Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 107667 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107667 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
And the words are right there.
She frees a piece of her hair from my mustache and then cups my cheek before kissing me again. I fall into the kiss. I fall into everything that is her. I gather her closer, our noses pressing together as our eyes collide. “Don’t do that to me again.”
Her brow perks. “What?”
“Three months, Tennessee. Three excruciating months.”
Her eyes soften as she runs her thumb along my jaw and whispers, “I missed you, D’Artagnan. So much.”
“I was a text away.”
“I know. I was dumb,” she admits, her eyes searching mine. “I’ll never make that mistake again. Three months felt like a lifetime.”
I nod. “I felt like I couldn’t even breathe.”
Tennessee's eyes move with mine as she kisses my top lip. “I’m here now.”
“Promise me,” I demand, holding her gaze. “Promise me you’ll never do that to me again.”
“I wouldn’t dare,” she says without hesitation, her heart in her eyes. “I couldn’t if I tried.”
Our lips meet, and my pounding heart quiets in my chest somewhat. Because even though I truly trust her and know I’ll never love anyone the way I love her, I’m aware if she does disappear again, it’ll break me into pieces.
I’d never be the same again.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Dart
Tennessee is only wearing one of my IceCats shirts.
It’s tight along her stomach and her breasts, but long enough to keep her naughty bits from showing, even though I complained greatly about that. Once we got up off the floor and cleaned up, I gave her the shirt, and she made a face at it.
“My daddy told me I couldn’t wear any color other than orange.”
I almost told her I was her daddy now, but I’m pretty sure she doesn’t have the daddy issues or the interest in that kink. I’m just thankful she likes the crack of my palm on that sweet ass of hers.
I could punish that ass for hours and still not get enough.
“But, baby doll, you look so good in black and red.”
She makes a face. “This shirt is giving Georgia Dawgs vibes, but I’m not going to complain since it does have your name on the back. Plus, we just won’t tell my daddy.”
I grin at her, and her eyes dance wickedly with mine. “There are a lot of things we won’t tell your dad.”
“You are absolutely right on that one.”
Once she was covered and I had put on a pair of loose-fitting shorts, we both realized we were starving. Thankfully, I had stuff in the fridge to make pizza.
I stand behind her, holding her as she makes our pizza. As she places the mozzarella, I kiss her neck. “I know I could give you some space, but I don’t want to.”
She snorts at that, leaning her head on mine. “Who says I want space?”
“You did yesterday.”
She looks up at me. “I didn’t mean it. I just needed to figure out how to cut things off with Troy.”
“And how did you?”
Something moves in her eyes, and she says, “He told me you only wanted me for sex, and it pissed me off because I know that’s not true.”
I press my lips to the tip of her nose. “I mean, it is important, though.”
“It is,” she agrees, her lips lifting into a smirk. “But I know it’s more.”
“So fucking much more,” I promise as I exhale happily.
She kisses my top lip before she finishes and then claps her hands. “Okay. You put it in the oven.”
She moves out of my arms and washes her hands as I do as she said. When she is done, I set the timer while she looks out at the back patio. “Wow. That’s one hell of a view, and while I know you’re a very successful hockey player, this seems a bit extravagant for a bachelor.”
I grin as I lean back into the counter. “I actually bought it from my buddy Kirby. He scored it from another player, and when he started his family, he decided to get a bigger house that was safer for the girls. Instead of selling it for market value, he sold it to me for what he paid.”
“It’s a huge house,” she says, looking around, and I love how good she looks in my place.
It is rather large, which is why I wanted my mom and Sabine to move in. It’s four bedrooms with a huge living space, has direct access to the beach, and is elevated off the sand in case of hurricanes or flooding.
“I didn’t offend you, did I?” she asks, stealing me from my thoughts.
“Not at all. I was just thinking how gorgeous you look here.”
She waves me off. “Stop. I’m already wearing your shirt,” she says, making a disgusted face as she lifts it from her skin, and that has me laughing.
“You better get used to it, Tennessee. You’re going to wear my shirt a lot,” I tell her, and her eyes flash with excitement.