Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 119005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
“Do those lines usually work for you?”
He laughed. “Yes, actually.”
“Well, there’s a first time for everything. Please leave.”
“Now, gorgeous—” He cut off abruptly because Callan was back and sliding into my side of the booth. He dropped his arm over my shoulders and stared stonily at the guys who had invaded our table.
“I think I heard her telling you to leave.”
The two men shared a look and then the cocky one turned to me as they shimmied back out. “We’re over there”—he gestured across the room to a table of guys—“if you change your mind.”
“I won’t.”
“Shame. I could show you how a real man shows a woman like you a good time.” He winked at me before walking away.
Callan tensed and moved as if he was going to follow after him.
I slapped a hand down on his thigh to stop him. “He’s not worth it.”
“He’s a fucking prick.” He got out of the booth, and I grabbed his hand.
“Callan!”
I was surprised by this overreaction.
“Not worth the fine,” I reminded him.
He didn’t listen, and I stumbled to get out of the booth as he marched across the room.
My heart hammered as I grabbed my purse to follow him, to stop him from doing whatever stupid thing he was about to do.
I was halfway there when I realized he was whispering something in the cocky bloke’s ear. Whatever it was made the guy’s face bleach of all color. Callan’s expression was hard as he straightened. “Understood?”
The guy nodded imperceptibly but wouldn’t look at him. He was scared and embarrassed and although he was a prick for doing what he did in front of Callan, I couldn’t help but feel bad for him.
Callan strode back to me, grabbed my hand, and led me out of the pub. His tension bristled down his arm.
As soon as we were outside, I yanked my hand away, uncaring of passersby. “What the hell was that?”
He whipped around, glowering. “What the hell was what?”
“That!” I gestured to the bar. “We were having a nice night. You didn’t have to do that.”
“That arsehole needed a lesson. You don’t flirt and come on to another man’s woman in front of him.”
I sucked in a breath. “Your woman?”
Callan flinched and looked away. “You know what I mean. My date.”
His date.
Only his date.
Nothing else.
And not even that tomorrow.
“I’m not going to sit by while another guy gets in your face, flirts with you, or tries to touch you when you don’t want him there. End of story.”
I huffed and strode past him. “I hate to break it to you, Captain, but come tomorrow, it’ll be none of your business if another man flirts with or touches me.”
Suddenly, I was yanked back toward him, whirled around by his grip on my upper arm. I only had a second to process the furious hunger on his face before he crushed my lips beneath his. His arms pulled me tight to him, and I grabbed his shoulders for support as I gasped beneath the surprise attack.
He used the moment to slip his tongue into my mouth and like always, our kiss turned wild.
Laughter was a vague noise beneath the blood rushing in my ears.
“Kiss her for me!”
“Get a room!”
Callan broke the kiss with an irritated growl and turned to look at whoever had shouted at us. There was more laughter, and I attempted to pull away. His arms tightened around me as his gaze came back to mine.
I stared at him, lips swollen, cheeks hot, my heart and mind a muddled mess.
“It doesn’t have to end tonight, princess.”
My pulse leapt at his words. Did he mean—
“I wanted three months. We could do this for another six weeks.” He searched my face, and I hid my disappointment. “We’re both not ready for this to be over.”
It was true. However, I had a horrible feeling we were both not ready for totally different reasons.
Yet the thought of not seeing Callan after this, not having him hold me when I needed him or sleeping next to him, not feeling him move inside me, deeper than anyone had ever been before …
In my confusion and heartache, I found myself agreeing to another six weeks.
Relief flooded Callan’s expression. He didn’t hide it.
That confused me even more.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
BETH
The truth was with how on edge Callan had been that night, I’d expected rough, hard, fast sex as soon as we walked into his flat. Instead, he seemed contemplative as he held my hand and guided me into his bedroom.
I waited, following his lead, insecurities, worries, doubts all mixing with this insatiable attraction.
Callan held my gaze, his intense and filled with desire as he shrugged out of the Harrington jacket he’d worn over a black T-shirt. The T-shirt followed the jacket onto the armchair in his bedroom. His shoes and socks were next.
My skin heated as I took in his glorious nakedness, my belly clenching deep and low. He was so unfairly beautiful, but my attraction had only deepened over time. Not lessened. Because the sexiest man could be standing in front of me right now, but if he wasn’t Callan Keen, I wouldn’t be interested.