Total pages in book: 14
Estimated words: 13963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 70(@200wpm)___ 56(@250wpm)___ 47(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 13963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 70(@200wpm)___ 56(@250wpm)___ 47(@300wpm)
I need to stop dwelling on that kiss.
It didn’t mean anything.
We were playing a stupid game.
It takes a full five minutes to wrangle my emotions back under control. By then, I realize I was right—all I needed was a bit of distance. The entire night, Riggs had his arm slung around my shoulders. The beachy scent of his cologne had slyly tangled around me, inundating my senses until I’d wanted to inhale a big breath of him.
It had just been too much.
It’s almost laughable how wound up I got about it.
Ridiculous, even.
I’m sure in the morning, we’ll both have a good chuckle.
That’s what friends do, right?
Exactly.
It’s only when I step back inside the room and catch sight of Riggs wearing nothing more than form-fitting, black boxer briefs that the tangle of my emotions crashes over me like a tidal wave, and I realize I’m in big trouble.
There’s absolutely no way I’m going to forget about that lip lock or the sun-kissed flesh now on display.
Holy crap.
When the hell did Riggs get so muscly?
From where I’m standing, even his muscles have muscles.
Does this guy spend every waking minute in the gym?
As much as I should avert my eyes, I can’t stop the way my hungry gaze licks over every delectable inch.
Neither of us moves or says a word. It’s only when his gaze dips to my chest that I realize my nips are standing at attention. It’s like a bolt of electricity sliding through me, sparking every cell to life. That’s all the impetus I need to get my ass in gear and dive headfirst onto the bed before scampering beneath the covers. When I’ve drawn them up to my chin, I chance another peek at him.
God, I’m acting like such a ninny.
My heartbeat hitches when Riggs walks around to my side of the bed and stops to stare down at me. It would be impossible not to notice that I’m eye level with his package.
And it’s…bigger than I imagined.
Not that I’ve, you know, thought about his package.
Much.
Argh.
This is bad.
“Do you need anything before I turn out the light?”
I shake my head. I’m much too afraid to open my mouth. I’m terrified that my voice will be nothing more than an unintelligible squeak that will give me away.
Look away from his dick, you little perv.
This is your bestie.
But I can’t. It’s like a horrific traffic accident.
My core contracts as another burst of heat floods my panties.
It’s tempting to reach out and run my fingers over him. I tighten them until the rounded nails bite into my palms so I don’t do exactly that.
Can you even imagine what would happen if I touched him?
I’d never be able to look my bestie in the eyes again.
A strange concoction of relief and disappointment spirals through me when he swings away. My gaze stays glued to his ass.
Hot damn, he has a nice backside.
A handful of seconds later the light is clicked off, plunging the room into blessed darkness, and he’s sliding beneath the sheets. I close my eyes and will myself to fall into a deep, dreamless sleep. With any luck, I’ll feel more like myself in the morning, and I can put all this nonsense behind me.
Behind us.
We can get back to normal.
“Stell?”
My eyes pop open as I stare up at the ceiling rather than at him. “Yeah?”
“You’re not going to see that bozo again, are you?”
I snort out a laugh. It’s enough to break the sexual tension, which is a welcome relief.
“No. I’ve already deleted him. In fact, I’ll be deleting the app altogether.”
“Good. You deserve way better.” His tone dips. “I hope you realize that.”
My heart softens as I roll toward him. I’m just able to make out his handsome features in the darkness. It’s only then that I realize his eyes are already locked on me.
“Thanks.”
He scoots closer until I’m able to feel the heat of his practically naked body. Air gets wedged at the back of my throat as he balances on his elbow and hovers over me.
His steady gaze sifts through mine in the darkness. “I’m serious, Stella. You deserve a man who’s going to make you his first priority.”
My heartbeat stutters.
Almost as if in slow motion, his face looms closer until his lips can drift over mine. Unlike earlier, I open immediately so that the velvety softness of his tongue can invade my mouth.
There’s nothing rushed or frenzied about how the caress unfolds. I don’t realize until the heat of his skin nearly singes my palms that they’ve settled against his chest. The hard slabs of muscle tighten beneath my fingers. It’s so tempting to let them wander.
The kiss seems to stretch forever. He angles his head one way and then another. That’s all it takes for me to lose track of both time and space. When Riggs finally pulls away, I realize we’re both breathing hard.