Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 93699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
I lay motionless despite my nerves running wild, despite my body begging me to roll over and let him have me again.
Just this once. Just to get it over with, then never again.
He darted his tongue against my skin, turning me on with each passing second.
“Funny thing you should know about this room,” he said, pressing another long kiss against me. “While you were watching me in the shower, I was watching you, too.”
My eyes fluttered open.
“I could’ve sworn I taught you how to make yourself come a lot harder than that,” he whispered. “As much as I would like to finish this and test my theory on your orgasms, our contract calls for no fucking or shared beds, so…”
He moved off the mattress and walked towards the living room, leaving me beyond bereft and breathless.
“Goodnight, Mrs. Carter.”
SEVENTEEN & A HALF
PRESENT DAY
TRAVIS
Fifty Miles Outside Las Vegas
I had no idea how to get through the rest of my marriage without enduring the most painful case of “blue balls” in history.
What the hell was I thinking?
ACT SEVEN
BACK THEN
TATIANA
Portland, Oregon
What the hell am I thinking?
I’m staring at Travis via my phone’s screen, feeling more conflicted than ever. It’s a little after midnight, and I’m holed up in a hotel bathroom.
“I can’t talk to you right now,” I say. “I’ll have to call you tomorrow.”
“Why are you whispering?”
“That’s not the point. Hang up the phone.”
“I don’t want to.” He smiles and lays back in a bed I don’t recognize, shirtless with his abs on full display. On any other night, I would happily continue our routine of talking until sunrise, but I don’t have it in me today.
“If you can’t talk, what’s the reason?” he asks.
“It’s not a good time and I’m tired.”
“Give me the real reason.”
“That’s it. Accept it.”
“If you weren’t such a terrible liar, I would.” He sits up, looking into my eyes. “Tell me.”
“It’s because your sister called me a cunt on the podium two hours ago.”
“You called her a bitch first.” He smiles. “I read your lips on TV.”
“No, I said, ‘Good job out there today.’”
Then I called her a bitch.
“You told her to get used to being in second place.” He laughs and tilts his head to the side, disarming me in a way that only he can. “Congratulations on winning first place tonight. You deserved it.”
“I didn’t know you were watching.”
“I always am.”
“Well…” My heart flutters. “Thank you. Goodbye.”
I end the call and shut off the sink faucet. Then I take a deep breath before returning to the suite.
Unfortunately, I’m sharing the space with Penelope against my will. All thanks to the fact that our coaches are currently fucking each other in what should be my room.
To make matters worse, Elaine has decided that she doesn’t trust me with her car anymore, so I can’t drive home to get away from this.
Penelope and I are giving each other the usual silent treatment, but I’m seconds away from jumping onto her bed and strangling her to death.
“I only have five more minutes, Hayden.” She groans. “Miss Satan has returned to the room, and she’s about to take over the television to watch those weird cartoons.”
I roll my eyes.
“Oh, wait, excuse me. They’re not cartoons. They’re anime.”
I let out a sigh and search for the remote. I’d intended to be nice tonight and watch the show with headphones, but I’ve changed my mind.
“Whatever.” She rolls over. “ I might have to hang up on you. You’re starting to sound like my brother these days.”
I freeze at the slight mention of Travis and wonder what he’s ever said about me to her. If he’s ever mentioned me or slipped up and mentioned ‘us.’
Ugh. This situation is so fucked up!
When I find the remote, my phone vibrates against the nightstand.
I ignore it and flip through the channels.
It buzzes again.
Then again and again.
“You want to answer that?” Penelope looks over at me. “It’s probably someone calling to say ‘Congratulations’ on your win over me today. Since I guarantee it won’t happen again, you should enjoy every bit of this rare moment.”
“You know what? You really are a straight up bitch.”
“And you’re an overrated cunt.”
“I beat you by five points.”
“I beat you all the time.”
“You’ll never do it again.”
“Want to bet?”
We glare at each other for what feels like forever, until I can’t stand the sight of her crazy eyes anymore.
Turning away from her, I pick up my phone.
It’s Travis…
Text from Travis:
I need to see you.
Text from Travis:
If I sent an Uber to bring you to me tomorrow, would you take it?
Text from Travis:
Since I’m still in California for this weekend’s fight, I can drive you back to Reno on Monday.
Text from Travis:
Say yes.
My heart races at his request, and he sends me another before I can answer.
Text from Travis:
I don’t think I can wait that long. What if I bought you a plane ticket for this morning?