Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 25234 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 126(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25234 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 126(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
“Sky, if I’m going to take your virginity, it’s not going to be in the back of my dingy truck. It’s going to be somewhere nice, somewhere special.”
He gently pulls my panties back up and brushes my cheek with the back of his hand.
“You’re not just saying that to get out of this awkward situation, right?”
Cade smiles with his eyes, leans in, and gives me the most passionate kiss he’s given me all night. I’m so taken by it I could melt away happily into him and never come back. When he finally pulls away and looks back at me, I know he’s being completely truthful with me.
“There’s one thing you should know about me, Sky. And that’s that I would never lie to you.”
4
SKYLAR
I barely slept a wink after what happened last night with Cade. What a complex man–like a delicious multi-layered cake.
I did not expect him to react the way he did when I told him I’d never had sex before. I also didn’t expect him to be such a gentleman about it and promise me we’d do it in a better place at a better time so it could be something special for me.
I’m sure a lot of guys would have pushed me to do it right then and there, just so they could get some. But not Cade. He didn’t even pressure me to pleasure him or return the favor in any way. We just lay there, side by side in the back of his truck, until I eventually fell asleep in his arms.
Luckily, he had to get up early for work and I managed to sneak back into the house before Dad went off for work. Despite me being eighteen, he still has this habit of checking in on me before he leaves “just to make sure I’m okay.” Part of me wishes he would quit, but at the same time, I know how sweet it is. And with Momma having passed, I know that one day he won’t be there here anymore either, so I should appreciate him while I’ve got him.
I should have my mind on my first day of work at the tattoo parlor, but all I can think about as I step through the doors of Dark Forrest Tattoo is Cade.
Misty, my main contact at the shop, spots me as I enter and gives me a big friendly wave from her station. We already know each other pretty well. She was the one who looked over my portfolio and interviewed me several times and ultimately made the decision to take me on as an apprentice. I basically owe her everything.
She’s one of those girls my aunt would hate–covered in tattoos, sleeves on both arms, a big dragon piece on her neck, three small stamps under her left eye, piercings all over, a few big pieces on her back, and one huge one on her left side that still isn’t finished. She has several on each leg and I’m sure a few I haven’t even seen as well. I’d actually love for her and Beatrice to meet. Misty is not afraid to speak her mind and would never put up with my aunt’s shit.
“Good morning!” she says gleefully. I take a seat and set my bag down, but Misty immediately leans back and frowns at me.
“What?” I ask, suddenly off guard.
“There’s something…different about you,” she says, giving me her all-knowing-eye.
“Different?”
She nods. “Definitely. You’re not…present right now. You’re elsewhere.”
“No I’m not,” I reply, shrinking away. This is my big day, and I cannot screw it up. “I’m right here.”
Misty smirks, leans in, and takes my hand in hers. “Sky, sweetie. This is me we’re talking about, not Pete. I don’t own the salon–I just work here. You can relax. Something’s going on with you. Now spill the beans!”
“Okay, you’re right,” I laugh.
“It’s a guy, isn’t it?” she asks.
“Yep.” I nod. “It’s a guy.”
“I knew it! Is he hot?”
“So hot,” I groan. “So stupidly hot that I don’t even know what to do with myself.”
“And thus the spacing out on your first day at your dream job?”
Misty grabs a seltzer that she keeps in the cooler at her station, hands it to me, and then takes one for herself.
“Tell me about him. Where’d you two meet? Dating app?”
“Oh God no,” I reply, cracking my can open. “He actually works for my aunt. He’s part of her landscaping crew. I saw him working a couple weeks ago, and it was like…” I mime my jaw dropping and my eyes going super wide, and Misty just nods like she totally understands. “Six-two at least, gorgeous, mesmerizing eyes, huge muscles, these big strong hands that are all rough–”
“Sounds like your dad a little bit.”
I reply with an earned knee-slap that causes her to laugh.
“What? Your dad’s hot. You want me to deny it?”