Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
“Really? I guess that makes sense. You look like you were pretty good.”
“I was okay.” I glance down at my phone, thinking I really should order that car. But something makes me stop. “Actually, I was really good.” I don’t know why I say that. My cheeks flush with embarrassment. I’m not the kind of girl that brags about herself to strangers, but god, for one night, maybe I can be someone else.
He laughs, and it’s extremely endearing. Some people have the kind of laugh that makes you want to hear more, and that’s definitely Step. It’s low and absolutely addicting.
“I like the confidence.”
“You saw me in there. I just stabbed a dude in the throat with a lipstick tube.”
“Good point. How good were you, exactly?”
“Won the state tournament two years in a row. I could’ve fenced at any college I wanted, except—”
Except my father wouldn’t let me go to college.
“I’m extremely impressed,” he says, clearly deciding not to push me to finish that sentence, which makes me like him even more. “Show me that move again.”
“What, right here? You want me to stab you in the neck?”
“I doubt you could. That idiot practically ran himself through for you.”
I snort and push him with my shoulder. He’s easily twice my size and weight, and he feels like a solid wall. I catch a hint of his smell—pine and musk. It’s surprisingly pleasant.
“Give me a saber and I could cut you to little itty-bitty pieces.”
“That’s what it’s called? The sword thing is a saber?”
“Yep, depending on the fencing style, and there’s a whole uniform that goes with it.”
“Come on, show me.” He pushes off the fence and squares up with me, but there’s nothing menacing in him. Even though he’s big and fit, and he just admitted that he threatened to physically violate a man for me, I don’t feel like this is a bad situation. “Stab me in the face.”
“You really want me to?” I turn my body and fall into en garde, knees bent, off-arm held back, foil-arm forward. I bounce on my toes very lightly, keeping loose. “I’m warning you, I’m pretty good.”
“I want to see,” he says, and that edge is back.
But this time, it’s a playful edge.
It’s inviting.
And I feel it. The spark. The deep, pulsing want roiling in the air between us, and suddenly I know.
This is how it happens.
The weird alchemical magic everyone but me seems to be able to find.
This is how two strangers meet and decide they want to fuck each other.
Excitement burns into my core. I reach into my clutch again and grab for the lipstick tube.
I’m very distracted by the way he’s looking at me. His cocky smile, his handsome lips. His mouth slightly parted with anticipation. His body held loosely, like he’s prepared to react to whatever I’m about to do, but not overly primed for it.
He knows how to handle himself.
And he’s glorious, my god. He’s absolutely stunning.
My mouth pulls back into an elated grin. This is weird and crazy, but I feel alive in a way I haven’t felt in years.
And I lunge at him.
I go in fast. My favorite fencing style is saber, which rewards speed and aggression, and I don’t hold back. He seems surprised and takes a step, trying to put distance between us.
He’s too slow.
My touch lands right on his chest an inch above his heart.
“Got you,” I say, feeling breathless and wild. It’s glorious, this feeling. I love to win more than anything in the world, but for so long I’ve caged that emotion.
Now it’s back. At least for a little bit. This night was a disaster until this moment. I’m elated, my cheeks flushed with the thrill of a fight and the tension between the two of us.
He looks down, and his face changes.
At first, I don’t understand why. He seems surprised and amused, and he slowly reaches up to gently take my hand.
“What’s this?” he asks.
I stare at my weapon.
And immediately a tidal wave of embarrassment pours down over my head.
I didn’t get my lipstick this time.
No, I ended up with something about the same size, a little bit larger, and very pink. Neon pink. And made from a soft, rubber foam material designed to be gentle on a lady’s private area.
It’s my freaking vibrator.
Chapter 2
Carmie
Ijust stabbed him in the chest with my sex toy.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry,” I say quickly, snatching it away. I jam it back into my bag, but he’s looking at me with fire in his eyes.
“Was that what I think it was?”
“I can explain.”
“Do you walk around with a vibrator in your purse?”
“Not usually.”
“But tonight you are.”
“Can we just pretend that didn’t happen?” I’m so mortified I can barely breathe.
A second ago, I felt like a warrior.
I was deeply alive and in control.
Now I’m back to being regular old, frustrated Carmie.