Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 47176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
I suppress a gasp, annoyed at myself for the slip-up.
But it’s his fault.
He’s wearing a vest, showing off his muscled arms, thick and strong, covered in layers of tattoos. His silver-streaked hair is wild, as if he’s run his hands through it many times. His massive chest causes the vest to fall loosely over his abs, flapping against them as he approaches.
He stands over me, bringing a manly scent with him.
And that face, the twist to his lips, as if he’s pissed at me.
But he approved the appointment.
What if it wasn’t him, though? What if it was an intern or something?
They made a mistake. Now Jamie’s here to tell me to leave.
Instead, the corner of his lip twitches. It’s not a smile, but it’s not his normal I-hate-you frown either.
“Are you ready?” he asks.
I stand, and suddenly I’m closer to him than I’ve ever been before. He’s standing right there, his chest seeming to expand as if begging me to reach up and dig my fingernails into his rock-hard muscles.
Rock-hard….
It makes me think of other places, but that would never happen. He’d never look at me and want that.
“Yes,” I say after a pause.
He nods, steps aside, and waves a hand toward the staircase. I walk ahead of him, feeling his presence behind me, his sheer size, my skin tingling as though I’m caught in the gaze of a predator.
But caught isn’t the correct phrase.
I want to be in his web, under his control…but only if he wants me the same way I need him, if that’s even possible.
Kelly’s going to kill me.
Just what am I doing, exactly?
It’s too late to ask the question as I walk into his studio.
He closes the door behind me.
I stare at him for a moment, standing taller than the door. The curtains are open, letting the sunlight kiss the silver in his hair. He’s got that twitch to his lips again, a slight curve, as though he finds this situation funny.
“I guess you were shocked,” I murmur because I have to say something.
This staring is making me crazy. Or crazier.
“When I booked you for the tattoo, I mean.”
“I did wonder,” he says in his husky voice.
He walks across the room to a counter, back turned as he sorts through his tools. His muscles shift beneath the vest, making me want to drag my fingernails down his skin.
“I thought maybe Kelly recommended me.”
Hearing her name almost makes me sit down. I’m annoyed at myself right away because I didn’t bother to listen if his voice changed…if he’s got more emotion about her than she does about him.
“No,” I whisper. “She doesn’t….”
He turns, eyes narrowed. There’s so much chaos in his eyes, clashing rage with steady calm and, beneath it all, affection, want, desire. Me.
“Know you’re here?” he finishes for me.
I shake my head. “Exactly.”
“Why?” he asks, taking a few steps forward.
I shift from side to side, or I almost do.
I catch myself at the last second.
He’s making me feel like I can be somebody else, a confident woman who leaps at him, kisses him, wraps her legs around him, and shift up and down, grinding, letting him feel my soaked sex and all the pleasure I want to give, to take, to share.
But that’s not me. I’ll never be able to do that.
I’m here, though. That’s something.
Yes, it is. A freaking betrayal.
“Jennifer?” he says a moment later when I don’t respond. “Why choose me?”
“You’re great at your job,” I say. “Everybody knows that. I’m lucky I even got an appointment.”
“I pushed your request through,” he replies, voice getting low.
“Why?” I ask.
Now he looks unsure, chuckling dryly as he walks back over to the counter. “The tattoo you want honoring your parents means something.”
That isn’t much of an answer, I want to say, but the moment passes.
“I was thinking,” I mutter. “Maybe I might get it on my shoulder instead. That way, it’s less obvious. Will that make a difference?”
He turns again. Those intense eyes hold me in place.
He moves his gaze over my outfit, from my feet to my face. His stare makes my body tingle as I wonder what he’s thinking about my dress, about the way it sticks to me in certain places.
Does he find it disgusting? Or does he have no opinion at all?
“The shoulder’s fine,” he says. “You’ll just have to be careful when it’s healing. That dress will be easy enough to pull down.”
My clit gives a near-violent shudder at that, the thought of Jamie Jensen pulling away my clothes, ripping until I’m naked, and he has me right where he wants me. Needs me the same way I need him.
“Yeah,” I whisper.
“Why didn’t you tell Kelly you were coming?” he asks.
Now I let out a huff. It’s meant to be one of exasperation, but really it’s like I’m letting out all the tension, like deflating a tire. Letting it all out, so I don’t have to give into it – to jump on him, kiss him, pray Kelly doesn’t disown me because of it.