Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 100873 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100873 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Digging happily into her paper bag of pecans once again, Catie said, “What?”
And Danny detonated the grenade. “Why you don’t think we could be real.”
25
TOO REAL, TOO SCARY
Catie stopped with a pecan halfway to her lips, stared at him. Tension simmered in the night air, taut threads he could almost see, almost touch. Then she grinned, put the nut in her mouth, and chewed. “We can’t be real because of all the stuff we’ve already talked about,” she said afterward. “The groupies are just the icing on the cake.”
But Danny wasn’t about to let it go at that. Not anymore. “I want solid and true and forever,” he said, putting it all out there. “That’s what I was raised with, and that’s what I see with my brothers. I’m never going to be the guy who messes around on my girlfriend or wife no matter how many groupies throw themselves at me.”
Catie shot him a look he couldn’t decipher. “I’m not saying you would,” she said at last. “But Danny, that’s after you choose someone to be your forever. Till then, you’re used to going from woman to woman, which is fine. No judgment. I’m just the latest flavor—and if we keep it uncomplicated, we can come out of it still friends, with no bruises.”
Danny really really didn’t like what she’d said. “You’re not just the latest fucking flavor. Damn it, Catie. How could you even say that?”
She made a face. “Fine, fine, not the best choice of words, but you know what I mean. We’re new, fresh, exciting. Let’s not mess things up by talking about an actual future together until we get to the point where it’s realistic.”
Right then he knew without question that she never expected to have that conversation with him. He wanted to argue and point out that they were already having conversations he’d never had with any other woman.
But she was also right in one sense: the change in their relationship was bright and new and shiny.
His gut told him it didn’t matter. One day or one lifetime, it would never be over with Catie. And—his heart kicked—that was fucking scary thinking, especially when she wasn’t on board… But so what? She was still in this, and as long as she was still in this, he had a chance to convince her.
So when they finally got home, he kissed the life out of her.
Moaning deep in her throat, Catie pushed at his chest.
“What?” he grumbled, nuzzling at her throat.
“My nuts!” She shook the precious half bag she had left.
Chuckling, he grabbed the bag and put it on the nearest flat surface. Catie dropped her keys beside it.
He did a double take. “What is that weird-ass fluffy thing on your keys?”
“What? That’s a raccoon. See his cute face?”
“It has crazy eyes—thing probably has rabies.” Deciding the topic of her bizarre choice in key chains could wait, he got back to kissing Catie.
* * *
Danny was hot and impatient and insistent, and it was frying Catie’s circuits. Somehow shrugging off her coat, she went to tell him she couldn’t just drop it to the floor—it’d be a trip hazard. But he was already grabbing it from her and throwing it behind him, where it wouldn’t be a risk to her as they went stumbling toward…
She had no idea where they were stumbling, having lost all sense of direction under the dark heat wave that was Daniel Esera. Of course she knew he was sexy. She’d had sex with him, hadn’t she? But there was an edge to him tonight, a smoldering intensity that had her nipping at his lips and shoving her hands under his tee when he threw off his own jacket.
Ping. Ping. Ping.
Danny had torn apart her fitted black shirt. She’d probably be mad about that later, but right now it revved her engine into overdrive. The fact he was so hot for her made her even hotter for him, the feedback loop a thing of violent pleasure.
His hand, big and warm on her stomach; his lips on her throat; his hair silky and thick under her fingers; his thigh pushing between hers as he nudged her up against the wall. She didn’t argue or protest when he undid her black jeans and pushed them down. But unable to wait, she hauled him up for a kiss with her jeans and panties still only partially down her thighs.
“Fuck, oh fuck, Catie.” His fingers brushed against her as he worked at his own jeans. The jut of his erection slapped against her belly, a raw erotic shock.
“I want you.” Desperation in every inch of her, she suddenly realized they’d have to stop for protection.
“One second, baby.” Danny reached into his jeans pocket to pull out his wallet. In which he had a condom.
A grin when she shuddered in relief. “I learn from my mistakes, princess.” Then he was on her again, his tongue licking hers and his chest crushing her breasts.