Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
“And then you go fuck ‘til you’re senseless in your expensive bed?”
“Sometimes. If they want to.”
He nibbled his lower lip, looking at me with that same lustful expression he’d had back in the bar. I wanted that lip between my own teeth again. I wanted to know what his tongue might feel like against other places on my body, too, or see if he got more or less shy once he was in bed.
It was very difficult to ignore.
“So… why the hell don’t you want to do that to me?” he finally asked, giving me those big, brown puppy dog eyes.
I let his question hang in the air, turning it over in my mind. “Because no matter how much curiosity I have right now, I don’t actually think we should fuck, Shawn.”
His face fell like a big balloon losing its air. God, those soulful eyes were going to kill me. “You don’t?”
“Didn’t realize you’d be so disappointed,” I said. “Damn, you’re good for my ego, you know that?”
He sat up a little straighter, trying to manage his expression a little more. “I mean, I don’t care that much,” he said. “You’re right that I don’t generally go for guys like you, but I was curious, too.”
“What’s that mean?” I asked. “Guys like me?”
He paused, clearly trying to figure out how to phrase his response. “You know. Guys that are into having a lot of hookups.”
“The kind of guy you said you’re trying to be, now?”
He snorted, rolling his eyes. “Sure.”
“You looking for a guy to propose to you on the first date instead?”
He laughed. “Look, I may be a bit desperate, but I’m not that pathetic. Yet.”
It was time to make things plain and simple.
He was like a carrot dangling in front of me that I couldn’t have. “I don’t really do relationships. You’re not wrong about that. I travel when I want to, I sleep alone, and I’m not looking for a boyfriend. So even though I really, really wanted to drag you home and have my way with you in my bed, I don’t think we should do it. Okay?”
For a moment I thought he was either going to fight me or walk back over and tackle me to the ground, and to be honest, I probably wouldn’t have stopped him.
“Okay,” he finally said. Something inside me turned, knowing that I half-wished that he would have kept putting up a fight.
“Even if I don’t sleep with you, I’m definitely going to be able to help you find someone who will. And I’ll be jealous, you know.”
He shook his head. “I want one more thing.”
I let out a breath. “Lay it on me. I love a man who negotiates.”
“We’re not going to hook up,” Shawn said, shifting a little. “But what if we were cuddle buddies?”
I paused, watching him for a moment. “Cuddle buddies,” I said flatly.
He nodded once. “You’re way too good at touching me. I’m starved for touch. And we both know it won’t go any further. I need to be more comfortable with all of it. Flirting, foreplay, and cuddling. Once I’m in bed I don’t need any help. I swear I’m like a wild animal when I fuck—”
“Christ, Shawn, don’t tell me that,” I protested. “I don’t need to want your ass more than I already do.”
One corner of his mouth curled into a mischievous smile. His healthy, strong construction worker look only seemed hotter when he got playful with me, and I was starting to get a little addicted to it. “Good,” he said. “But I need help with the front end, you know?”
“I’ll choose not to make a joke about that,” I said. “Sure. Whatever. I absolutely hate the term ‘cuddle buddies,’ but if you just want me to show you how to butter someone up, I can do that.”
He looked like he’d just won the lottery. “I’m glad.”
“But you have to hold up your end of the bargain, too,” I said. “Which is that you have to at least give some dating apps a shot.”
He groaned immediately and I held up a hand.
“No protesting,” I said. “I’m happy to be your damn cuddle buddy, but you can’t use that as an excuse not to date.”
He made a face. “Fine. Dating apps.”
“That’s your homework,” I said. “Go on some real dates, damn it.”
He sighed, leaning back. “If teenage Shawn knew that one day, you’d be telling me you would actually want to drag me into bed, I think I would have passed out.”
“I didn’t know you paid much attention to me at all back in high school,” I said.
He waved a hand through the air. “I had a little crush. It was no big deal.”
“Little Shawn Wood had a crush on me?” I asked.
His cheeks were turning a little pink. He looked back down at his glass of whiskey, taking a sip. “Teenage thing. Don’t get a big head about it.”