Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 124135 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 621(@200wpm)___ 497(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124135 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 621(@200wpm)___ 497(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
Bonnie stepped closer. Her face was almost touching mine. “Just leave me alone.” She lowered her eyes. “Please.” She turned around and started to walk toward her car.
But hearing her hurt voice, seeing her walking away, snapped something inside me. My blood rushed so fast through my veins that my head became dizzy. I didn’t think it through; I just acted on instinct. I reached out and grabbed her arm. As she turned, I pushed her back until her back hit the wall.
“Cromwell, what—?” she went to say. But before she could, my lips smashed onto hers. The minute I tasted her on my tongue, my heart started slamming in my chest. A surprised sound fell from her mouth and I swallowed it down. My chest flattened against her, and I felt the warmth of her body as it meshed with mine.
Then she started kissing me back. Her lips opened, and I pushed my tongue into her mouth. Bonnie sagged against me as I took her mouth. As I drank her in. Her hands clutched my arms, her nails digging into my bare skin.
We were a blazing fire against the wall. I couldn’t stop. Bonnie’s mouth didn’t either, lips moving faster and stronger the longer we kissed. Until I broke away, stunned. Bonnie’s eyes opened and met mine.
She stared at me for what felt like an age, and then her eyes flooded with tears, completely breaking my heart. She didn’t say anything. Her cheeks were flushed, her breathing erratic. Then she was off, rushing to her car. She started up the ignition in seconds and pulled out onto the street. I watched her taillights disappear from view.
I stood on the side of the road, breathing deeply, until a noise from behind me snapped me out of whatever the hell fog I’d just found myself in. The wind blew across my face, and it immediately woke me up.
I forced my feet to move, one in front of the other, until I was heading back home. But with every step I remembered it. Tasted her peach scent on my tongue. I looked down and saw the nail marks from where she’d gripped me so tight. My chest was still warm from where she had been pressed up against me.
“Shit,” I muttered as I licked my lips, my tongue ring hot from her tongue against mine. I didn’t notice anyone around me as I walked. I didn’t even realize I’d arrived home until I came to a stop at our dorm’s door.
As soon as I entered my room, I saw Easton on his painting stool, paint spilled all over his clothes, and a canvas covered in dark tones. I stared at the canvas. I was used to seeing his gaudy colors, not grays, browns, and dark reds.
Easton glanced over his shoulder. “Cromwell.”
I flicked my chin at him. But that was all he was getting. My head was full. Full of his twin sister and the taste she’d left in my mouth. I dropped down to my bed and stared at the ceiling. Closing my eyes, I saw her in my head. Her long brown hair. Her purple dress and brown boots. I palmed my eyes, trying to rid myself of the image.
“You were cruel tonight, Cromwell Dean. You were cold and cruel and unkind…”
The words sank down deep, stabbing in my chest. But the wounds were softened when I thought of her eyes after the kiss. Her swollen lips and flushed cheeks.
I opened my eyes. Easton was still sitting in the same spot, staring at the painting. “East?” My voice seemed to snap him out of whatever he was thinking. He’d been acting weird lately. Keeping more to himself instead of inserting himself into my life, invited or not.
Easton turned. “What?”
“I was calling your name.” Easton put down his brushes and paint palette. He ran a hand down his face. I looked at his painting. “Deep.”
He glared at the canvas then pulled a huge smile on his face. Shrugging, he got up from the stool and sat on the end of my bed.
“You get paint on my covers and you’re washing them.”
His eyebrows danced. “After Kacey was here, you’ll need to wash them anyway.”
Kacey…the memory left a sour taste in my mouth. I wanted to keep the memory of Bonnie there as long as I could. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to let it go.
“Didn’t shag her.”
“Not what Bonnie said.”
“She’s wrong.” I found myself drawn to the painting again. “Where’s all the neon?”
Easton exhaled a deep breath. “Not feeling it at the moment.” There was something different to his tone. I couldn’t place it. But it was forest green in color. “Where’ve you been?” he asked, changing the subject.
I shifted on the bed and pulled my laptop from my bedside table. I’d just uploaded more mixes. I checked the downloads—thousands. “Went for a coffee.”