Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 117201 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117201 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
The undercurrent of jealousy had to be his imagination.
On his way back into the building, Burgess happened to glance toward the top floor window and caught the wooden blinds swinging back into place. In the window that belonged to Tallulah’s bedroom. Had she been watching the exchange between him and Ashleigh?
Deep in thought, Burgess took the elevator back up to the penthouse floor and strode the short distance to his door, which he’d left unlocked, knowing that bringing Lissa down to her mother would only take a few minutes. Inside, the living room and kitchen were empty. He had practice in an hour and he needed to get his gear together, but despite the time crunch, Burgess found himself in front of Tallulah’s bedroom door.
Was it locked? He wondered, but he wouldn’t test the knob.
She’d have to let him in.
He rapped a knuckle against the wood.
Two seconds ticked by, followed by a creak of the bed and some muffled footsteps. The door opened to reveal Tallulah in tank top and rolled-up shorts, her hair in a haphazard knot on the top of her head. No bra. Fuck. He should have just gone to practice. That way he could have worked off some energy before seeing her tonight. Right now, he was fully charged, more than capable of picking her up, throwing her on the bed where her study materials were spread out, and licking the orange and basil scent off every inch of her skin.
“Hey,” he rumbled.
“Hey,” she echoed brightly. Too brightly.
Burgess propped a forearm on the top of the doorjamb, pleased to see her attention zip over to his right bicep. “Did I see you watching from the window?”
“What?” She sounded dazed. “Oh, I was just . . . making sure Lissa got into the car okay.”
“Were you worried I’d put her into the wrong car?”
“No.” Laughing, she slapped him on the left shoulder. “That would be silly!”
“I agree.” He tucked his tongue into the inside of his cheek. “So why were you actually watching?”
Tallulah seemed to be deciding whether or not to keep up the pretense, finally deciding against it, letting the ruse drop and rolling her eyes. “It’s natural to be curious about my . . . friend’s ex. Totally normal.”
“Okay.”
“Don’t say ‘okay’ like that,” she complained adorably, crossing her arms and dropping one of those sexy hips. “Why else would I be watching?”
“I don’t know. I guess I want to know how you feel about the fact that I’ve been married before. That my ex still comes around. I, Burgess, want to know what you think, Tallulah.”
“Why?” she whispered.
“Because you’re in my life. In whatever capacity you decide, you’re in it.” He blew out a breath. “And fuck, I would pay a million dollars to get inside of your head. That’s why.”
She threw a quick glance at the window, as if remembering what she’d seen. “I think . . .”
When she didn’t continue, he dropped his hand from the door, but remained on the threshold. “Can I come in?”
Face beginning to flush, she nodded. “Yes.”
The satisfaction of being trusted by this woman made him feel like he had a hundred medals pinned to his chest. “Thank you.” He kept walking until the backs of her legs met the bed, bringing his face down to hers, so he could study her every blink, every breath. “You think what?”
“I think . . . no, I know that Lissa is holding out hope you’ll reconcile. She told me.”
“Jesus.” Burgess hadn’t seen that coming. Had they missed having an important conversation with her? If so, they needed to remedy that as soon as possible. “I don’t need to tell you that’s never going to happen, do I?”
Tallulah hummed.
“What does that sound mean?” he growled.
“It’s just a sound.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Is.”
“Dammit, Tallulah.”
“I think I wouldn’t like it if you got back together!” The force of her outburst knocked her into a sitting position on the bed, putting her face level with his stomach, head tipped back so they could maintain eye contact. “Okay?”
“Because you might be out of a job?” He framed her jaw in his hand, brushing his thumb slowly down her cheekbone, dragging along her full bottom lip. And then going on instinct, he pushed his thumb into her mouth, a sound breaking off in his throat when she let him. She let him press that thumb all the way in, her pupils expanding until her eyes were darker than usual, her fingers twisting slowly on the comforter. “Or is there another reason you wouldn’t want me back with someone else?” he rasped, drawing the digit back out, rubbing spit on her beautiful lips and leaving them shiny. Slowly pressing it back in. Deep. “Suck on it if the answer is yes.”
A beat passed.
And then she drew on it hard, cheeks hollowing, dragging a moan from the deepest recesses of his body, the sound growing stuttered when the suction increased, more, more.