Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 108165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
I stare at my fingers, slowly letting them slide from the keys to my lap. “I know,” I whisper.
He feathers his fingers down the sides of my neck to my shoulders, sliding the thin straps of my nightie down my arms. “But I can’t.”
Closing my eyes, I whisper, “I know.”
I understand it’s difficult for him to leave, but I also know he can’t stay without knowing everything.
“Tell me to stop,” he whispers at my ear before dragging his lips down the same path as his fingers along my shoulder.
It’s gentle.
It’s kind.
“I can’t.” I know where he’s taking this. And I’m scared out of my mind, but I don’t stop him.
He kisses my shoulder while his hands cup my exposed breasts. I grab his wrists, and he pauses.
I can’t do this …
Yesterday, I didn’t feel broken. I felt strong. Confident.
Now, I know that wasn’t real. It wasn’t reality.
Jack releases my breasts, and I release his wrists. Then he places my hands over my breasts where his had been.
“You’re so beautiful, my love.”
I laugh, but it releases as a sob.
A shaky. Frightened. Sob.
I can’t do this …
He guides my hand along my stomach. “Benevolent.” His lips skate along my neck while he slides my hand into the front of my panties.
My heart tramples itself as one beat tries to rush past the next, skipping it altogether.
“You’re simply exquisite.” He presses my finger over my clit and slides it farther between my legs.
Each breath rushes out with a sharp whoosh.
Jack’s giving me back control over my body.
“I end things, Frankie.” His lips brush my jaw.
I close my eyes, inching my legs apart.
“I don’t know how to let them go.” He squeezes the hand over my breast, and my back arches into our touch. “But I’ll let it go if it’s the only way to hold on to you.”
Pulling our hands from my panties, I turn toward him. When I kiss him, he cradles my face in his hands, threading his fingers into my hair. I stand, nudging the bench to the side while my nightie drifts down my legs.
Jack kisses me deeper; my nipples brush his bare chest.
I reach behind me and close the fallboard. He ends the kiss, eyeing the piano behind me for a second.
“Not here.” His concerned gaze meets mine.
I can’t tell him about that night with Archer, but I can show him. And maybe it will create a new memory to replace the old one. Perhaps I’ll be able to play happy songs again.
Removing my panties, I gaze at him and whisper, “Here.”
“Francesca …” he shakes his head.
Pushing onto my toes, I grab his biceps and brush my lips along his. “I’m giving you all I can. And it’s so much more than my flesh and bones.” I slowly kiss him. “It’s more than I’ve ever given anyone.”
Again, he grabs my face, kissing me hard. Is he angry? Hurt? Conflicted?
It doesn’t matter because he lifts me onto the piano and guides me to lie back with one hand between my breasts while his other guides each foot onto the fallboard. The cool wood presses to my skin seconds before his mouth dips between my spread legs.
I moan, closing my eyes even though I’m afraid of what I’ll see when they’re shut.
Will I see Archer?
Will I hear his words?
Will I smell smoke?
Will I feel humiliated?
“Jack …” I draw out his name. All my senses spin in my head. But when they come to life, when they are no longer blurry, it’s him. Only him.
When I look down at him, his eyes are drunk but focused on me. He hums, and they drift shut for a beat while his tongue penetrates me and the pad of his thumb teases my clit.
My fingers scrape along the smooth wood while the waves of pleasure build into something bigger, something so intense I can’t hear anything over my breaths and the pounding of my heart.
I want to moan and cry … I want to scream his name, but I can't because my heart is wholly lodged in my throat. My hips jerk while one hand finds his hair, and my other squeezes my breast, pinching my nipple right when I orgasm. Everything blurs, and I feel like I’m floating.
My eyes blink open while he’s removing his briefs. It’s as if he’s going through the motions, but those motions don’t hide his indecision. It’s like a dagger’s carving lines on his face that will never heal. His gaze affixes between my spread legs while he rubs the head of his erection against me. It’s warm and wet.
When our gazes meet again, my heart falls to pieces. He’s so goddamn tortured.
I sit up. He doesn’t stop me. I wonder if he’s hoping I stop this from going further.
My middle finger touches his forehead. “Jack …”
His brow tenses beneath my touch.