Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 128260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
He leaned down into me and in a mocking voice said, “Jack, Jack, don’t ever let go… Well, that is, unless I try once to pull you up on this two-person raft and can’t do it. Then, Godspeed, human popsicle. It was fun while it lasted.”
I laughed. “You really are bitter about that, aren’t you? You should try to let it go. There are professionals who might be able to help.”
“I might look into that.” He gave me a teasing grin and then pulled me back harder against him.
We watched the show for a couple minutes in silence, and when I took his hands in mine from the front, he leaned down and nuzzled into my hair, his scent intoxicating me again. I dropped my head back onto his shoulder, giving him better access. He took me up on my offer, kissing the sensitive skin of my neck, his warm breath tickling my ear. That now-familiar throbbing was starting and I wanted him to kiss me again. I wanted him all over me.
“Let’s take this inside, buttercup,” he whispered, his voice sounding strained.
“Why do you call me buttercup?” I asked softly.
“Hmm…maybe it’s because you smell like a flower,” he said. And then he grabbed my hand and we started walking toward the hotel as he grinned that heart-stopping grin at me.
CHAPTER 6
Carson
I led her as fast as possible to the hotel. As we made our way through the lobby, her shorter legs speed-walked to keep up with me. It wasn’t very chivalrous, I knew, but I was a desperate man. I didn’t think I’d been in this bad a shape since…well, since ever. After standing at the fountain watching her eyes light up with excitement at the water display and then holding her in my arms, drinking in the feel of her, the smell of her, my blood was pumping hot and fast with need. And not just a general need—a need for her, a need that was clawing its way through my body, demanding to be satisfied. I barely knew her, and yet everything about Grace Hamilton went straight to my head, like a strong shot of whiskey, making my brain spin.
But I had promised her I’d take care of her, take control. I needed to keep ahold of mine if I was going to put her at ease and make her feel safe enough to give herself to me fully. I knew that instinctively.
Give herself to me fully? I slammed the mental brakes. No, not fully. It was sex and it was a good time—just for the weekend. It was all I had to offer. And it was all she wanted to take. Still, I wanted this to be a satisfying experience for both of us—in as many ways as possible.
As we walked through the casino toward the elevators, I saw a group of people I recognized from the business, here for the expo, standing off to the side, talking and laughing loudly. I put my arm around Grace and nuzzled into her, trying to make sure none of them recognized me and called out my name. I didn’t typically socialize with any of them, but they’d probably know who I was. The last thing I wanted was to remind Grace what I did or get sidetracked for even a minute from our destination—the privacy of my hotel room.
We stepped onto the elevator and I asked, “Do you need to stop at your room for anything?”
“Yes. If you don’t mind,” she said quietly, her eyes lingering on mine for a couple beats before they dropped to my mouth. My dick throbbed in my jeans. You could cut the sexual tension in the air with a butter knife. I turned to the panel of numbers and pushed her floor number with my thumb again and again, as if that would speed the elevator up.
We rode up silently and made our way to her room. She let us in and I stood by the door while she quickly gathered a few of her things. Then we got back on the elevator and rode a couple floors up to my room. I didn’t feel the need to ask her what she was thinking. Her facial expression told me that she was steady, her eyes reflecting back the desire I was feeling.
It took me three tries to unlock the door and once inside, I threw my wallet and key card on the desk and turned to Grace. She was standing behind me, just having placed her travel bag on the floor, and I took the few steps to bring myself inches from her. Electricity sparked between us. We both knew exactly what was about to happen. We stood silently, staring at each other, the pulse at the base of her neck jumping and a faint color rising in her cheeks. As I watched her, holding myself back from touching her, I felt like I was going to burst out of my skin.