Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
I hoped everything was okay.
Moving backward, I flopped across the foot of the bed and stared at the ceiling, my arms above my head. Closing my eyes, I fantasized about Austin stretching out above me, his weight pressing me into the mattress. I wondered if he’d be rough, like he was the night he kissed me by the fire pit, all greedy tongue and grabby hands, or tender, like he’d been downstairs just now, all soft lips and gentle fingers. I wouldn’t mind a little of both, I thought, bringing my hands to my breasts and wishing they were his. I just wanted to feel him.
I kicked off my flip flops and brought my heels onto the bed, knees apart. Bringing one hand to my leg, I let it glide up my inner thigh just like he’d done. But where he’d stopped, I didn’t—I placed my hand over my panties and rubbed slowly and firmly, allowing the hum to build in my lower body. Then I slipped my fingers inside the edge of the lace—
A knock on the door made me bolt upright, heart pounding like I’d been caught touching myself. Jumping to my feet, I glanced out the window and saw that the house was completely dark. But Jesus Christ, I’d left the shade up!
If it hadn’t been raining, I’d have taken a moment to make sure my face wasn’t too flushed, but I didn’t want to leave him out there getting wet. Fanning my face, I quickly went to the door and pulled it open.
The sight of him, all dark and rugged and wet with rain, did nothing to cool me down. “Hey,” I said, my voice cracking.
“Hey.” He shoved his hands in his pockets.
“Want to come in?”
He shook his head. “That’s a bad idea.”
“Austin, you’re getting wet. Just come in. I won’t bite.”
Tentatively, he stepped across the threshold. “Okay, but leave the door open.”
I rolled my eyes, but I backed up and put some space between us. The rain thrummed on the roof above our heads. “Everything okay at the house?”
“Yes. Owen had a bad dream. Then he wanted a glass of water. But he’s fine, already back to sleep.”
“That’s good.”
“Anyway, I just came up to apologize.” His eyes lingered on my stomach.
“You don’t have to.”
He held up his hands, raising his gaze to mine. “I want to. I made the big deal about setting boundaries when I hired you, and tonight, I pushed them.”
“I wasn’t putting up a fight, in case you didn’t notice.”
Dropping his arms, he exhaled. “Maybe you should have.”
“Why? It doesn’t seem wrong to me.”
“It doesn’t?” He looked angry. “All I can think of when I see you in that outfit is untying your top—with my teeth.”
I gasped. “Really?”
“Really. And it’s fucking wrong. You work for me.”
“Okay, maybe it’s a little bit wrong, but you know what?” I tossed my hands up. “I don’t care. I spent the last year doing exactly what I was told, so I guess you’re getting me in a rebellious phase. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. I’ll do a better job of keeping my distance.”
I didn’t want him to keep his distance. I wanted him to untie my top with his teeth. “Okay. I will too.”
He nodded. “So . . . goodnight.”
“Night.”
Then he was gone, pulling the door closed behind him.
Back in the bedroom, I went over to the window and looked out to see him hustle across the driveway and enter the house. A minute later his bedroom light came on, and I thought he’d notice the shade was still up and come over to lower it. But he must have been distracted or something because he disappeared into the bathroom for a moment—turning on the shower?—then came back out, grabbing his shirt at the back of his neck. Walking toward the window, he yanked it over his head and tossed it aside.
That’s when he saw me.
My breath caught. Framed in the window, he stood there for a moment, gorgeous and bare-chested. He reached up to pull down the shade.
I reached behind my neck and untied my top.
He paused with one arm raised.
Leaving the halter ties dangling over my shoulders, I turned around and unraveled the knot at my back. Then I let the top fall to the floor. With one last look over my shoulder—he was still there watching—I walked away from the window and switched off the light.
I walked into the bathroom with a little smile on my face.
Austin stuck to his word.
I wasn’t sure if he was just following through on his promise or punishing me for the mini-strip tease routine, but the following week, he did an excellent job keeping his distance.
On Sunday, he took the kids to Moe’s for breakfast, and even though the twins invited me to come along, Austin said nothing. I insisted they go without me and took advantage of the break in the rain with a jog down to the harbor and back. Later, when the drizzle started up again, the kids and I made tap shoes by taping pennies and nickels in the shape of taps to the bottoms of old sneakers. Then I taught them some basic steps on the tiled basement floor, and that evening, they invited their dad down to see their new skills.