Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
“You did not.”
He maneuvers his truck down the dirt path. He’s taking us back to his grandparents' property, where we laid out under the stars on our first date. Once we stop, he picks his phone up from the cupholder, taps around on the screen, and hands it to me. “Did too.” He sticks his tongue out at me, making me laugh.
I scroll through the list. Some of these are completely outrageous, and I can’t see Roman using half of them. “When did you do this?” I ask, handing him his phone.
“The morning I showed up at your place. I was ready to do what I had to do to fight for us.”
“Why haven’t you deleted that?” I ask, laughing.
“Hey, this took hours of research. I’m sure I’m going to fuck up at some point over the next fifty-plus years. I might need to refer to it.”
“Some of those, you might need to do some more homework,” I joke.
He nods. “I’m willing to do the work.” Leaning over the console, he kisses me softly. “I need a little time to get us set up.”
“I can help.”
“You can also sit your sexy ass in the truck and let me handle it.” He winks and climbs out of the truck. He makes quick work of setting up the air mattress with a portable air compressor. Then he pulls the chairs and the small plastic table from the back of the truck.
Not being able to stand just sitting here watching him doing all the work, I hop out and grab the food that we picked up. This time we’re having Mexican and it smells incredible.
“Baby girl, you’re supposed to wait. You don’t need to be walking through these high weeds.”
“It’s grass, Rome, and I’m perfectly capable.”
“I know, but now I don’t have an excuse to carry you.”
“No, but the faster we finish setting up, we get to eat, and then comes dessert.”
“Shit. I forgot dessert,” he curses under his breath.
“Really? I thought we’d have each other for dessert.” I try for innocence, but I can’t hide my grin.
His head bobs. “You’re right, baby, I could use your help.” He winks and heat pools between my thighs.
“Get to work.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
We finish setting up and devour our meals as the sun sets.
“So, the interview was good?”
“I think so. I hit it off with the hiring manager. She’s been a surgical tech for over twenty years. She oversees all the techs and reports to the nurse manager.”
“You sure you want that drive?” he asks.
“It’s only thirty minutes to Nashville, but I didn’t tell you the best part. The hospital is opening a satellite outpatient clinic.”
“Wait, is that the one that’s going up at the edge of town?”
“Yes! So the position is going to be for Ashby.”
“Damn,” he mutters. “That’s perfect, Em.”
“I know. I feel really good about it.”
He stands and offers me his hand, and together we lie down on the air mattress. “I’m so fucking proud of you, Emerson. You’re following your dreams.”
“I had excellent role models, you and the guys, and Forrest. You all helped guide me.”
“I can guide you now too,” he says, kissing me.
“You know, now that you mention it, I think I could use some guidance.” I reach over and unbutton his cargo shorts, and slip my hand down his pants, then beneath the waistband of his boxer briefs. “Can you show me where this goes?” I ask innocently as I run the pad of my thumb over his piercing.
Roman rolls to his side and glides his hand beneath my gym shorts. “No panties, baby girl?” He tsks.
“I changed out of my interview outfit and decided there was no use adding another layer we were just going to take right back off.”
He slides his fingers through my folds. “My cock,” he rasps, sliding one long digit inside me. “Goes right here.” He kisses my neck.
“You sure it will fit? I think we need to test out this theory,” I mumble. His throaty laugh causes heat to radiate through my chest.
“I was made for you, baby girl. But if you need for me to show you, I will.” He pulls his hand out of my shorts, and in no time, we’re both naked and beneath the covers, under a blanket of stars highlighted by the moon.
He hovers over me, always mindful of his weight. I stare up at him with the night sky as a backdrop. I place one palm over his heart, over the tattoo of my art, and the other rests against his cheek.
“The road we traveled to get here was bumpy. I know that hiding isn’t what you want, and I don’t want to either. Let’s plan to sit down with Forrest in a few weeks. I can’t hide this much longer. You make me feel cherished, safe, and so loved. I’m swimming in all these incredible feelings, and it’s hard to contain them.” I can feel myself start to get choked up. I swallow hard, battling my emotions.