Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 70429 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70429 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
What a lascivious monster he was, one with a soft side who’d taken the liberty to make her comfortable. She turned on the shower and got in, humming to India Arie’s, ‘Steady Love.’ The water was the perfect temperature and the soap lathered up so well, this was the ideal way to start the morning. She brought the bar of soap to her nose.
Damn. This smells just like fresh squeezed lemons, tangerines, and limes. So good. I’ll have to ask him where he got this from.
She finished bathing and allowed the warm water to pour over her scalp. When she was done, she stepped out, wrapped the brown and black checkered towel around her body, and brushed her teeth.
The cool air from the bedroom hit her pores when she left the bathroom. She stood there for a moment, wishing she had something else to wear. Nothing said ‘slut’ more than shimmying into the same damn panties you had on last night. She giggled at the notion, then turned around when she heard the bedroom door opening. Caspian walked in shirtless, the sight of his defined muscles making her melt. He wore a black pair of joggers and had something folded in his hands.
“You’re much smaller than me, so I’m—”
“…And who isn’t much smaller than you, Caspian? You’re six-three and built like a wrestler.”
He smiled at that. “So, as I was sayin’, you’re much smaller than me, so I’m givin’ you the shirt that shrank in the laundry. And here’s a pair of my boxer briefs. I think that ass of yours will keep ’em up just fine.”
She playfully swatted at him, snatched the clothing from his hand, and sauntered over to the bed to sit down and put the garments on.
“Thanks. You read my mind. I was wonderin’ what I was going to wear.”
She let the towel go, allowing it to pool around her hips. Caspian groaned—she heard it clearly, secretly grinning at the thought that he was salivating for her—then headed to the kitchen, returning to the bedroom with two cups of coffee. She graciously took one, thanking him, and brought it to her lips.
“There’s somethin’ I want to tell you.” He pulled a chair from the corner of the room, and sat in it backwards, holding his coffee.
“Yeah? What is it?”
“First, I need to ask you something.”
“Okay. Like what?” She took a sip of her coffee, crossed her legs, and braced herself. Is a girlfriend about to see me outside his door? Is he some escaped convict? He’s too fine. He’s too smart, and his dick is too damn good. Here comes the catch…
“I feel like we’ve got somethin’ special. Look, I uh, I know we haven’t known each other long, but this feels good. It feels right. It’s more than just sex. It’s you.”
She gaped at him, unable to muster any words for a while. Then, at last, she managed, “Where’s the question in that? I’m searchin’ for it.”
“Do you feel the same way?”
This was what she’d been avoiding. Only, she didn’t believe he’d be the one initiating the conversation. She secretly hated the fact that soon, he’d be leaving to return to Georgia.
I should be relieved. I feel close to him, too… I should… But for some reason, she didn’t. No, I know why…
“Caspian, let me explain somethin’ to you. I come from—”
“Just answer the fuckin’ question. Please.” He spoke so calmly, yet the words were angry, almost frantic. He glared at her, unflinching.
“Yeah. I feel the same.” She grabbed her coffee and took a much bigger gulp than she anticipated.
He placed his cup on the floor, then rested his arms across the top of the chair.
“Okay. What do you want to do about it?”
She swung her foot back and forth, contemplating his question.
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I didn’t expect to like you as much as I do, Caspian. I know it sounds cliché, and I know you’ve heard this shit a million times before.” She rolled her eyes at her own self, then looked up at the ceiling. “But I’ve been burnt before, and I’m tired of the liars, cheaters, and selfish mothafuckas who want to sleep with me but not be honest. Not be true. Strong women get tired of the datin’ games and bullshit, too. We get hurt. We just show it differently. By myself is where it’s safe. Where there’s no flames. Just even, calm waters to swim in.”
“You can drown in water, even if it’s just your own spit or tears. Men have drowned in puddles…”
The silence stretched between them. After a while, he stood, walked in her direction and towered over her—like a great tall building. His chest rose and fell. Up, then down.
“Here’s what we’re going to do. We’re gonna have a long-distance relationship. Like you said on our first date, you don’t want to not see or speak to the person you’re dating, committed to, for days on end. I’ll make sure we see a lot of each other. I’ll come here and fly you back to see me. We’re both busy, but as you said on the boat, and my Aunt Angel always said too, ‘Folks make time for what they wanna make time for.’ If things continue to go well, I’ll move back here. Permanently.”