Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91299 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91299 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“Yes, damn you.” She huffs out a laugh. “Though if you pull out a butt plug, I’m out of here.”
I laugh against her skin and kiss her inner leg. “No plugs. No one’s done this with you?”
“No.”
Satisfaction runs through me and I smile.
She raises her head and glares at me. “Don’t stop now.”
“Never.” I laugh and write my name on her with my tongue. Blaze.
She writhes under me. Her legs move restlessly on the bed and her skin turns a rosy color.
“Blaze…”
“Promise you won’t get tired of me, Charm. Promise me you’ll stay.” I say the words against her skin, not able to look at her, terrified of my own vulnerability. My tongue flicks at her as I slide my fingers inside. “Say it, baby.”
Her hands clutch my head as she bows up closer to me. “I promise, I promise…”
She stiffens and arches up, spasming under my mouth.
I crawl back up to her and stare down. My eyes hold hers. “You’re mine. Right?”
I hate that anxiousness in my voice, the need to hear her say it, and she seems to know, her eyes soft as she returns my look. “I’m yours.”
Emotion swells inside me. My hands shake as I move over to the side of the bed and grab a condom from the nightstand. I tear it open with my teeth, my body wiggling to get back to her.
“Face me, baby.”
She does, her body pliant and loose.
“Put your leg on my hip, Charm,” I say. “Side by side. I want that. Soft and slow.”
She hitches her leg over me until we line up, her brown eyes on mine, and I groan at the feel of her tits against my chest.
And then we’re kissing again, and a sense of completeness fills me.
She feels so right. This feels right.
Is this what love is?
Is that what’s driven me to near madness every time she’s gotten close to me?
I want her.
I want her.
I want her.
For as long as I can hang on to her.
My hand palms the back of her head, and I kiss her mouth with a ferocity I didn’t realize I was holding back, a banked feeling I’ve let build up for months, a reaction to her finally being in my arms.
I rise up and stare down at her. Words, heavy fucking words, teeter on the tip of my tongue…but I can’t say them. So, I kiss her again, loving her with my mouth, showing her who I am, how deep inside her I want to be.
Later, after we’re both exhausted from doing everything I’ve had in my head for months, we find ourselves on the floor and staring up at my ceiling fan.
We’re holding hands, and I turn to look at her. “Wanna sandwich?”
She rolls on top of me, hair in her eyes. She pretends to think. “It’s breakfast, but I’m starving. Whatcha got?”
“Turkey and Swiss in the fridge. There’s some bread in the cupboard.”
“Got mayo?”
I roll my eyes. “Yes, Dillon has mayo. Bastard.”
“Now you’re talking.”
“I’ll even make it and bring it to you—even though it’s going to really gross me out.”
She laughs and I kiss her.
Nothing is going to ruin this with her. Nothing.
27
“Joey P stopped by to see your brother and asked if you’d be home in March. You know, he never married that Protestant girl he was seeing. Knew it wouldn’t last. Maybe he can come for dinner when you get here. I’ll talk to his mom and work it out,” says Ma.
My eyes widen as I clutch the phone to my ear. I’m on my way to class, thought I’d check in, and this is what I got—the Italian setup.
I let out a sigh. “If you call his mom, I’m not coming home.”
Her voice tsks. “But, Charm, you’re going to be a lonely old maid.”
I choke back a laugh.
She continues, “I know once you get here and Joey’s here, things will just happen—”
I stop on the path to Dr. Cartwright’s class. Might as well tell her. Should have by now. She’s going to either love Blaze or hate him on sight. “I have a boyfriend, Ma. It’s kind of new, but it’s a real thing. We’ve been dating for a few weeks.”
Perfect days of us together, me at his place, him at mine, barely a night apart. We can’t get enough of each other, both of us eager to make up for so much lost time. I’m falling deeper into his dark waters, drifting and wading, listening to him describe how he grew up—without real love. He’s opening up to me, moment by moment, and I hang on to the seconds, my heart hoping he will give me everything.
Her voice rises. “Why haven’t you told me? What’s this boy’s name? Is he from Mississippi?”
I chuckle. “His name is Blaze, and you never give me a chance to talk.”