Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Tam’s mouth parted in shock but no words came out. This close, the musky notes of Driver’s signature scent tormented him.
“Come on, Tam. We’d have fun.”
Tam shook his head, swallowing until he could speak again. “I don’t...that’s not... Dating isn’t my thing.”
One of Driver’s eyebrows lifted right along with the wicked corner of his lips. “Who said anything about dating?”
“Are you purposely misunderstanding me?” He tugged on his hair in frustration. “I don’t want...”
“A relationship? Anything serious?”
“Sex!” Tam growled. “I don’t fuck. Okay?” He pushed past Driver to leave the kitchen, but Driver grabbed his wrist and tugged him into a spin so they ended up facing each other. Just like when they were dancing. And same as before, they stared into each other’s eyes for a moment that stretched out into infinity. Tam swallowed, his mouth dry.
“Like, never?” Driver asked, gaze lowering to Tam’s parted lips. “How can you be a virgin and dance like that?” His voice was gruff and full of longing.
Tam pulled his arm, but Driver held fast. “I’m not a virgin.”
“But you don’t have sex?”
“No. Not anymore. So, you see? There can’t be anything between us. Please, leave me alone.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Are you one of those born-again virgins? Religious?”
Tam rolled his eyes and looked at the ceiling. “My reasons are my own. All you need to know is that you are scratching at the wrong door. You won’t get what you want from me. I’m not interested.”
The grip Driver had on his wrist changed, and his thumb caressed the tender skin on the inside. “There you go lying again. Better be careful or I might start to believe you.”
Tam opened his mouth to argue but sucked in a breath instead. Was he lying? Because right that second, his body was responding without his permission. It tilted forward. Toward Driver. Closer to the heat and the promise in his gray-blue eyes.
“I can prove it,” Driver said, filling the silence, as if he could read Tam’s mind and knew the questions he was asking himself.
Driver’s rough palm caressed Tam’s bare shoulder, up his neck and then over his hair. The tremble that shook Tam’s body was completely out of his control.
“How?” Tam’s voice was shaky.
Driver’s smile was soft as he tipped his head and leaned in.
Chapter Seven
Tam held his breath.
A kiss.
Oh, fuck. Driver was going to kiss him. Tam’s gaze locked on Driver’s full, supple mouth. So damn inviting. His heart knocked against his ribs like a bass drum. Closer and closer, Driver bent his head, and that smile never wavered.
He should do something, shouldn’t he? He should stomp his heel on Driver’s foot, or shove at his shoulders, or knee him in the balls. He could. He knew how. He had the chance. But he did none of those things.
Because Driver was right. He had been lying.
He was interested.
The way his stomach quivered in anticipation told him that much. When he added the way his fingertips tingled and how he angled his chin without thinking, it led to only one conclusion.
For the first time in his life, he felt the pull. A physical ache that twisted through his whole body. Desire? Lust? Maybe. Whatever it was, it was new. It scared him. It tempted him.
Less than an inch away now, Driver’s soft breath caressed Tam’s lips but they still didn’t make contact.
Suspended in time, his lungs burning, Tam closed his eyes.
“Believe me yet?” Driver’s whisper brushed against all of Tam’s sensitive skin. He shivered.
He parted his lips on an inhale, drawing Driver’s warm breath into his lungs.
It took a while for the meaning of those words to sink in. When it did, he struggled to open his eyes, like his lids were weighted down with all his expectations. Driver’s stormy gaze stared back at him. The smile was gone, replaced with an expression Tam couldn’t quite name.
Driver stroked rough knuckles over his cheek, catching Tam’s bottom lip with his thumb at the last second.
“Gorgeous.” Driver’s voice was husky and quiet, as if he were talking to himself.
Heat flooded Tam’s cheeks. What just happened? He straightened, then elbowed his way past Driver toward the door. Driver caught his hand to stop him.
“Hey.”
Tam spun to face him, tugging out of Driver’s grip. “Is this fun for you?”
“What?”
“Manipulating people? Being an asshole?”
“I’ll claim the asshole bit, but how exactly did I manipulate you?”
“You...” Tam bit his lip.
Driver’s eyebrow rose. “Are you seriously still denying our chemistry?”
Tam crossed his arms, cast his gaze to the floor and shook his head. The time for denial was over.
“What then?” Driver asked, keeping his distance.
“Why didn’t you...”
“Do you want me to kiss you right now?”
Tam’s head snapped up on a gasp.
“See? That right there is why I didn’t. You may not be dismissing the idea, but you’re still not accepting it. I will kiss you, but not until you ask nicely.” Driver winked.