Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“Let me.” Mike immediately leaned over her and unbuckled the seat belt with one easy click, releasing her.
She turned to hop out of the high truck seat and came into direct contact with his hard body, and his large hands came to her waist. It was all she could do not to lean farther into his warmth and the intoxicating scent she’d come to associate with Mike.
Instead of stepping back and giving her room to climb out, he lifted her out of the seat and deliberately allowed her body to feel the hard length of his as he lowered her to the ground.
She teetered a bit on her heels and wrapped her arms around his neck, telling herself it was so she wouldn’t fall.
“Cara,” he groaned, burying his face between her neck and shoulder. “Sitting so close to you at the restaurant, your bare thigh touching mine, your sexy scent distracting me, I’ve been hard all night.”
Her body clenched tight at his blunt words, and she let out a moan, arching her hips into him and tangling her fingers in his hair.
“Inside,” he said, grabbing her hand and heading for the door. “Keys?” He held out a hand.
She fumbled to open her purse but found the set and handed them to him so he could unlock the door faster than she ever could, and they stepped inside.
Between the rush of cold air and the desire flooding her veins, she’d more than shaken off the effects of the wine, but she was more than happy to let him take the lead. For one thing, he was hot doing it, and for another, as long as he wasn’t telling her what to do in every other part of her life, she’d cede control in the bedroom. When she’d decided that, she had no idea. But this was Mike. He liked to be in charge there, and she liked to give him what he wanted. Who cared as long as it worked?
And when it came to this, they definitely clicked.
She shucked off her jacket, letting it fall to the foyer floor. Next, she bent over to remove her boots, only to feel Mike’s hand slip beneath her skirt and find the lacy Victoria’s Secret panties she’d chosen, knowing he was staying over.
His hand caressed her ass, and heat flooded her everywhere.
“Cara, baby,” he murmured, his voice rough.
But his words stopped her cold, and she whirled around to face him. “Baby?”
Realization dawned, and he narrowed his already dark gaze. “Okay, that’s it.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her over to the couch, settling her on his lap. “The word obviously slipped out of my mouth. Again. I need to know why you react the way you do.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Tough.” He lifted her hand and pressed a hot kiss against the rapidly beating pulse point in her wrist. “Now tell me so I can understand and we can get past it,” he said, his tone implacable.
He wouldn’t give her an out, and she blew out a frustrated breath. “Look, I know I’m being ridiculous.” Because Mike used the word as an endearment.
And other people used it too, as a joke or a friendly comment, and Cara snapped at them every time. Sam and Dare thought she was a feminist, and she didn’t bother correcting them. Nobody had ever pushed her about it before.
“I didn’t say you were ridiculous. I just want to know why it bothers you.” He kept his hand intertwined with hers.
“Fine,” she snapped, feeling cornered. “It’s what my father says to my mother. Baby, bring me a drink. Baby, get me the newspaper. Baby, stop being such a goddamn drama queen. Baby, shut the fuck up and cook dinner.” And Baby, you need to listen when I tell you to do something before he let loose with his fists.
Beneath her, Mike stiffened at her words, then forced himself to relax. “Thank you for telling me,” he said at last.
She heard the heartfelt sentiment behind the words. “Guess I’m more screwed up than you thought, huh?” She managed a laugh she didn’t really feel.
“No more than me, baby.” Before she could react to the word, he’d lifted her hand and run his tongue over her sensitive skin.
She shivered, feeling the cool trail of slick wetness all the way to her core, and she unconsciously wriggled deeper into his lap, seeking pressure where she ached the most.
“Notice that?” he asked.
All Cara felt was a pure shot of desire. “Notice what?”
He chuckled. “Desensitization to the word. I’m going to work at it until every time you hear baby, you think of me doing something wicked to your body and the bad memories no longer resurface.”
“You think you can accomplish that?” she asked in a husky voice, unbelievably touched by his response.