Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
I swallow. “Ouch.” Then, realizing I’ve let my sympathy distract me, I mutter, “All right, so you’ve succeeded in making me feel sorry for you.”
“I don’t expect you to feel sorry—”
“But it doesn’t mean you can coax a free bed out of me.”
He lowers his head again so that his lips brush my ear. “I doubt you need much coaxing. It’s obvious you want me in your bed as much as I want to be there.”
“Excuse me?” A spark of anger lights my stomach at the sheer arrogance dripping from his tone. “Where do you get off?”
A lazy grin spreads across his mouth. “Well, last night, I got off while fantasizing about a certain redhead.”
Heat rolls through me.
“Tonight, though,” he says with that wicked grin, “I figured maybe we’d get off together.”
My arousal is joined by another flicker of anger. Guys are never this forward with me, and although his flirting is kind of amusing, the way he assumes he can just snap his fingers and get me into bed is insulting.
“Look, I get it. You apparently think you’re God’s gift to women. But let me tell you something, Ben Barrett—I’m not one of those girls who swoons in the presence of a celebrity, okay? In fact, the last thing I want to do is get involved with someone like—”
He kisses me.
Just like that. No permission, no warning, he just slams his hot mouth on mine and kisses me.
If any other man did this, I would probably slug him, but I find myself unable to pull away. Like last night, he doesn’t take the time to be gentle. He parts my lips with his tongue, while his hands drift down to my waist to keep me against him. And just when I begin to respond, just when my tongue flicks against his and the fingers of my right hand slide into his dark hair, he pulls back.
And grins at me.
“Know what that was?” he says cheerfully.
I struggle to catch my breath. “A totally insensitive way to shut me up?”
“Our first fight.” He drops his hands from my hips and sticks them back in his pockets. “So, when are you off work, Red?”
All I can do is stare at him. Are all movie stars this crazy or is it just this particular one?
“I’m done at two,” I find myself replying. “Why?”
He ignores the question. “I’ll meet you here when you’re done. You can give me your answer then.”
“My answer?”
“About letting me crash with you.”
“I already said—”
He presses his index finger to my lips, which causes a shiver to dance up my spine. “Think about it. That’s all I ask. Give me your answer after you’ve had a chance to do that.” He shoots me that cocky smile again. “Not that there’s much to think about. You and I both know exactly where I’ll be spending the night, don’t we, Maggie?”
11
Ben
Women don’t say no to me.
It’s simply one of the delicious facts of life that I’ve come to accept over the years. Even before I started acting, the ladies loved me. Hell, when I was fifteen, a few friends dared me to ask the most popular senior in school to the freshman prom, and not only had I walked into the high school gym with the hottest girl on my arm, but I also lost my virginity that night.
Needless to say, I’m not surprised when Maggie walks out of the bar at two a.m. and gestures for me to follow her.
Yup, I still have a way with the ladies.
And yet while Maggie clearly isn’t saying no, she’s the first chick I’ve encountered who has the nerve to look less than pleased with her decision to say yes.
“I’m not going to stay at your place if you sulk all night,” I say, keeping my stride casual as I follow her down the sidewalk.
It’s late, and the Saturday night crowds have finally started to disperse. In the distance, a thin mist shrouds the buildings and skyscrapers, and the spring air is chilled, causing me to zip up my jacket. When I glance over at Maggie, my gaze doesn’t miss the way her nipples are poking against the thin bra under the blue long-sleeved shirt she now wears. She’s also changed into a pair of snug blue jeans and tied her long hair into a low ponytail, which makes her seem younger.
“I’m not sulking,” she replies, her frown deepening.
“Sure you are.” I stick my hands in my pockets and cock my head at her. “I actually find it quite insulting.”
She stops walking. “You want to know what’s insulting? You assuming you can waltz into my life and expect me to agree to whatever tickles your fancy.”
I lift a brow. “Considering we’re on the way to your apartment, I’d say that wasn’t a bad assumption.”
Her cheeks turn bright red. “The only reason I’m letting you stay over is because I feel sorry for you,” she huffs.