Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
I tug on my joggers and shirt and follow, inhaling the delicious smell of the food Gabriella prepared.
“What do you think?” she asks, looking so cute with her giant pink oven mitts and bare feet vulnerable on the tiled floor.
The food in the tray is still sizzling; vegetables and chicken cooked to perfection. “I think it looks amazing,” I say. “I think Dalton, in particular, is going to become your friend for life.”
“I thought he already was,” Gabriella says, her bottom lip protruding a little.
“Well, of course he is,” I backtrack. “But this is going to seal the deal.”
She places the tray on a wooden board on the countertop and pulls some aluminum foil from an overhead cupboard, wrapping the food like she’s tucking a child into bed.
“You can take the tray,” she says, “but you’ll need to bring it back tomorrow. Hopefully, my mom won’t notice, but it might be best if you bring one of yours next time.”
“Well, it won’t be me,” I say. “But I’ll tell whoever you pick next.”
She nods, and I think I detect a flicker of uncertainty in her expression, but then it’s gone, replaced by a broad smile. “I guess that will depend on when I’m horny.”
“So, in ten minutes then,” I laugh.
“Sounds about right.” She laughs, too, and finds a dishcloth to wrap around the hot tray so I can carry it home.
I look at my watch, conscious that I need to get a move on or I’ll be late for my first lecture. Gabriella is probably thinking the same thing, but between my legs, my cock has other ideas.
“Wanna go again,” I say, tipping my head to the stairs so Gabriella is clear on my intentions.
“Seriously?” Her wide eyes and raised brows make me smile. I bite my bottom lip at all of her sweetness.
“Seriously.”
“You’ll ruin me for your brothers,” she says. “I won’t be able to walk after a repeat of what we did upstairs.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t, then,” I say, already regretting my selflessness.
“There’ll be other times,” she says softly. “I’ll get used to the size of you all, and then it won’t be such a big deal.”
“I like the sound of that,” I say, taking hold of her hands and pulling her toward me. Our kiss is like honey on my tongue, so sugary and delicious I never want it to stop, but as with everything good, there always seems to be a limit. When she pulls back, I bend to kiss her forehead. “This has been…”
There’s no word that can encapsulate everything it’s been, and when Gabriella nods before I finish my sentence, I know she understands.
“It really has been,” she whispers. “I better shower.”
“Yeah. I need to head off.” I take hold of the tray, breathing in the scent of what will be waiting for me later.
Our hands brush and a crazy wave of static runs over my skin, ending in a shiver at the back of my neck. Gabriella straightens, and I wonder if she felt it too.
“My sneakers are by the front door,” I say, and she grins.
“I better take this back then, so you can put them on.”
We shuffle the tray between us and I slide my sneakers on as quickly as I can, conscious that Gabriella is holding the hot, heavy tray. When I take it from her, she drops her head to one side. “So, I guess I’ll see you around.”
“Yeah. You will.”
“Bye.”
With the food between us, kissing her again would be a challenge, bordering on treacherousness, so I nod as I pass through the door she’s opened for me.
And that’s how we end the first morning of our deal.
I haven’t smiled so much in years.
6
DALTON
“This is delicious,” I say, scooping up another huge mouthful of chicken and roasted vegetables and shoving it into my mouth. “Seriously.”
“I know, right?” Kain nods, dabbing his mouth with a napkin. “You should see how quickly she rustled it up.”
“It’s the multitasking I’m impressed by.” Blake takes a swig of beer from the condensation-covered bottle and grins. “A woman who can cook and fuck at the same time is like my idea of perfection.”
“You sound like a friggin’ caveman.” Kain grimaces.
“I’m sure Gabriella would love a man who can fuck and change a tire at the same time.”
“Or fuck and organize an expensive date,” I add.
They both turn to me. “Dating isn’t in the deal,” Kain reminds me.
“It was hypothetical.” I’m quick to deny that my train of thought is taking me anywhere outside our arrangement. Whether they believe me is another matter. My mind may have imagined stepping out with Gabriella on my arm, both of us dressed to the nines, ready for an expensive meal. She’s a knockout in sweats and leggings but seeing her in something tight and sexy and getting to treat her to a special evening would be amazing.