Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 74450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
He carefully repositioned himself, trying to not stir her just yet. They were coiled loosely in the thick white sheets, their limbs magnetized towards one another, under and over each other’s bodies like a web of clammy, languid flesh. She seemed to be still basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking, though they’d finished several hours prior. Perspiration glistened on her temples and Cupid’s bow. Her breathing was slow and easy. Bare chest rising and falling, dark mahogany nipples taut. He reached out and softly massaged one. How he loved exploring her body…
The sleek, dark curves that delighted his palm and tongue… the feathery trace of black hair along her pussy that tickled his upper lip when he consumed her… the bend of her calves as she looped her long legs over his back as he dove deep, and the perfection of her fingers and toes when he kissed and sucked on them. Her skin was buttery smooth, her body a work of art.
Caspian sat up, leaning against the silver quilted headboard with rhinestone adornments, fit for a queen, and briefly regarded the heap of his clothing lying in the middle of her bedroom floor. Art of Noise’s ‘Moments in Love’ played and the scent of their sex ushered a wave of warmth through his body, making his nature rise. Ignoring the call to duty, he instead stretched his limbs and leaned down to kiss her cheek. He was greeted with a lazy smile, though her eyes remained shut.
Moments later, he slowly slipped away from her, quickly showered, put on his clothes, and returned to say his farewell. She was gripping her pillow, as if trying to hold onto something in his absence. He got on his knees before her and stroked her hair away from her face.
“…I know you’re awake.” She smiled once again, eyes still closed. “I took your advice and let people know I’m looking for my dad. As I was lying here, I went ahead and made a post on my page.” She didn’t respond, but he could see her eyes moving under the lids… listening. “You know I’m a private person, baby, and this is completely out of my comfort zone, but I’m doing it anyway. I hope it leads somewhere.”
He sighed as he ran his thumb along her lower lip.
There was no way he could take her other suggestion of taking one of those DNA tests. Sure, he’d find family members, but he’d also be in the system then. He didn’t trust what they said about not storing the information for the government and police. Bullshit. If he did a DNA test, it could possibly link him to his “work” and that would be tragic indeed. This was far safer. He kissed her mouth once, twice for good measure.
“I gotta go, baby.”
“I know…” she said in a raspy, sexy tone. He kissed her forehead, then the bulb of her narrow nose.
“Why won’t you look at me?”
“I don’t want to see you walk away, Caspian. I feel like once you do, when you return to me, you won’t be the same.”
His chest heated and a bolting heartbeat followed.
“Because I told you that today I’m gonna dig deeper into Mama’s death? Or because I said I took your advice about my father?”
She nodded. “Both. You’re going to find something today. I can feel it. You’re too determined now not to. You’ve been digging too long in the same place. Something is bound to come up. You went from bein’ troubled to pursuing the same thing that scared you, keeping you up at night because you wanted it so bad. You barely slept. I watched you toss and turn the whole time.”
He tucked her hair behind her ear.
“I’m not scared to find out the truth anymore, baby. If Mama killed herself, I’ve prepared myself to accept it. If she didn’t, I’m gettin’ to the bottom of it.”
“I know you are, and that’s why I won’t open my eyes…”
“I’m leavin’ and coming back to you, regardless of whether you watch me do it or not.” He grasped her hand and kissed her fingertips before standing.
“My eyes can’t tell my brain the truth if I don’t see it. Our eyes can only rely on what we see. I refuse to walk in your cornfield and get lost and confused without a plan, but just know, me and the hound dog will be lookin’ for you once you step foot in that maze. If you want me to speak for you, when you’ve screamed so loud you’ve lost your voice, just know, all you got to do is think it and I’ll read your twisted, beautiful mind and come runnin’. You’re not defined by what you find in your research, baby. You’re defined by what you discover about yourself…”
Caspian looked Noah in the eye as he sat across from him in the Wendy’s fast-food restaurant. Noah gripped his burger with both hands as he chewed with his mouth open.