Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 129681 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 519(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129681 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 519(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
I froze, somehow trapped. Unable to look or move or act as I felt him approach like a wraith. Like one of the paintings had come to life and closed in from behind.
It covered me whole and caressed me in shadows.
I was right. This man was definitely, definitely dangerous.
His breath hit me on the shoulder where his shirt draped wide. “Did you get warmed up?”
Such an innocuous question, though the rough scrape of his words moved through me like seduction.
“Yes, thank you.”
I found I could barely speak, the severity of the paintings stealing my voice and my sanity. “These are…” I couldn’t even form a coherent thought.
His tone tightened to a grumble. “Just something to fill the empty space.”
A frown filled my brow at his indifference, at the way he shrugged it off, and I wanted to ask him more but was distracted by the slow chuckle that suddenly brushed across my flesh and sent chills racing again. “You look…”
Finally, I found the strength to peek back at him from over my shoulder. Only when I did, my eyes were filled with a wide chest that was…bare and tattooed and oh my god.
I thought I might pass out right there.
I attempted to look away, but his hair that was much longer on top and short on the sides was wet from his shower, and he was wearing this grin on his face that twisted me into a knot of desire.
Not to mention the heat that radiated from his body.
A stroke of that severity thrashed.
I was pretty sure it short-circuited my logic.
“Ridiculous,” he seemed to finally settle on, sitting back on his heels and crossing his arms over his wide, wide chest.
What?
His words knocked me out of the trance.
What a jerk.
I mean, I’d thought so, too, but he didn’t need to bring attention to it.
Gulping, I stumbled away, my chin jerking for the sky, every defense set to high. “I didn’t have a lot of other options, now, did I, unless you wanted me to drip all over your ridiculous floors?”
That smirk edged his mouth.
Damn him.
“Didn’t say I was complainin’, now did I, sweetness?”
I glared at him. What was with this guy?
Really, what was with me? Why was I all hot and bothered by a man I didn’t know other than the fact he had really great taste in interior decorating, and I’d give my left boob for his guest shower?
Well, that and he’d stopped to help a stranger in a torrential downpour despite clearly being loaded.
I couldn’t tell if he was an asshole toying with me or if he was genuinely kind.
From the flaring in his eyes and that teasing at his sexy mouth?
There was a part of him that was definitely toying with me.
“Besides, you’re still dripping all over my ridiculous floors,” he grumbled with that rough, low voice.
On a gasp, I jerked back to see the wad of clothes I clutched were indeed dripping onto his floor, and a small puddle had gathered at my toes.
“Shit.”
The asshole laughed and stepped forward. “Give me your clothes.”
I held them closer like he was a common thief. A plunderer of sound judgement.
Obsidian eyes glinted and danced, and his laughter floated out of his mouth and surrounded me like a dream. The man leaned forward to whisper in my ear, the words coming from his mouth temptation and a tease. “You’re lucky I’m not asking you for the ones you’re wearing. Stand there a minute longer, and I just might.”
My eyes narrowed as I angled back. “I’ll stab you.”
That time, his laughter boomed. Like I was the ridiculous one.
Reaching out, he snatched the dripping wet ball from my hands. He held it to his chest, and the man waltzed away like doing it was the most normal thing in the world.
“Come on, Wildcat, laundry room is this way.”
Um…what?
“Excuse me?” I scrambled along behind him.
He just chuckled as he moved through the kitchen to a door on the left of it. He opened it and stepped into a laundry room that was as big as the kitchen back at our house.
I froze at the doorway because there was no chance in hell I was getting that close, and he was grinning as he tossed my clothes into the dryer and punched some buttons.
It beeped and spun to life.
“See, now that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
That mischief played, the man eyeing me up and down as he edged me out of the laundry room.
Huffing, I crossed my arms tight over my chest.
“What is it, darlin’?”
His voice had gone soft. Like he didn’t have the first clue he had me spun up.
“You don’t think this is a little bit weird?” I waved an erratic hand over my head.
He grinned. “I like weird, if I’m being honest.”
He reached out and gently brushed his fingertips over the scar on my jaw.