Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84200 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84200 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
After a hesitation, Danica asks, “Do you want to keep this secret?”
“I don’t know.” That’s the honest truth. I know nothing because this is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. “This feels a little precarious.”
“Because I’m a team widow,” she murmurs.
“I don’t want to be the asshole who moved in on someone I should only be friends with.”
“I get that,” she replies with a sigh.
“And…” I pause, wondering how best to say this. I’m not afraid to express my feelings—I just want to make sure I’m clear. I shift our positions so we’re on our sides, facing each other. “I don’t know how to compete with Mitch. I don’t know if it’s a good idea to even try.”
Danica rears up to her elbow to look down at me. “I would never compare you—”
I move two fingers over her lips to silence her. “No. I know you wouldn’t do that. Not intentionally. But there will always be differences, and hell… maybe I’d be the one wondering about it.”
Her hand rests over my chest, her expression empathetic. “Camden… I can honestly say that not once tonight did I ever stack you up against Mitch. Not on our date, not on our first kiss, and most certainly not what we just did. He didn’t even cross my mind until you brought him up. But I can’t not think about him. I can’t control that and it might happen.”
“I know.” I cup her cheek and rub my thumb over her lower lip. “I’d never ask you to not think about him. I loved him, too, you know.”
“I had a lot of firsts after he died.” Danica settles back into my arms and I pull her in tight. “My first birthday without him. Travis’s first birthday without him. First Fourth of July, first Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas. It’s almost been a year since the crash and I’ve had almost all the firsts knocked out.”
“And I’m the first guy you’ve been out with. First kiss since Mitch died. First time you’ve had sex.”
“It was fucking fantastic sex,” Danica says and I can’t help but chuckle, giving her a squeeze. Her voice sounds drowsy. “Will you stay the night?”
“If you want me to.”
“I do.” Danica yawns and snuggles into me.
Reaching over without trying to disturb our positioning, I’m able to turn out the bedside light. “Then I’ll stay.” When we’re settled, I add, “And maybe we keep this between us for now.”
“Of course,” she replies. I’m not sure if she wants that particularly or she’s merely agreeing because I want it. Regardless, I don’t feel comfortable sharing what we have.
CHAPTER 16
Camden
In fairness, Danica gave me fair warning that carpool was a wait around and do nothing kind of event. I’ve got my radio cranked as I sit in the school lineup, waiting to get Travis for drills practice with me.
When we first made plans, I was only supposed to pick Travis up at Danica’s house after she got him home from school. But apparently, and this is per Danica and I have no reason to disbelieve her, Travis floated the idea to his mom about me picking him up and we go directly to the rink from there.
I wasn’t privy to this conversation as it unfolded this morning but it occurred as Danica was driving Travis and Jordan to school. Her answer was a resounding no because I was already giving my time to take him to the rink.
I only found out about Travis’s request when I called Danica midmorning. I was going crazy thinking about her. Last night was absolutely unexpected. The only surety was our first date. I didn’t expect to enjoy it so much, I most certainly didn’t think we’d kiss and there was never a scenario in my mind where I thought we might end up in bed.
All night long, Danica slept in my arms but I hardly slept a wink. It’s not because the position was uncomfortable or because I was in a strange bed, but more to do with the fact that the experience of sleeping with a woman I actually care for was more exhilarating than it was calming.
Danica’s not the first woman I’ve slept in a bed with all night. I’ve had hookups where you fall into an exhausted sleep and then you go on your merry way after.
However, she is the first woman I’ve had a true emotional connection with, which made the sex last night a million times better than I’ve ever experienced.
This morning there was no awkwardness, and in fact, I woke her up with my hand between her legs and my mouth whispering dirty words in her ear. It was different in the early hours compared to the slow mating of bodies last night. This morning it was frenzied, rushed, sloppy and amazing. Danica had to pick up the boys to take them to school and we laughed as we went at it, knocking her headboard into the wall so hard it left a scuff mark.