Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82543 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82543 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
But when there’s a buzz at the door for him to be let up, I let out a loud breath of relief.
I hate that a guy can strip away my confidence little by little, but Peyton isn’t just some random guy, and it’s not his fault I’m like this. I’ve never been so invested in someone before, where the fear of rejection is so high. Especially because I know Peyton’s in a tough position with his football career. I have no doubts that if his future agent or his parents tell him to end it with me, he will.
His dads were supportive last time they were here, but that was before everything was so … public.
I open the door and wait for Peyton to climb the steps to get to the second level. Then he’s there, fresh from a shower, wearing a suit, and being way too casual about it. No one has the right to look that good and not flaunt it, but Peyton’s not like that.
He might have an athlete’s ego when it comes to football, make jokes about how awesome he is, but the way he carries himself is completely different.
He smiles wide when he sees me waiting and greets me with another off-guard kiss, as if he’s finishing the one we shared earlier in front of everyone.
With no one to interrupt us this time, I don’t want it to end. I grip his jacket lapels and pull him inside my apartment.
He doesn’t have his gear bag that he usually carries with him, so he’s free to move his hands all over me. They run down my back, grip my ass, then wander back up my body and tangle in my hair.
We stumble backward, blindly trying to find my bedroom as we both refuse to part. When my back hits the corner of the kitchen island, it becomes a safety hazard to keep going.
“Ow, fuck.” I laugh.
“You okay?” Peyton’s blue eyes are filled with the type of concern that makes my heart melt. It’s genuine and patient.
“I will be if we can get to my bedroom without getting any more bruises.”
Taking my hand, Peyton steps back and pulls me down the hall. “You know, I was kind of hoping you’d be naked by the time I got here.”
“That would’ve been a bit presumptuous, don’t you think?”
He shrugs. “Maybe, but I would’ve enjoyed it.”
As soon as we’re in the safety zone of my bedroom, Peyton turns on me and goes back to where we were, kissing, groping, and desperately holding on to one another like it’s going to be all taken away at any moment.
There are things that need to be said. Questions I still have about what this is or what it could be. But I’m willing to hold them back and take this for what it is.
I want to take everything from him just in case it ends with him walking out again like last time.
This could be it. All that I get.
One kiss in front of cameras isn’t a claim of forever. The whole thing could be easily explained away to save his career. The questions flitting through my head, wanting to know what exactly is happening with us and what’s suddenly changed, are easily ignored because the need I have for his body is louder.
As heartbreaking as it would be for Peyton to take it all back, it will hurt even more to stop this and end things here.
“I want you inside me,” I say against his lips.
“Why aren’t we naked yet?”
“We need to fix that,” I agree.
We pry apart, and I’m naked a lot quicker than Peyton. It helps I don’t have to wrestle a tie, belt, tight suit pants, and socks and shoes. While he strips out of them, I go to my bedside table, where I have my usual stock of supplies on hand.
My cock is so achingly hard, I give it a taming stroke. Or, try to. Next thing I know, Peyton’s crawling across the bed toward me and wrapping his arm around my waist from behind while his free hand lands on top of mine on my dick.
“Let me do that.” He leans in and nips at my cheek and my neck.
I let him take over and regret it immediately because his hand feels so good. “Wait … I—”
His hand stills. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s not going to take much to send me over the edge.”
“Oh, thank God. I thought you were about to change your mind.”
I shake my head. “Not possible at this point.”
Without warning, Peyton pulls me down on the bed and rolls us so he can climb on top of me. His lips fuse to mine again.
I lost the supplies somewhere between falling and being pinned to the mattress, but I don’t even care. Peyton surrounds me, and as I run my hand down his chest between us and over his amazing body, his abs tighten under my fingertips.