Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 126589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
“Are you seeing anyone right now?” Beth asked the other woman, determined to move the subject away from her dysfunctional acquaintanceship with Gideon.
“Still a free agent,” Lucy replied cheerfully. She folded her arms behind her head and contemplated the now navy sky before elaborating, “A few regular booty calls, but nothing serious.”
Beth considered the other woman’s words and wished she was predisposed toward enjoying booty calls. She’d never really had commitment-free sex until last night. What would that be like? To scratch an itch and never really worry about where the relationship was going, or how the other person felt about you, or obsess about why a guy wasn’t calling, or cuddling, or interested in talking?
She imagined it would be quite liberating.
Relationships were exhausting. At least they always had been for Beth. The two serious long-term relationships she’d had in the past had been fraught with tension and uncertainty and it had been a relief when they’d ended.
The sex hadn’t been anything to write home about either, and until Gideon, all her orgasms had been self-induced. It could be that maybe Beth had reacted to Gideon the way she had because of the lack of pressure and expectation.
Her eyes sought him out. Finding him almost immediately. He was sitting at the table laughing with Cam, Zane, and Cynthia. She always knew exactly where he was. Self-preservation—it was easier to avoid someone when you knew where they were at all times.
As she watched, he took a thirsty pull from his beer bottle, his head tilted back and she found herself riveted by the sharp angle of his stubbled jawline, and by the sinuous movement of the strong, tanned column of his throat as he swallowed.
He lowered his drink and wiped his mouth with his wrist. No artifice about him at all, and yet it just added to that effortless sex appeal. He should look ridiculous in the baggy blue board shorts, loud Hawaiian shirt, and fluorescent yellow flip flops he was wearing. Instead, he looked charming. And hot. Really, really hot. The clothing emphasized the breadth of his shoulders, the strength in his arms and legs, and the leanness of his torso. His sheer magnificence in garb that should have made him look silly, set her teeth on edge.
Ugh.
She tore her eyes away, only to clash with Lucy’s knowing gaze.
“Thinking of making Gideon your booty call?” the other woman asked insightfully and Beth cringed.
“It wouldn’t be worth the aggravation,” she said, then forced a nonchalant grin, knowing that her voice had been way too serious.
“You wouldn’t have to deal with the aggravation, just bump uglies and forget about it until the next time. So uncomplicated.”
“I’d consider it w-with anybody b-but him,” Beth lied. It simply wouldn’t be worth it with somebody who didn’t make her body sing the way Gideon had. Perhaps last night had been a fluke. Her defenses had been down because of her loss and her inhibitions loosened by the drinks she’d had.
She doubted that last night’s heat and intensity between them could ever be recreated. She’d been vulnerable because of Spock’s death, and she had needed the distraction Gideon had offered. As a result, she’d been more receptive, more easily satisfied. She’d craved physical intimacy and, in that moment, Gideon had been there to give her what she needed most.
A classic case of right time, right place, wrong person.
It had amounted to a night of mind-blowing sex. Never to be repeated. Lightning did not strike in the same place.
“I would so love to know what’s going on in that clever brain of yours right now,” Lucy said. Beth shook herself, comprehending that she’d been staring into the middle distance for a good couple of minutes now.
“Sorry,” she apologized. “I’m tired. I should have skipped last night as well. I don’t know why I didn’t, especially after Spock.”
“You needed the company,” Lucy murmured sympathetically, reaching out to squeeze Beth’s hand. Beth nodded. She had needed the company, but it hadn’t been the best idea. So many of the guests had been unfamiliar to her, and Cat and Cam had been busy entertaining.
Cat had hovered initially, wanting to be sure she was okay, but Beth had felt guilty about keeping her from her other guests and had assured her friend that she was okay.
The only truly familiar face had been Gideon’s and for a disorienting moment Beth had been almost relieved to see him. Until he had sneered at her from across the crowded room. Absurdly hurt by that, she’d retreated to the patio.
She hadn’t expected him to follow her and had been embarrassed to be caught crying. He hadn’t prodded her about those tears. But he’d stuck close by her side for the duration of the evening. He kept the drinks coming, joked, and laughed with her, and had just been so damned nice. He’d been the Gideon she’d witnessed from afar, and seen with the others. Not the antagonistic man with whom Beth usually interacted.