Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
Hopefully.
One day.
Panic increases my heart rate. Sweat pops across my forehead.
I have to get out of here.
I glance at Marcel. Please, let’s go.
He nods.
“We’re heading home.” Marcel stands and takes my hand, pulling me off of the couch. “Unless you guys need anything?”
“Nah, we’re good.” Rock touches Hope’s shoulder, then approaches us. “Thanks for staying with her.”
“No problem.” Marcel curls his hand around mine, the warmth easing my tension. “You need anything, call me.”
“Thank you, Teller,” Hope calls.
“You got it.”
“Good to see you, Charlotte,” Rock says. “Work keeping you busy?”
Heat floods my cheeks and I can’t meet his intense eyes. “Almost more than I can handle,” I answer. The excuse seems weak.
“That’s good, though, right?” His eyes crinkle at the corners.
“Sometimes.”
Once we’re finally outside, Marcel pulls me closer. “You all right?”
“Just tired.” Emotionally exhausted is closer to the truth.
“Want me to get the ATV?”
“No, I like walking through the woods with you.” Maybe it will give me a chance to burn off all this sadness.
“Charlotte,” he says once we’re a good distance from the clubhouse. “Do you think maybe it’s time you talk to someone?” His words and tone are gentle but firm.
“No. I’m fine.”
“You looked like you were ready to burst into tears.”
“I got a little choked up seeing you and Heidi and Grace together…” Damn, that’s a tired excuse. I wasn’t trying to change the subject and pile more guilt on his shoulders. But he doesn’t seem offended.
He just squeezes my hand and continues guiding me through the maze of trees, branches, and piles of leaves. “I’m glad I didn’t say anything.” He blows out a thoughtful sigh. “She loves Grace, and I don’t want to be the reason she ends up resenting her or something.”
That sounds like another lie he’s told himself. But I’m not exactly in a position to point that out.
Excuses, excuses. We’re both full of them.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Charlotte
“You ready for tonight?” Marcel calls out a few seconds before appearing in our bedroom doorway.
“Almost,” I mutter between curled lips. I swipe a few more careful strokes of dark red gloss along my bottom lip. I actually feel…happy tonight. More excited for a night at the clubhouse than I’ve been in a long time. Rooster and Shelby have returned from her tour. Everyone from the Downstate charter should be visiting. It’s going to be fun. I need fun.
Marcel groans. “What are you trying to do to me?” He steps behind me, resting his hands on my hips. In the mirror, he seems to tower over me. He leans closer to brush a kiss against my neck. “You know I can’t resist that color on you.”
I hold the tube in front of his face. “This is different. It’s a gloss, not a matte lipstick. Melted Poppies, not Unicorn Blood.”
“As if it matters.” He hooks a finger in my hair and slides it out of his way, dropping a kiss in the dip between my neck and shoulder. “It’s hot as fuck and makes me want to do dirty stuff to you.”
A bolt of electricity crackles down my legs. “I don’t think we have time for dirty stuff. Maybe just stuff.” Somehow, I keep my voice steady and carefree.
“I always have time for you.” He dips down and slides his hands under my bathrobe, over the outsides of my thighs.
The tube of gloss falls out of my hands, clattering onto the counter. My legs tremble from the sensual tickling of his rough hands against my skin. I curl my fingers over the edge of the sink. Otherwise, I might melt into a puddle.
“That’s it. Hold on,” he encourages. His fingers brush my hips. “No underwear. I like that.”
“Well, not yet, I—”
“Shh.” He brushes more soft kisses over my shoulder. “How are you feeling? Ready for family dinner night? It’s going to be complete chaos now that everyone’s back home from the tour.”
“I was looking forward to hearing all the crazy stories from the guys. Jiggy’s version of events is always somehow hilarious and creepy.”
“Very true.”
I inhale a shaky breath, keenly aware of Marcel’s hand creeping over my thigh. “But I could be convinced to stay home.”
“Why not do both?” He squeezes my hips and spins me to face him. Heat floods his eyes. He lifts me and sets my butt on the counter.
My heart squeezes. How is it possible to never get tired of looking at this man? I reach up and run my fingers through his thick blond hair, staring into the intelligent teal eyes that have captivated me from the moment we met. “What’s your secret?”
He lifts his eyebrows. “To?”
“Getting more handsome every day.”
The fierce expression on his face softens. “Handsome?” He tugs at the knot in the belt of my bathrobe.
“Sexy. Definitely sexy.”
“And?”
“Fuckable. Extremely fuckable.”
Satisfaction curls his lips. “I live to please you, Sunshine.”
He finally works the knot loose. I shimmy my shoulders and let the robe fall open. My skin warms where his gaze falls on my body.