Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 101985 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101985 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
I can’t. At least, not in words.
This is why I explain the only way I know how to.
By taking her by the back of the head and pulling her in for a hard, deep kiss.
16
MIA
Oh, my God.
At first, my instinct tells me to push him away. Maybe kick him in the balls before I do. He has no right. He shouldn’t.
And oh, I want him too. Forever. Right here, in this spot, he could kiss me on and on until we both die of dehydration or starvation or whatever comes first. I don’t care. Because the second his hand cupped the back of my head, I knew this was right. This is what was always going to happen. We fought as hard as we could, but it was no use.
So when he forces his tongue between my lips and plunges into my mouth, I meet it with mine. He groans, the rumbling low in his chest, and I’m lost. Completely gone. My hands find his shoulders and press into his unyielding muscles, my need for him strong enough to make my knees shake.
With his free hand, he slides down my back and finally cups my ass, hauling me in closer until our bodies are flush, and I can feel what’s growing in his pants. I’ve never wanted anything more than to reach between us and rub him there, to get him off like he did for me.
But I can’t. Not now, not ever. It takes all the self-control I have to break the kiss, and even then, he nips my bottom lip before letting me go. It tingles in the best way. “What are you doing?” I whisper between gasps of air.
“You couldn’t tell? Am I that out of practice?” He squeezes my ass again, harder this time, and I moan before I can help myself.
I know that will only encourage him, so I take a deep breath and try to come up with a reason he shouldn’t take me here and now. “There are people out there. You can’t do this.”
“Is that all that’s stopping you?” He traces the line of my jaw before stroking my throat. Fire races over my skin, following the path of his fingers like the tail behind a comet. All I want is to lean into his touch and forget everything else. “Send them home.”
“You can’t do this. You can’t screw with me like this.”
“Who said I was screwing around?” With both hands, he takes me by the hips and pulls me tight against the rod in his pants. “I need you. I want you. I’m so fucking tired of pretending I don’t.”
This can’t be happening. Is it a dream? No, I can still hear everybody talking out in the living room. Eventually, somebody will come back here, wondering if I’m okay. I can’t let them see us like this.
“Zeke. Please. Be fair.” I don’t know what makes me reach out and cup his cheek in one hand. Maybe it’s the way I’ve always wondered what his scruff feels like. It’s soft but rough at the same time. I can’t help but wonder what it would feel like against my inner thighs.
I’ve had way too much to drink tonight. I had no idea I was this drunk. You’re not drunk. You’re horny. Stop lying to yourself.
“There’s nothing fair about life, princess.” He looks almost sad when he backs away, turning to check himself out in the mirror above my dresser. Once he adjusts what’s still jutting out from his pants, he leaves the room. Rather than return to the kitchen, he goes to his room and quietly closes the door.
Dear God. I go to the dresser, too, but at first, all I can do is lean against it and finish catching my breath. Holy fuck. What did he mean by having to pretend he didn’t want me? Has he always—
“Hey, you alive in here?” Posey is nice enough to reach around and knock on the open door before peering around the doorframe.
I’m glad Zeke’s gone, at least. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Because the guys out there are getting ready to fight him unless you come out of here looking the way you did before you went in.” She looks me up and down, screwing her lips up in what looks like uncertainty. “What happened? You look all flushed.”
“Nothing. Really.”
“Are you sure?” She tips her head back, looking toward the living room before turning my way again. “What’s going on with you two? You can tell me.”
“Nothing. Seriously!” I hiss when she smirks.
“Right. The first time I ever saw him, he was about ready to throw you over his shoulder and carry you out of that party. It was almost hot.”
“No, it wasn’t.”
“It was from where I was standing. And every time I’ve seen him since, he’s been watching you.”