Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
“You deserve good things, too.”
An emotion I can’t put a name to flickers across his rugged features, half hidden in shadow beneath the warm light of a lamppost. He gives my hands a squeeze and then says, “Speaking of things you deserve—” He pulls a small object from his pocket. “—I got you a little something.”
“What? You’ve already given me plenty tonight.”
Lucas hands me the object—a small box—shifting his weight. Is he nervous? I tease off the lid, revealing a gold ring laid with a small, dark gemstone. I step closer to the lamppost to get a better look at the stone: an oblong, bottle-green emerald.
“When did you even have time to get this?”
“I picked it up at the estate sale.”
“But…don’t tell me this is why you put that dresser back.”
“It was worth it.” He takes the box from my hands and teases out the ring, which he then slips onto the third finger of my right hand. The emerald glitters in the light from the lamppost.
No man or boy has ever given me jewelry before. Not even my father.
“Thank you,” I whisper. “It’s beautiful.”
He pulls me close and kisses my temple.
“Not half as beautiful as you, baby girl. But I’m glad you think so.”
I can't help but steal glances at Lucas as we traverse the empty roads leading back to the duplex. He's so handsome it should be illegal, with his dark hair and chiseled jaw. I try to play it cool,
but there's a palpable tension between us. I can feel the attraction building like electricity in the air, and I know he feels it too. I see it in the tilt of his lips, in the way he steals glances at me out of the corner of his eye.
As we pull into the driveway, I can hardly breathe. I don't want the night to end, but I'm not sure how to move things from the truck to the bedroom. Lucas parks, then turns to me.
“I had a really great time tonight, Tatum.”
My stomach flutters. I touch the emerald ring just to prove that it’s real.
“Me too, Lucas. I had a really great time.” I feel so lame for echoing what he already said, but my heart is hammering in my chest. I can barely breathe, let alone speak.
We stare at each other for a moment, the chemistry between us almost unbearable. I want to kiss him. I’m pretty sure he wants to kiss me, too, but I can see the hesitation on his face. I can't help wondering if I’ve misread the situation.
He takes my hand, and I feel a jolt of electricity run through me. He looks into my eyes and says, “I don't want this night to end.”
Relief surges through me. “Neither do I.”
He leans in and presses his lips to mine. It's a soft, cautious kiss at first, but as I open to him and allow him to slide his tongue into my mouth, his comes up to cup my breast. I moan into his open mouth. A moment later, he breaks the kiss and leans his forehead against mine.
“I've been wanting to touch you like this all night,” he rasps.
I feel my cheeks flush. “Me, too.”
He wraps his arms around me and pulls me close, and I feel his heart beating against my chest. We sit in silence, just holding each other, as I wait for him to keep going, touching me everywhere.
Then he pulls back.
“I'll call you tomorrow,” he says.
What? Tomorrow?
I jump out of the truck before he has a chance to come around and open the door for me.
“What do you mean tomorrow?” I ask, hands on my hips.
“Tatum –”
“You’re really gonna end the night here? After yesterday, after what we already did?”
“I can’t—”
“Why not?” I demand.
He averts his gaze, and suddenly my confidence evaporates into mist. I take a step back, away from him.
“You’ve changed your mind about me.”
He shakes his head. “No, Tatum. It’s nothing like that.”
“Then what is it like? Because I thought we were both looking forward to this.”
Lucas scrubs a hand down his stubbled face. When he meets my gaze again, there’s a hunger there that threatens to swallow me whole.
“If I take you upstairs now, I won’t be able to keep my hands off you. I’ll make you mine in every sense of the word.”
I melt at the longing in his tone but manage to stand my ground. “I want to be yours, Lucas.”
The gears turn behind his eyes, and with one curt nod of his head, he seems to make a decision. He takes my hand, leading me up the steps to his unit. He opens the door to let me inside, and as soon as he closes it behind us, he’s on me, his mouth on mine, his hands running up and down the length of my body.