Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
When we arrived at my condo, I pulled into the garage and parked. “I’ll be quick,” I said before jumping out of the car and swiftly making my way to her door. I opened it and held out my hand.
“I can just wait here,” Phoebe stated with an understanding smile.
I rolled my eyes and bent over to unbuckle her seat belt, steeling myself against the electricity that arced between us whenever we touched.
Taking her hand, I tugged her out of the vehicle and tucked her into my side with my arm around her shoulders. “How many times am I going to have to repeat myself?” I growled, letting the corners of my mouth turn up so she knew I was teasing. Mostly. “You’re going to have to learn to do what you’re told, baby.” I paused, and my smile turned wicked. “I promise you’ll like the rewards that come from being a good girl.”
Phoebe’s mouth formed a little O as she blinked up at me. While she didn’t seem to fully understand what I was implying, I knew she had some idea because her clear blue eyes heated, darkening a shade.
We’d reached the elevator, so I swiped my card. When the door slid open, I ushered her inside. I was incredibly tempted to push her up against the wall and kiss her until she couldn’t think about anything but me. My hands itched to feel her curves, and my lips tingled with the anticipation of feeling her mouth under mine.
However, I suspected that once I started, I wouldn't be able to stop. And I wanted Phoebe to know that everything about her was important to me, including her career. So it was best that I didn’t get sidetracked by my hunger for her. It could wait. I could wait, I told myself—mostly believing it.
When the lift reached my floor, I kept her hand in mine as I walked off and down the hall to my door. Once I unlocked it, we entered, and I guided her over to the sofa. “Have a seat, baby. I’ll only be a few minutes.”
Her eyes bounced around the room with interest, and I chuckled. “Feel free to snoop. I have nothing to hide from you.”
Phoebe’s face registered surprise, but she also looked pleased. “I would never snoop,” she insisted halfheartedly.
“I would,” I admitted with a laugh. When she giggled, I couldn’t resist bending over to place a swift kiss on her nose. That was all I allowed myself before straightening and hastily retreating to my bedroom.
After trading out my jeans for a pair of slacks and my Henley for a polo, I changed my shoes and headed back into the living room. When Phoebe’s eyes landed on me, they darkened again, and a pretty blush stained her cheeks. “You clean up good, Silas,” she teased.
I laughed and winked at her. “Ditto, baby. Although you would look sexy as fuck in a potato sack.”
She giggled again and beamed at me. For a moment, I was lost in the beauty of her smile. Then I shook my head to clear away the fog, once again reminding myself that we would have plenty of time to indulge later. Forever, if I had my way.
“Let’s get going, baby,” I said as I extended my hand toward her. “Before I can’t talk myself out of locking you up here until I know you’re safe.”
She allowed me to help her to her feet, and I kept us tethered by our entwined fingers. We headed out to my vehicle, and as we were driving out of the garage, Phoebe plugged the address for the hotel into my GPS. The destination was only ten minutes away, so we took the ride in comfortable silence.
As a SEAL, I’d been trained to handle situations that involved a lot of waiting, usually in complete silence, and often in less than desirable conditions. But I’d never been able to completely relax with anyone except my family. So I was astonished that being with Phoebe felt so easy.
The hotel was a flurry of activity when we arrived, which grated on my protective instincts. Then we walked into the ballroom, and my mouth curled down in a deep frown. The large space was opened on our end by several sets of double doors, and the wall opposite of us was made of floor-to-ceiling windows, broken up by three sets of doors—all of which were propped open to let in the night breeze—which provided access to the garden area. The exit situation annoyed me, but all the strangers mingling around the high-top tables set my teeth on edge.
I slipped my arm around Phoebe’s waist and tucked her into my side. Several people called out hellos to her as we walked into the throng of guests. She tried to step away the first time, but I tightened my arm, making it clear she wasn’t going anywhere without me. After that, she just waved and said hi in return.