’re not around. And I don’t like that, but I know I can’t say anything.”
“I’m sorry, Clem, you should have said something.”
“It’s fine. I can’t wait to see you when you get home. You look so pretty, Aunt Iris. I love you.”
“I love you too, Clem.”
“Aunt Rose wants to speak to you,” he said, kissing the screen.
She reciprocated and, in the next moment, saw Aunt Rose on the screen looking concerned. 
The older woman sent Clem off to do some busy work before walking into a bathroom where she could have privacy. 
“He told you about your father?” Aunt Rose questioned.
“Yes, are you okay?” With great concern, Iris asked, “He didn’t threaten you or do anything to harm you two?”
“He thinks Clem is with you, and he demanded to see you. I told him you weren’t here. He thinks you did something to Dwayne because no one can find him. Your father has threatened to go to the police and tell them you did something.”
“Anything he accuses me of, I have an alibi.” Worried her aunt could be in trouble or maybe Blaque could get to her, Iris asked, “No one else has bothered you?”
“No, it’s been pretty peaceful.”
Iris gave her aunt the detective’s phone number in case anything happened. “And thank you for the business connection, Aunt Rose. It worked out wonderfully to help my boss secure the deal.”
“Of course it would. I knew it needed to be done. I wanted to make sure he could find you invaluable. The man understands your worth; for me, he is exactly what you need.”
“It’s going to mean I’ll be working on things for him a little bit more, but I’ll do my best to handle the business as well.”
“Phi-shaw!” Aunt Rose said. “I’m doing well on that front.” Her aunt updated her about the business. “Orders are coming in, and I’m considering hiring someone for the rose water extraction and body butter specials. We’re getting a lot of orders for the upcoming release.”
Apologetically, Iris said, “I’m sorry I haven’t been as attentive. There’s so much going on.”
“You set up so many specials and releases in advance, keeping the site nice and busy. Renna can assist with getting orders of the special herbs she’s growing, and she might be able to meet the demand, but I’m also looking for other local suppliers. I don’t want to disappoint the customers. Pete helped me acquire the vacant lot beside the house and the property behind us. He will build a fence and get approval for a covered walkway to see if I can use it to create a larger greenhouse.”
“This sounds so incredible, and you’re right. We should consider hiring another employee to help you. I can still manage a lot of functions for the business and new product research, but getting the products packaged and to the customers could be overwhelming for you.”
“Hush, it keeps me busy, but another hand would be nice. By the way, how’s the publishing process going with your cousin.”
Sighing disappointed, she admitted, “With everything going on, I’ve had to put the book on hold. Essence finished her part weeks ago, but my life is topsy turvy.”
I’ll ensure the new hire can also help you with some of that,” her aunt said.
“Thank you so much, Aunt Rose.” Iris took a deep breath and drew the phone away so Aunt Rose could see her white gown and veil. “I have some news. I’m getting married.”
“Dear child!” Aunt Rose squealed excitedly. “You look so beautiful! I know it’s that boss. I knew he couldn’t resist!”
Iris wanted to get swept up in her aunt’s excitement, but she tamped down her emotions before she wasn’t allowed to: “This is only business, and it’s an arrangement. Don’t get so happy. We’ll talk about everything as soon as I return to Detroit.”
“If you say so,” her aunt said, still with a giddiness. “I’m so happy for you. Enjoy this, Iris. Promise me.”
There was a knock at her door, and she ended the conversation with Aunt Rose. It was the proprietor’s wife, ready to escort her downstairs. 
“You can trust me to hold your purse until the ceremony ends. I’ll always be in sight of you,” she assured Iris. “But it will be cumbersome to hold while performing the ceremony. I can take your phone and take pictures if you’d like.”
Iris was touched to have a female there this second time around getting married. They walked down to the back of the bed and breakfast, past a living area, large dining room, and kitchen, and then to a solarium filled with plants everywhere. The older man who greeted her and Osirus when they pulled up to the bed and breakfast was now at the far rear of the room, where a long white rug was pulled out and guided her to the corner. He was dressed in a long white robe.
