Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 59930 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59930 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
“Like what?”
I thought about it before saying, “I learned to say no, and to mean it. I also learned to set boundaries, and to trust my instincts. On top of that, it gave my confidence a much-needed boost. I never felt attractive or sexy before. But all of a sudden, there were people who saw me as so desirable that they were willing to pay a lot of money to be with me. Maybe that seems warped from your perspective, but it actually made me feel good about myself.”
Eden stopped walking and turned to me. “How could you feel unattractive? You’re absolutely beautiful, Seth. Don’t you know that?”
“Thanks for the compliment, but I never saw myself as anything special.”
“Well, you are. I’m glad that job helped you realize it.”
I grinned self-consciously, and we started walking again. After a minute, I said, “You know what else I liked about the job? Finally being able to buy myself some nice things. That probably sounds shallow, but you know how Casey and I grew up. His clothes came from thrift stores, and then they became my hand-me-downs. I was teased mercilessly in grade school because of the way I dressed, and that just added to my insecurity. Even later, when I started working in food service, money was always too tight to afford anything but the basics. When I was finally able to walk into a department store and buy myself some nice clothes, I felt like a king.”
“I get why that mattered to you, because I know your family struggled. I always felt guilty because I had it so easy compared to what you and your brother had to go through.”
“You paid a high price for that, though,” I said. “Since your parents were always working, you must have been really lonely. What I’m trying to say is, we all struggled in our own way and there’s no reason to feel guilty.”
“You’re right, I was lonely. But things got so much better after I met Casey and was welcomed into your family. All of you changed my life.” He had no idea how much he’d changed mine, too.
I felt a raindrop, then a second one. I was about to say we should head back, but all of a sudden it just started pouring. I burst out laughing and yelled, “How about a little more warning next time, Mother Nature?”
Eden and I sprinted back down the path as the rain pelted us. It was getting dark, but we could see the cabin in the distance. It was lit from within and looked cozy and inviting.
By the time we got inside, both of us were soaked and freezing cold. I hurried to the fireplace and added wood to the smoldering embers while he got us some towels. Then we both stripped down to just our underwear and started drying ourselves off.
After a few moments, I realized Eden had stopped moving. I turned to him and discovered he was staring at me like I was the most tempting thing he’d ever seen. He didn’t look away or try to play it off, and when his gaze met mine, the raw desire in his eyes was unmistakable.
Was this really happening? I drew a shaky breath as I tossed the towel aside and closed the gap between us.
He touched my face, and I pulled the towel off his shoulders and dropped it. When I skimmed his chest with my fingertips, I could feel his heart pounding as hard as mine was.
Everything hung in the balance. It felt as if time had become elastic, and that moment stretched out as anticipation crackled between us. We both knew our relationship was about to change forever, in ways we couldn’t begin to predict.
In the next instant, his lips brushed mine. I tasted the rain on them. It was the lightest of kisses, sweet and tender.
I was sure my heart was about to explode in my chest. I’d dreamed of this moment for so long, and I could barely believe it was really happening. It felt like a miracle.
And then our kiss ignited. It became frantic and urgent, as if neither of us could get enough. He pulled me close, and I ran my hands down his back. His skin was smooth and cool and damp from the rain.
A little sound slipped from him—almost a moan, almost a cry. It was the sound of intense longing, and it resonated deep inside me. I gave in to some sort of primal urge and licked him, and then I lightly bit his lower lip before he slipped his tongue in my mouth. He held me as I clutched him in a tight embrace, trying to get as close to him as I possibly could.
All of this was totally overwhelming. I couldn’t form a rational thought, but at the same time all my senses were heightened. Every sound, touch, taste was amplified, becoming something to savor and cherish.