Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
She blinked, studying her surroundings. Windows with large plantation shutters wrapped around one side of the room. The decor was neutral, a warm cream color scheme, allowing whoever moved into the house to add their own touches.
Not letting herself dwell on the thought of another owner of this beautiful home, she stretched and suddenly noticed she was alone in the bed. Cole must have gotten up much earlier.
She went to the bathroom, surprised to find all her toiletries set out for her already. This sweet, caring side of him never ceased to amaze her and to keep her addicted to hope—the very thing that might destroy her in the end. Ignoring her wayward thoughts, she brushed her teeth, washed her face, and walked out in time to see Cole step into the room.
His hair was still mussed from sleep, but he’d pulled on an old pair of jeans, leaving them unbuttoned. His feet were bare, as was his chest, and Erin’s mouth watered at the sight of him.
“Morning,” she said, not surprised the word came out a husky croak.
“Hey. Sleep okay?”
She nodded. “Like a dead person.”
His mouth turned down. “Don’t even joke like that.”
She settled on the bed, tucking one leg beneath her. “If I don’t joke, I’ll cry, and I refuse to go there.”
His eyes darkened, and he joined her on the bed. “I hate that any part of my life has touched yours. Jed was right when he said I’d be no good for you.”
“Jed’s an ass,” Erin muttered. “Are you seriously telling me you feel responsible for a crazy woman’s actions?” It wasn’t the first time he’d let himself feel responsible for someone else’s behavior. First his father, now this woman.
He let out a snort of disbelief. “A crazy woman whose radar you wouldn’t even be on if not for me.”
“It could just have easily been someone I prosecuted who got out and wanted revenge. We aren’t responsible for other people’s actions.”
Cole eyed her warily and she waited for him to process her words.
* * *
As usual, Cole found himself disarmed by Erin’s practical nature and her ability to let life just go on around her. “It’s not the same thing,” he said of her insistence he wasn’t responsible for the things that happened in his life.
“Why? Because you don’t like it when your solitary world touches anyone else’s?” she asked, challenging him in a way no one else ever dared to.
Her eyes, more green today in the sun-drenched room, flashed angry sparks. Her spunk, her ability to bounce back and go up against him, aroused him like crazy. Made it impossible to keep his distance when distance would be in her best interest.
“Well?” she asked, straightening her shoulders.
Her soft, silky tank fell lower, exposing mouthwatering cleavage.
“Well what?” He’d totally lost the thread of conversation.
Erin’s gaze fell to her chest before she raised her gaze to his once more. “You’re such a man,” she muttered, but with cheeky laughter, not anger, in her voice.
That was all she needed to do in order to completely disarm him and make him putty in her hands. “Something wrong with that?” he asked, suddenly feeling equally playful.
She raked her gaze over him, the same awareness he’d seen when she walked out of the bathroom flaring there now. “Nope, nothing wrong at all.”
Her words and teasing tone poked at him, and with a low growl, he pulled her beneath him on the bed. She stared up at him with those eyes he could drown in.
“You’re dangerous, Cole Sanders,” she said, reaching up and brushing his hair off his forehead.
She didn’t know the half of it. “Never intentionally, not to you.”
Before she could reply or he could get himself in any more trouble, he sealed his mouth over hers, effectively ending all conversation.
She moaned and slid her fingers into his hair, holding him in place. Another surprise. This woman who clearly didn’t know from one-night stands four months ago was now his equal in the bedroom. Damned if that didn’t turn him on even more.
And when she hooked a leg around his, locking him in place, he let her, but by no means did he intend to be passive in this exchange. He ground his hips into hers as he thrust his tongue in and around her mouth, working her into a writhing frenzy of want.
She turned her head to the side and nipped his earlobe. “I need you inside me,” she said, following the small bite with a loving lap of her tongue.
His cock swelled and hardened. “Jesus,” he muttered, his entire body shaking too.
It didn’t take long to strip her of her flimsy top and shorts, discovering she was bare beneath. “You’re going to be the death of me.”
With a laugh, she went to unzip his fly, but he stilled her hand. “I’ve got it.” If he let her try to pull the zipper over him now, he’d lose it for sure.