Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 91216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“Remind me not to tell you shit,” I say, although my tone isn’t aggressive or even mean. Frankly, I’m not holding a grudge. I know it was a slip on his end and I can’t hold the fact that I am a fucking stalker and Chloe has no idea against him. “She doesn’t know I’ve been keeping an eye on her since the accident.”
Tom’s eyes widen slightly, and he lowers his voice. “Right, right. I get it. Sorry again, man. I wasn’t thinking.”
I nod, accepting his apology. “It’s fine.”
He claps me on the shoulder. “I’m happy you finally made the move though. It’s long overdue. She seems to make you really fucking happy.”
A smile tugs at my lips as I think about Chloe. “Yeah, she does. Meeting her for coffee in a bit, actually.”
“Nice.” Tom grins. “You two make a cute couple.”
I finish packing up my gear and close my locker. “Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”
The walk to the cafe feels both too long and too short. I keep replaying our interactions, overthinking if I was too soft, or too hard. I love the fact that Chloe is truly a sexual vixen, but I also know my tastes can scare—and have scared—others away. I don’t want to push too fast or come off as too strong.
Years of fantasy and I’ve imagined these scenarios countless times, but the reality is so much more intense.
When I reach the cafe, I spot Chloe through the window. She’s already here, sitting at a small table near the back, her hands wrapped around a steaming mug. My heart rate picks up as I watch her for a moment. She hasn’t noticed me yet, and I drink in the sight of her—the way she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, how she bites her lower lip as she checks her phone.
Taking a deep breath, I head inside. Chloe looks up as the bell above the door chimes, and her face breaks into a radiant smile when she sees me. God, I love that smile. I’ve seen it so many times from afar, but having it directed at me is surreal.
“Hey,” I say as I approach her table. “Sorry if I kept you waiting.”
“Not at all,” she replies, gesturing for me to sit. “I got here a few minutes ago myself.”
I slide into the seat across from her, my eyes never leaving hers. “You look beautiful,” I say, unable to stop myself. She’s wearing a simple gray sweater, her hair loose around her shoulders, and she’s the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen.
Chloe blushes, her cheeks turning a delightful shade of pink. “Thank you,” she says, looking down at her coffee. “You look good too. How was your shift?”
“Long,” I admit. “But worth it to be here with you now.”
Her eyes flick back up to mine, a mixture of shyness and desire in their depths. “I’m glad you made it. I . . . I couldn’t stop thinking about everything that has happened the last couple of days. It’s a whirlwind of . . . I don’t know.”
“Neither can I,” I confess, reaching across the table to take her hand. Her skin is soft and warm against mine. “You’re all I can think about.”
She intertwines her fingers with mine. “I know we just met, and our story isn’t exactly normal, but . . . this feels different. Special.”
It’s true, even if she doesn’t know the full extent of it. I’ve watched her for so long, dreamed of this moment, but the reality is so much better than anything I could have imagined.
Chloe’s eyes sparkle as she looks at me. “I was worried I might be imagining things or moving too fast.”
“No, you’re not imagining it,” I assure her. “And as for moving too fast . . . well, I think we can set our own pace. There’s no rulebook for this.”
“Maybe I like breaking rules,” she says beneath hooded eyes.
I inch nearer, lowering my voice. “I think we might have that in common.”
Chloe’s lips curve into a mischievous smile. “I feel like you and I both are Jekyll and Hyde. We have the good side—the firefighter and jewelry influencer—and then we have the very bad side—WinterWatcher and BlackAsChlo.”
“I like it when you’re a good girl,” I say. “But I also like it when you are a very bad, bad girl.”
Chloe’s eyes darken, and she licks her lips unconsciously. “I think you just want to spank me again.”
“Guilty.”
Chloe’s breath catches, and I can see the desire flaring in her eyes. She glances around the café quickly before meeting my gaze again. “I think we should go to your place.”
I stand up, offering her my hand. “Let’s go.”
Chloe’s hand is warm in mine, and I can feel her pulse racing. We walk quickly, barely speaking, the tension building with each step.