Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 81986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
“Well, if you’re going to ask nicely…” I nibbled and licked, lighter than before, teasing him before I tugged his collar down and latched onto the sensitive patch of skin between his neck and shoulder.
“Can’t… Need… God… Please…” Worth babbled, coming utterly undone simply from my mouth. I rocked harder, thrusting against him, needing every scrap of his sanity. And then, almost without warning, I was right there too, on the edge of something big and brilliant, and I wanted to take him with me.
“Come,” I ordered. “Come right now.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” he chanted as he tensed, face contorting, thighs pressing hard against mine, back lifting despite my tight hold.
“Beautiful. You’re so beautiful, Worth.” I gasped because, in all my imaginings, watching the other person climax had been this vague, slightly blurry thing. A nice thought, but not this…event. A few years back, I’d watched a total solar eclipse here in Oregon, the earth going completely dark at midday. A once-in-a-lifetime event, beautiful and mysterious, and awe-inspiring. Watching Worth was exactly like that, and I couldn’t help but come as well, some powerful force making me thrust harder and harder until I was gasping and groaning, coming against the tight confines of my jeans, hot and sticky.
I’d never felt more human, more alive, and I released my hold on Worth so I could pet and stroke him, whispering more praise, thanking him. Because it was him, not me, who was the miraculous one, who’d given something special and precious.
“Wow.” Eyes still closed, he sagged against me. “I never would have guessed…”
“That I had it in me?” Much as I liked surprising him, my back tensed, continuing to balk at all the assumptions Worth and everyone else had about me.
“That, and that I’d like it.” He gave a twisted smile as his eyes fluttered open. “That was…a revelation.”
“I’ll take it.” I managed to keep my tone aloof. “It was a decent start. I can do better.”
“Better?” Gaze bleary, he blinked at me.
“I’m going to be the best damn Dom you’ve ever thought about.” I went from aloof to arrogant, staring him down.
“You cursed.” He frowned like the sky had changed from blue to pink.
“Sometimes it’s warranted.” I laughed. I was going to defeat every last assumption he had about me until he saw me, all of me, at long freaking last. “And I mean it. That was the warm-up. I’m going to figure out exactly what you need and deliver it.”
“That’s a hell of a promise.”
“You don’t think I can back it up?” Cocking my head to one side, I regarded him coolly.
“I’m learning to never doubt you.” He grinned, but then the smile drooped. “But I’m not sure more is such a good idea.”
“It’s a terrific idea.” I pushed on his shoulders again, reminding him I had no issues taking charge, being what he wanted and needed. What we both wanted and needed. This was the best idea I’d ever had, and I had a history of some amazing brainstorms.
“Until I break your heart.” Well, there was that.
I sighed because that argument was tiresome. “So don’t.”
Groaning, he rested his forehead against mine. “You have so much more faith in me than anyone else.”
“You could try having faith in you.” I cupped his chin so he’d have to meet my gaze.
“I’m not the man I once was,” he whispered.
“Good.” I didn’t want the self he’d pretended to be for so long. I wanted the guy right in front of me. Sure, I’d had a crush on the idea of Worth for years, but the reality was so, so much better. “I don’t want that man. I want this one. As long as he’ll let me. I don’t need promises, Worth. I just want a chance.”
“God, you’re determined.” Exhaling hard, he gave a nervous chuckle. “And hell if I don’t like that. Okay. Okay.”
I rewarded his agreement with a soft kiss. He might only be going along with me reluctantly, but I’d take it. He wasn’t wrong. I was determined, and I would prove myself to both of us.
Chapter Twelve
Sam
“One day. Just one day without a crisis.” I stared blearily at my phone. My alarm was set to go off momentarily, but the chirp of a message on my phone had woken me.
“What’s wrong?” Next to me, Worth stretched sleepily. And not nearly nakedly enough. After last night’s kitchen make-out session, we’d taken separate showers, handling mundane tasks like feeding and walking the dog in between being weirdly cautious with each other. At bedtime, Worth and Buttercup had shown up as usual in my bed. That had to be a good sign. While the pajamas were a disappointment, I’d had big plans for a sexy wakeup to not let the awkwardness between us grow worse.
However, sexy was going to have to wait. I hefted myself out of bed before I could be tempted to linger.