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)
I let her take the lead. She took my hand and led me to my bed. She sat on the edge then shuffled up until she lay on my pillow. I stopped and stared. The sight of her looking so small and nervous on my bed hit me like a ton of bricks. Her lips were parted, her ponytail splayed on my pillow.
Bonnie slowly held out her hand. Her fingers were shaking. I took hold of her hand and crawled over where she lay. I pushed her hair from her face. In the dark, it was hard to make her out. But her eyes were visible. That was all I needed.
I moved my head down and kissed her. Bonnie’s hand was still in mine. She didn’t let go. She just held on. I kissed her lips. I kissed her until she needed breath. Then I kissed down her throat. I kissed over her shoulder, where my jumper had slipped down her arm.
When I ran out of skin, I lifted my head and met Bonnie’s eyes. “I’ve…I’ve never done this before,” she confessed.
I swallowed. “Never?”
She shook her head. “I’ve never…” She raised her chin. “I’ve never done anything…but kiss before.”
I dragged in a breath and stared down at her. Her eyes were watching me, waiting for my reaction. “Bonnie, I’m not sure I’m the one—”
“You are.” Her shaking hand landed on my face. “You’re the only one who could have this.” Her eyes watered, and the tears tracked down her cheeks. “I tried to fight it, but you never left. And my heart didn’t let me turn away.” Her fingers traveled over my chest and lingered over my heart. Her eyes closed briefly, like she was counting its beat. When she opened her eyes, she sat up, and I got to my knees. She pulled my jumper over her head and let it fall to the floor. Then her hands were on my shirt. She lifted the hem and started pulling it over my head.
I pulled it off the rest of the way, throwing it to join the jumper on the floor. Bonnie swallowed as she lifted her hands and ran them over every one of my tattoos. Over the swirls of color that swarmed over my chest. And over the two swords, lion, and crown that made up the British Army crest. She tipped her head back and her eyes met mine.
I pulled out the band that kept her hair from her face. Her long hair fell down her back. I ran my hands through the strands, and as I did, she leaned in, kissing my skin. My jaw clenched at the feel of her tentative mouth on my stomach. She kissed me again, this time over the tribute I’d had tattooed to my dad. Seeing Bonnie kiss the crest that had meant so much to the man who was my best friend did something to me.
My hands threaded into Bonnie’s hair. I pulled her to my lips. And I kissed her. I was pretty sure I could kiss her all day and never grow sick of it.
“Cromwell,” she whispered against my lips. I broke away, only enough for her to speak. “I need you,” she said, shredding my heart. “I need you so much.”
“What do you want?” I asked, running my lips along her cheek. I was unable to move away from her. I needed to touch her.
“Make love to me,” she said, and my eyes closed. “Show me how it could be.”
My heart thudded in double time at her request. I laid her back down and kissed her again. But as I kissed her, I moved my hands down to her trousers and untied the waist. Breaking from her mouth, I pulled them down her legs. I sat back and looked at her. Her body was mostly shaded in darkness. But I could see enough of her to make out her silhouette. She was perfect. Every part of her was perfect. And I realized just how much I wanted this. Wanted her. I ran my hands up her legs, slowly. With every inch, Bonnie gasped, her back starting to arch.
The sound hit my ears, and deep red squares fluttered in my eyes. My hand touched her skin below her top. It was so warm, so pale. I never wanted to take my hand away. I shifted the material up and over a camisole underneath. Bonnie’s breathing was like a song in my ear, strings commanding me to move. To touch her, feel her, taste her. I slipped the top over her head, watching as her skin turned pink and her eyes grew leaden. I wondered what she was thinking. But when her eyes met mine, I didn’t need words. Her pretty face told me how much she wanted this too. My hand next moved to her camisole. I pushed the material up, exposing her stomach. I paused, just looking at my tattooed tanned skin against her white.