Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 107687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“Well, hot damn. I knew you were a kinky girl at heart,” I gasp, because even I’m turned on by the words.
It all happens so fast.
Austen’s head whips to mine as she screams, about jumping out of her skin. Doing so has her missing a step, and when she starts to fall, I’m there, catching her. Her eyes are wide, wild, as she gawks up at me, and damn, she feels good in my arms. She smells like musk and cake, delectable. Her lips part, and my body tightens as I gaze down at her, our eyes locking. Fuck, I want to kiss her.
But before I can do such a thing, she pushes me away, cussing. “You jackass! I could have died.”
“I had you,” I say as she scrambles to her feet, clutching her wrist.
“You had me! No, you scared the shit out of me—and then caught me somehow!”
I can see the embarrassment all over her face, and I shrug. “Good thing I’m fast.”
“You’re an ass,” she says, anger swirling in her eyes.
I can’t help it. I laugh. “You’re adorable when you’re mad and turned on.”
Her eyes widen, and she takes a step back. “I am not turned on.”
I scoff. “Sure. But really, who wouldn’t be when you’re reading about someone’s pussy getting bitten and sucked at the same time?”
Her face deepens in color as she glares. “You have no clue what you’re talking about.”
I smirk. “I might not know shit about vampires, but I know when a girl is turned on.”
“Don’t you have somewhere to be? Something to do? Leave me alone,” she hollers then, climbing back on the treadmill. She slams the book shut and ignores me as she continues to work out. Her face is flushed, and the little tip of her chin turns me on. Shit, everything about her turns me on.
I almost tell her so, but Ryan calls for me. “Dimitri, your water is ready.”
“Yeah, Dimitri. Go drown yourself,” she mutters as she continues to stride, not even sparing me a glance.
“You don’t mean that.”
She side-eyes me. “Oh, I do. Do you need assistance?”
I grin. “Only if I can assist you…reading that book.” I put air quotes up with the “reading” that she does not find funny.
“I can read just fine, thank you,” she snaps, and I grin.
“Well, you let me know if you need help reenacting anything in it,” I say as I walk away, chuckling, and I can feel the daggers from her eyes.
I reach the steel tub and groan internally. I’m pretty sure the tub is more ice than water, but I know I need to get in there. I rip off my shirt as I toe out of my shoes. I pull my shorts down, leaving myself only in my boxers. I say a prayer before I put one leg in and squeal from the chill. I step in with my other, and without much thought, I drop myself down so I won’t delay. The cold freezes my bones as I settle to the bottom, the icy temperature taking my breath away. A shiver runs through my body as I hiss and curse.
“Oh, is it cold? Are you suffering?”
I snap my gaze toward her, her eyes still shooting those daggers but appearing very pleased I am in pain. “Yes, but it’s okay. I need to cool down after reading what you’re reading.”
Her eyes narrow to slits. “I think you need to ice your head.”
I snort. “Nah, I’m good,” I call, as she rolls her eyes. I close my eyes, trying not to move. “Talk to me.”
“What?” she asks, but I don’t open my eyes.
“Talk to me. Help me get through this.”
She doesn’t say anything, and when I open an eye, she’s watching me incredulously. “Why would I do that, when you just scared the shit out of me?”
“Because we’re friends.” I shut my eyes once more, but I feel her watching me.
“Hardly,” she says, and I can imagine her shaking her head. “Fine. How’s your day going?”
“Great. Had a session this morning, ate me some pancakes, without frosting—”
“Tragic,” she interjects, and a smirk pulls at my lips.
“Then did some intense reading—”
“Ugh, you’re annoying.”
“And now I’m soaking my bones before I go to morning skate.” I open one eye once more. “Are you going to morning skate?”
She doesn’t look at me as she answers, “Yes, I am, which is why I’m working out now.”
“Good to know,” I say under my breath as I close my eyes. “What are your plans for today?”
She sighs deeply before she answers. “I’m going shopping with my sisters today.”
“Oh, that’s right. For dresses. I knew that.” I settle deeper into the water, and I want to tell her to get something easy to take off. But there is no way she wouldn’t drown me if I did. “Do you go home on the weekends?”