Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“With Sammy there, they won’t. She needs to meet people so she can do some filming in town. I am staying with Tyler for the weekend, and I expect you to do this.”
I sighed and gave in. “Yeah, kiddo. I’ll take her. But I’m not dancing.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to,” Rachel replied. “I’m sure lots of other fellas will step up and dance with her.”
“Good,” I grated out, draining my coffee. “That works out for everyone.”
I stood, fighting down the urge to punch something. Tyler chuckled, and I threw him a look, then grabbed my hat, ramming it onto my head. “I have things to do at the house, Sammy. You coming?”
She frowned but nodded. “I just want to say thank you to Jane and Harry.”
I nodded. “I’ll be in the truck.”
SAMMY
Luke was quiet in the truck, and I followed his lead. At the house, he headed to his office, and I went to my room. I forgot to tell him that I had run out of the liniment and ask if he had any more, but I decided against bothering him tonight. I soaked in the tub as best I could. It was old and shallow, and I couldn’t get low enough to soak my shoulder and back at the same time, so I eventually gave up. I slipped on a nightgown, took some Tylenol, and headed to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Luke’s side of the house was dark, and I assumed he’d gone to bed.
In my room, I lay down, draping the heating pad over my legs, hoping it and the pills would dull the ache. Then I moved it to the shoulder that hurt, but the heat did little to dispel the pain. I got up and padded to the kitchen, opening the freezer and taking the ice pack, deciding to try the cold instead.
“Still hurting?” Luke’s voice in the darkness startled me.
“Oh!” I gasped as I dropped the ice pack. “Um, a little. I thought the ice would help.”
“The liniment not doing its job?” he asked, sitting at the kitchen table, a glass of water in front of him.
“I used it all last night. I meant to ask you if you had more.”
He stood. “No, but I’ll get more at the pharmacy tomorrow. Doc makes sure I always have refills.”
He wore sweats that hung low on his hips. Nothing else. His bare chest gleamed in the dim light, showing off his broad shoulders. I swallowed, thinking how it felt to grip those shoulders. How his chest felt pushing into mine.
“Is the pain bad enough you can’t sleep?”
“It’ll be fine,” I squeaked. “Good night.” I hurried down the hall, diving into bed. I placed the ice pack on the back of my legs, shivering at the cold, hoping it would numb the ache enough so I could sleep.
Except my door opened, and Luke strode in.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Torturing myself,” he muttered.
“What?”
“Helping you,” he replied, climbing onto the bed, straddling the back of my legs. “Just relax, Lady. I’ll rub out the sore muscles.”
“I don’t think—”
His touch stopped the words. Firm yet gentle, he immediately hit the sore muscles on the backs of my thighs. Instead of words, a groan escaped my lips.
Luke made a sound of distress low in his throat, but his touch never faltered. He stroked and pressed, his fingers going deep into the ache and pushing it away. He moved the ice pack up to my shoulder.
“You should have told me this morning you were out of the cream.”
“I meant to.”
His voice was quiet. “I hate seeing you in discomfort.” He slid his hands higher.
I had to stifle a moan. The ache in my thighs was slowly being replaced by another ache completely. One between my legs that seem to pulsate and grow with each swipe of his hands.
For a few moments, he worked, and instead of relaxing, my body grew tighter, ached in a whole new way.
“I need to lift your skirts,” he muttered.
I chuckled. “That’s a very regency thing to say, Luke. You sure you don’t read bodice rippers?” I teased.
I felt the cool night air kiss my thighs and ass, and I heard Luke’s fast intake of air. I had nothing on under the nightgown I was wearing.
“I might have glanced at one of two of Rachel’s books,” he said, his voice gritty. He stroked the bottom swells of my ass, and I breathed out a low moan.
He froze, his hands pressing on my skin. “I need to stop.”
“No,” I pleaded, every nerve in my body on fire. “Don’t stop.”
He paused, his hands kneading my ass cheeks, muttering to himself.
Bad idea. Stop.
Then he moved down, shifting my legs and opening me up to him. He settled between my knees.
“Jesus,” he muttered. “I stayed away for twenty-four hours. That deserves a reward.” Then he began his circuit again, except his hands went higher, drifting closer to my center. His thumbs brushed my folds, and I didn’t hold back my whimper. He pushed my nightgown higher, one hand spread wide across my back as he slipped the other between my legs. He groaned as he touched me.