Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 111416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 446(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 446(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
He had awakened something inside her that had been lying dormant for months, if not the last couple of years.
Everything she did with Russo, so her cover wouldn’t be blown, forced her to detach her body from her mind to deal with it. Russo was too selfish and narcissistic to even be aware of her lack of presence and response. Even the pure hatred in her eyes.
She despised every fucking second of it. And when it was over…
When the job was over…
She rid herself of the ball of disgust and rage with revenge.
She brushed off those moments and vowed to never deal with anything like that again.
Succeeding in her career, getting those hard-earned accolades, was not worth her sanity and self-respect. It was not worth the long, hot showers and raw skin when she scrubbed away his touches. It was not worth all the makeup she had to use to cover the bruises.
When Fletch finally stepped back, freeing himself from her hold, he avoided her eyes. “This is a bad, bad, baaaaaad fucking idea.”
“Of course it is.”
“Tell me you don’t want me.”
He was asking for the impossible. “I… can’t. It would be a lie.”
“Tell me anyway.” He demanded in a voice rough and raw, a tone mixed with anger and frustration.
Lying was a part of her job. She could do it. For him and for her.
To keep this undercover assignment on track.
Just say it, Nova, say it. Then convince yourself that your lie is the truth. “I don’t want you.”
She gave him the answer he wanted but also, in truth, the one he didn’t.
“I don’t want you, either. It would be a huge mistake. One that could fuck up everything.”
“And what you just said wasn’t a lie.”
“We both know that.”
“Yes.”
“This can’t happen.”
“Agreed.”
“It was a moment of weakness. That’s all.” He dropped his head and rubbed at his forehead. “I’m going to take my beer and go to bed. Forget this ever happened.”
Another lie. Neither of them would forget it. “That would be for the best.”
He tipped his head back and with his eyes tipped upward, he ground a hand back and forth on the back of his neck. “That’s what I’m going to do. You should do the same.”
“I need to shower.”
“Give me five first.”
She wasn’t sure if he saw her nod.
Still avoiding her eyes, he snagged his beer, turned and took long, quick strides out of the kitchen.
Nova stayed where she was and slowly drank her beer, giving him more than five minutes. She kept an ear open and when she finally heard his bedroom door close, she waited a little longer to make sure he didn’t change his mind.
Once she drained the rest of her beer, she tossed the bottle into the trash and went to take a very cold shower.
Nova couldn’t sleep. Instead, she stared up at the ceiling wide awake.
The cold shower she took did little to stop the replay of that kiss in the kitchen. It did little to slow the rush of unadulterated hunger every time she remembered the thrust of Fletch’s cock against her. It did little to cool the smoldering heat at her center.
It did little to tamp down her imagination of what would’ve happened if Fletch hadn’t been strong enough to veer off the dangerous path they’d been barreling down.
Thank fuck he did.
It had been a moment of weakness for her. Well, quite a few moments. And she hadn’t been proud of how she reacted to him.
Stay on course. Stay professional. Stay focused.
That needed to be her mantra.
Along with “keep a cool head and keep him an arm’s length away.”
For her own good.
For his, too.
He was probably in his bed across the hall unbothered by the whole thing. Most likely, he’d finished his beer and instantly fallen asleep.
Unlike her.
Maybe if she took matters into her own hand, she’d be able to dull the sharp edge she’d been skirting and she’d finally get some rest.
She would need it. Tomorrow morning she was scheduled to report for duty at the Shadow Valley Pawn. Keeping her eyes and ears open would be difficult to do if her ass was dragging.
So, yes, she needed to finish what Fletch started and finally get some sleep.
Slipping her hand into her tank top, she brushed her palm over both nipples and slid her other hand down her stomach and into her boxers.
Despite her shower, her pussy was once again slick. All because her thoughts about the man on the other side of two closed doors. It wouldn’t take much to get up and go across the hall, climb into his bed and finish what they started.
Would he push her away again? Or would he jump on her offer?
Don’t move from this bed, Nova. It’s safer this way. If you go to him, all you’ll feel tomorrow is regret.
With her middle finger, she slowly stroked along her slit, occasionally dipping her finger inside.