Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 58090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
To hell with the rules.
His expression darkens, and he grabs my hand, helping me from the chair. We leave the club in a flash, and I’ve never seen Paxton move so quickly. Hopefully, it’s not a preview of what’s coming.
I giggle as he starts the engine of his Jeep.
“What’s so funny?”
I shake my head as he pulls out of the valet area. “I’ve never seen you move so fast.”
He reaches over and squeezes my thigh. “I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want you, Hartford.”
My chest constricts and warms at his words. “Me either.”
We drive in comfortable silence as Paxton maneuvers us onto the interstate. But the high from the club disintegrates, and reality comes crashing back to the surface.
Sex is a big deal. It will venture into a territory from which there is no coming back. I don’t know if our friendship can survive something like that.
“You look like you might explode from thinking too much.” Paxton’s voice reverberates throughout the cab of his Jeep.
I chew on the bottom of my lip before I put my jumbled thoughts out into the world. “I’m just wondering if we might have—”
He cuts in, “Moved too fast. We have broken every rule, except one. Maybe we shouldn’t break it. Is that what you’re thinking?”
“You’re not mad, are you?”
Paxton grasps my hand. “Hartford, I could never be mad at you. Our friendship is the most important thing in the world to me.”
“I feel the same. I just don’t want anything to…” My words fall away.
“I know,” he says, bringing my hand to his lips. He kisses my knuckles before returning my hand to my lap.
He moves both hands to the steering wheel and focuses on the road. Once again, silence falls over us. This time, it’s not so comfortable. It leaves me with a horrible feeling. I want Paxton more than anything, but I can’t bear the thought of jeopardizing our friendship.
We arrive at his place and head inside. We’re both silent as we change clothes and get ready for bed.
“Just sleep in the bed with me,” I tell him when he takes a pillow from the bed.
“You sure?”
I nod. “Yes.” I want to feel close to him. After what happened tonight, I need to lie with him. Or maybe I need him to lie with me. Let me know we didn’t ruin anything.
He removes his T-shirt, leaving on his gray sweatpants. They ride low on his lean hips, and I can see the enormous outline of his dick through the cotton material. Now I’m turned on.
His green gaze travels over my sleep shorts and white tank top, and it takes all my willpower to climb into the bed instead of begging him to have sex with me. The cool sheets are a balm to my overheated skin as I slide under the comforter. My body is still buzzing with the energy from the club tonight, and I wonder if Paxton feels the same.
He climbs into bed and lies on his side to face me. “Did you see that one dude at the club?”
I face him, mimicking his position. “The guy with the purple hair and purple tuxedo?”
Paxton laughs, and the sound of it vibrates through my body. “Yeah, wonder what his deal was.”
“He looked like a pimp straight from the 90s.” I giggle into my pillow. “I kept thinking he should have the platform shoes.”
“Yeah, with the goldfish swimming in the bottom.”
We’re both hysterical now.
“Could you imagine?”
Our laughter dies out, and we’re left staring at each other. A small part of me wishes Paxton would talk to me like he did at the club. Okay, a big part of me wants that.
He tenderly sweeps a piece of my hair from my face and secures it behind my ear. “I can’t get over how pretty you are, Hartford. The other girls in high school must have been so jealous.”
“They were jealous because they wanted to hang out with you.”
He shakes his head slightly, propping up on his elbow as he looms over me. “No, they were jealous of how beautiful you are, because you are the prettiest fucking woman I’ve ever met.”
My cheeks heat as he moves closer. I swear he’s going to kiss me, and I want it so badly that I nearly say a quick prayer to whoever may be lurking above to let it happen. “I don’t think that’s true,” I whisper.
He lets out a low chuckle, but there’s no humor behind it. “It’s the most honest thing I’ve ever said. I’ve always thought you were pretty. And also badass.”
“Really?”
He blushes. “Well, yeah, you’re one of the most important people to me.”
“You’re the most important person to me too,” I breathe out.
He leans in and captures my mouth with his, and I could get drunk off Paxton’s kisses. I feel tipsy as he pulls away to say, “I can’t stop thinking about what happened at the club, and how badly I want more.”