Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 104305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
“Was it good?”
“Yes,” I answered.
“Then stop complaining.”
I sighed. “I wasn’t complaining. I’m just telling you that you didn’t have to hold back with me.”
“It was our first time together and I wanted…”
I ignored the part about this being our first time together. By focusing on that I might spook him. “You wanted?” I prodded.
He clammed up.
Shit. I messed up, anyway.
He was done, beginning to shut down completely. I could see it in his face and the way his fingers came close to crushing the bottle of water. Feelings were creeping up on him and he didn’t like it.
However, he didn’t get up or get dressed to leave. He stayed sitting on my bed with my disloyal dog at his feet. That made me think he wanted something else from me and was afraid to ask for it or simply take it for himself.
On the other hand, I could be completely wrong. That happened every once in a while.
But I’d never know what he wanted or needed if he wasn’t willing to discuss it. Anyway, I couldn’t imagine Chase Jones wanting to speak candidly like that. It was safer for him to remain at the surface and not do a deep dive.
For him, diving deep might take him to a dark and scary place.
I might not like that he was so closed off but I understood it.
Again, I needed patience and if I didn’t have that, I should tell him to go home and then leave him alone. Those small, but significant, signs I kept picking up on gave me hope he wanted to get free from the emotional quagmire he was currently wallowing in.
Since he had already shut down, I figured I’d go for it. It couldn’t hurt. “You mentioned our ‘first time.’ Are you staying so we could have a second time later?”
He scrubbed a hand over his mouth and stared at me. Of course, not in a good I want to suck your dick type of way.
Before he could shoot down the idea of staying, I continued, “You’re thinking I’m crazy for wanting you to stay. And maybe I am.”
“I’m not sure why…” His voice drifted off before he finished his thought.
“Honestly, I’m not sure, either, since you’re about as personable as a rotting tree stump.”
Well, damn. I actually witnessed an elusive lip twitch from him.
It struck me right then and there, my new goal in life would be to make the man smile. And not a fake one, either. A real honest-to-goodness genuine smile. Or, even better, make him laugh.
Why I gave a shit about this man’s happiness…
Maybe I needed as much therapy as he did.
He finished off his bottled water, then took his time screwing the cap back on. Once he was done, he got to his feet, set the empty bottle on my dresser and came over to me. While his expression was serious, his eyes held confusion and I felt that to my very core.
He wanted me. He wanted to stay. But his heart and mind were once again waging a war against each other.
When he stepped bare toe to bare toe with me, I whispered, “Stay. Forget everything outside of this room for one night. Give yourself that and give yourself a break for once. You deserve it and no one will judge you for taking advantage of some companionship and intimacy. Especially me. You know why? I need it as much as you do. It might not have been two years for me, but still, it’s been too long. You might not want to admit you need it, too, but I have no problem admitting it for myself. I need it, Chase, and you have what I need. So, I’m asking for you to stay.”
“All night?” The soft, deep rumble did things to me no man’s voice had ever done before.
“For as long as you’re comfortable.” Even if he only stayed for a few more hours, it would be another step forward. “I’m here for you for as long as you want it.”
“I still don’t know why…” Again, the doubt was there. Before I could explain why once again, he gave me a single nod and said, “Okay.”
My mouth dropped open when he shocked the hell out of me.
Then he took advantage of my open mouth and claimed it all over again.
Warm breath swept over my skin. I moaned and rolled over…
Only to go eye to eye with a male a lot hairier than Chase.
My shameless dog was in the middle of the bed, lying on his back, all four feet in the air, his head tipped in my direction and his eyes on me.
He grinned.
I frowned.
So much for spontaneous sex this morning. My own dog was a cock block.
I stretched myself from my hands to my feet, and felt a little discomfort. It wasn’t a lot but enough to remind me that Chase and I had sex twice last night. The second time he’d loosened up enough to show me some of what he was into.