Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Lucy was completely different. Not just because she was American and related to Sawyer, but because she was genuinely having fun. She wasn’t faking it or hanging on to me for attention. She was comfortable in her own skin, no matter where we were, and I enjoyed the way she fit in. No one had ever made Svetlana feel bad about her English pronunciations, but she’d used it as a crutch. I still didn’t speak perfect English, but I had no problem having conversations and relationships with these people.
I could suddenly picture myself with Lucy long term, the two of us hanging out with the team, at home, traveling. I’d barely taken her out on a date, we hadn’t been intimate, and yet, I could see it in my mind’s eye. She was already important to me, and I was suddenly overwhelmed with need. To be alone with her, talk to her, touch her.
God, I really fucking needed to touch her.
I went looking for her after we’d eaten several times, had dessert twice, and took the kids outside to play tag for an hour. I found her in the kitchen, putting away leftovers.
“You have done too much today,” I whispered against her ear, wrapping my arms around her from behind. “You are a lovely hostess, but you also deserve to relax and enjoy the day.”
She leaned back against me. “Thank you. I will.”
I pressed a light kiss on the side of her neck. “I have not kissed you all day.”
She turned in my arms, lifting to her toes and pressing her lips to mine. A spark ignited and I couldn’t help but deepen the kiss, sliding my tongue between her lips. I let my hands drift down her back until I got to the bottom of the long sweater she wore. I skimmed my hand up her side until I reached the bare skin of her waist. She was soft and warm, her body close to mine as our mouths practically made love.
Maybe that was corny, but it was the only way to describe what was happening here. Tongues tangling, gliding in and out, very similar to what I would do to her once we were in bed.
“Come home with me,” I whispered against her lips. “Stay the night.”
“Yes.” Her blue eyes burned bright with desire.
“You two should take this party somewhere more…private.” Sheridan’s voice was laced with humor as she came into the kitchen, hands laden with empty dishes.
“Can you make sure someone sticks around until late to keep an eye on Sawyer?” Lucy asked her. “Kon and I were just talking about…leaving.”
Sheridan nodded. “Absolutely. Go on and get out of here while he’s absorbed in all things football. And I’ll make sure everything is settled here before we leave.”
“Oh, you don’t have to—” Lucy began.
“Go already!” Sheridan made a shooing motion at us.
“Just bring what you’ll need for the night,” I said to Lucy. “We’ll come back early tomorrow since I have practice.”
“Okay.” She winked before turning and running up the stairs.
I hadn’t thought I would have company tonight, so there were dishes in the kitchen sink, and I hadn’t made my bed this morning, but my weekly cleaning service kept things from getting too messy. Besides, I didn’t think Lucy cared much about the state of my apartment because the moment we got inside I wrapped my arms around her and kissed the top of her head.
“Sorry it’s a mess,” I whispered, kissing a trail down her neck to her shoulder. “I didn’t think you would end up here tonight.”
“As long as there’s no wet spot on the bed, I’m good.”
I frowned. “Wet spot? You mean, like from sex with another woman? No way. I bring no one to my home. Ever.”
“That’s nice.” She looked around as I closed my fingers around hers.
“Do you want a tour? The condo is not so big.”
“Sure.”
I showed her the kitchen, the open-concept living area, and the two guest rooms. My condo was expensive and modern, but I hadn’t done much in the way of decorating since I spent most of my time in bed or on the couch watching TV.
I left my room for last, planning to go back to the living room once she saw it, but she had other ideas.
“Your bed is massive.” She gave me a flirty smile, wiggling her eyebrows.
“I like to stretch out,” I said, smiling back at her. “I didn’t bring you here for sex, Lucy. I want to spend time with you, even if we just talk and cuddle.”
“So…sex is off the table?” Her eyes danced with mischief as she slowly tugged off her sweater.
“This is not what I said,” I murmured, pulling her against me. “I want to spend time with you. Alone. Away from…everyone. We are always surrounded. But I also want to be a gentleman.”