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)
“You are being insanely hot right now,” he finally breathed, “and here I was just trying to do something sweet for you.”
I leaned back, looking him in his eyes. The same crystal blue eyes that had looked so intimidating to me a million times before now looked… almost innocent, no matter how ridiculous that felt.
Rush? Innocent? Not a chance in hell.
“You wanted to do something sweet,” I repeated. “That’s very nice, but I know that’s not your thing. You don’t have to do stuff like that for me. I’m starting to think you’ve given up on blow jobs, though, considering I’m practically begging you to let me get you off.”
He was still watching me, some calculation going on behind his eyes that I couldn’t read. “I’m just trying to be nice.”
“You’re never nice,” I said. “You’re hot, you’re cocky, and you have a heart of gold, but nice?”
He pulled away from me a little, and I swore I saw disappointment pass through his expression.
“Christ, Shawn,” he said, running his fingers through his hair and leaning over the kitchen counter, breathing deeply. “If this is how you think flirting works it’s no wonder you don’t have a boyfriend yet.”
I let my jaw drop in mock anger. “Gee, thanks,” I said, my tone thick with sarcasm. “I went on a date last night, by the way.”
His gaze flashed back toward me. “Really? How did it go?”
“It was great until I screwed up and said something I shouldn’t have,” I admitted. “What else is new? I’m bad at it.”
Rush clicked his tongue. It seemed like there was an ocean of thoughts going on beneath the surface, and I just wanted to crack his shell. “For Christ’s sake.”
“What? What is your problem this morning?”
“Stop acting like you aren’t good enough for anyone,” Rush finally said, frustration in his voice. “You convince yourself you’re not good at dating, so it always seems to fail, even with great guys. And you convince yourself you’re attracted to me just because I'm completely and utterly unavailable.”
I felt like I’d just been hit with a cannon.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“You just want to get hurt, Shawn.”
“Bullshit,” I whispered.
“I’m sorry.”
Words were bubbling up inside me now, and even though I knew I shouldn’t say them, they were going to come out.
“You’ve been weird ever since you cuddled me to sleep a couple of nights ago after the family dinner,” I said.
“What do you mean I’ve been weird? We haven’t even seen each other.”
“We had flirty texts and exchanged saucy photos and had fun for days and days before that, and now suddenly, you just stopped,” I said.
“Didn’t know you noticed that,” he murmured.
“Of course I did. You’re acting differently ever since that night, and I just want to know where it’s coming from.”
He let out a sigh, leaning his neck back and looking up at the ceiling for a second. “I’m sorry. I’m not sure.” He turned to me again, that same longing sadness in his eyes. “I just want you to know what a catch you are, Shawn.”
I shook my head. “A catch who can’t even successfully offer a guy a blow job. I’m no catch.”
He clicked his tongue, giving me a look of frustration.
“Stop. Saying. You aren’t a catch,” he told me, his words like a command.
And then he took a step toward me. His strange stiffness melted away as he pushed me back and closed the gap between us. And then he leaned in, pausing a beat with his lips just an inch away from mine.
I could feel his breath.
“Rush…” I started to say, trailing off.
He leaned in and crushed his lips to mine, kissing me like he was teaching me a lesson. He kept his lips locked on mine as he pushed me back toward the living room, shoving me back onto the couch, both of us collapsing there.
It was like he’d been let off a leash. I opened my mouth to his and his tongue slid against mine. It felt like he was claiming me. He took my lower lip between his teeth, gently biting as he let out a deep moan.
“You want to know why I’m being weird?” he asked against my mouth, nuzzled against me. “Because I want you too badly, Shawn. I want you all of the time. Your messages. Your phone calls. Every time I see you I want more.”
“What the hell is wrong with that?”
He was straddling me on the couch, looking down at me. “At the brewery, multiple times this week, I’ve found myself daydreaming about you. How you look when you’re asleep. Or when you’re a little drunk. Or when you just took my cock and you’re blissed out and fucked out and your hair is a damn beautiful mess.”
“Not going to lie, Rush,” I murmured, “that all sounds kind of hot.”