And then Iris gasped because as they rounded the corner, she saw El dressed in an all-white, simple yet elegant suit. Controlling her breathing was difficult, and the older woman was aware of her distress. 
Before they reached them, the older woman asked, “Are you sure you want to do this?”
Without hesitation, Iris nodded as her eyes lit up wide on El – her soon-to-be husband. 
He was slightly turned away, looking at his annoying lawyer. Were they arguing? 
The lawyer made El aware she had entered, and his intense eyes shot directly at her, but for once, he didn’t look broody. 
El was nervous? 
Intently, she watched as he shifted himself, neatened his coat more, and stood straighter. Damn! She wanted to eat him up again.
“You do want this,” the older woman acknowledged. 
Briefly, Iris closed her eyes to get herself together. Damn! Damn! Damn! 
When she reached the end of the white rug, El stepped off the podium where the older man was, approached her, and took her hand. 
Damn! His touch felt so hot and firm. He was griping her hand. Did this mean more to him than what he said? 
Not just to keep his company? 
This man desired her. Needed her. 
Iris felt like a trillion gold bars. Her hands tightened with his. 
The old man spoke, but she could barely hear him until she saw El’s lips, mouthing, “I do,” without hesitation, looking only at her. Her heart was going to beat from her chest out of her mouth. 
Her lips were pulsing with the beat of her racing her. 
And then there was silence. 
El looked from her to the old man, but his eyes returned to her. A smirk graced his lips, and he leaned to her ear.
“Say yes, Iris, and I promise you I will give everything I have to make you happy,” he whispered.
Her knees almost buckled, and he pulled her body to his to hold her against his firm muscled frame. 
“Y-Yes,” she panted. “I do.”
El kissed her hard. The older man was still talking, but she didn’t care. Her lips were consumed, and her body soon followed her breath. Damn! Damn! Damn! This was all she would ever want. 
Remembering her rule, she would enjoy this while it lasted.
The lawyer chuckled, breaking their kiss. Somewhere between the kisses, a ring had been shoved on her finger, and Iris was dizzy from passion and lust. 
“You need to finish the business with the proprietor, El,” Tyler insisted. “She can sign her name without you. I believe your words were she’s brilliant.”
El was reluctant to let her go, and she reluctantly pushed him away because if he stayed any longer, she wouldn’t care that the annoying lawyer and older adults were there. 
Tyler immediately pushed some papers in front of her. 
“You’re smarter than I thought, but I wonder if this isn’t some ploy to help your father,” Tyler said coolly.
Either the lawyer was digging for information or irritating her some more. “This was to help him save his company due to provisions you put in his contract,” she pointed out.
Iris quickly signed the marriage papers to get the lawyer away from her but was immediately guided to another set of documents to sign. Without reading them, she signed those, too, not remembering so many documents to sign, but she was marrying El. Most likely, there were provisions to his wealth. He’d be a fool to sign fifty/fifty to her, and she didn’t want that. 
She wanted nothing to keep her there to tie her down. 
When it was time to go, Iris wanted to be able to leave without any strings attached.
“And there’s nothing you want from him?”
“My freedom,” she answered. “I want to be able to walk away from all this mess and get as far away from this life with my nephew without being bothered by my family ever again.” There was a sharp pain in her lower stomach. Was she nervous? Did she not want to leave? No, it was just her period coming on stronger.
Tyler looked at her arm, pressing against her lower stomach. “So it’s true what El said: he did knock that IUD out and get you pregnant. I was wondering how did he get you to agree to marry him. You know there are provisions that he gets equal custody of the child in the divorce, right?”

End of This Chapter | Post your thoughts in the comment | Let the author know what’s going on in your head

Let Me Love You (c) 2024 Sylvia Hubbard All Rights Reserved

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual person, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
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