Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 108049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 540(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 540(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
I cling to him, completely and totally addicted to the feel of his mouth against mine. I drag my teeth over his bottom lip and feel rather than hear the groan vibrate in his chest. His hands slide up my ribs, pushing beneath my shirt, until they’re just beneath my breasts. I suddenly wish I didn’t take off my sweater, that I had an extra layer of protection between my flesh and Conor’s seductive touch.
“You get me so hot, Taylor.”
His lips find my neck and then he’s sucking on it, triggering a flurry of shivers. His lower body bumps mine, hips giving a slow sensual thrust that makes me moan again.
He kisses me again, his tongue teasing the seam of my lips. Then he pulls back and I see the same needy, hungry lust I’m feeling reflected back at me in his eyes.
“Come home with me tonight,” Conor Fucking Edwards whispers.
And that’s what breaks the spell.
Breathing hard, I drop my hands from his broad shoulders and let them dangle at my sides.
Dammit. Dammit, what’s wrong with me? I’m no clairvoyant, but I don’t need to be one to see how all this is going to play out.
I go back to his place.
I lose my virginity to him.
He rocks my world for one amazing night.
And then next week I’m just another sad sap raising my hand along with his other conquests when asked who there has hooked up with him.
“Taylor?” He’s still watching me. Waiting.
I bite my lip. Easing away from the heat of his body, I slowly shake my head and say, “Will you drive me home?”
12
Conor
I can’t get a read on Taylor. Outside the bar I thought we had a connection. I might be a fucking idiot sometimes, but I know when a girl is kissing me back. She definitely felt something. But the moment we stopped, she shut down again, slammed a door in my face, and now I’m driving her home with the distinct impression she’s mad at me again.
I can’t figure out what she wants from me. I’d leave her alone, stay out of her life, if I believed that’s what Taylor really wanted, but I don’t think that’s the case.
“Did I make a mistake kissing you?” I ask, glancing over at the passenger side.
She put her sweater back on, which is a damn shame. The silky top she had on before was hot as hell. My dick is still aching for her.
She’s silent for a long time, looking out the window like she can’t get far enough away from me. Finally, she spares me a quick look and says, “It was a nice kiss.”
Nice?
Well, fuck me. That’s the most lukewarm response to a kiss I’ve ever received. And I’m not sure it answers my question.
“Then what’s wrong?” I press.
“It’s just…” She lets out a sigh. “I mean, think about all those people at the bar looking at us.”
Frankly, I didn’t even notice anyone else. When I’m with her, I’m only watching Taylor. Someone about her reels me in, and it’s not just the fact that my body is primed for her. Yes, I’d love to bang her brains out, but that’s not the reason I showed up at the diner uninvited earlier.
Taylor Marsh has no idea how cool she is, and that’s a fucking shame.
“I’m sorry if I embarrassed you,” I say gruffly. “That wasn’t my intention.”
“No, I know. But come on, you have to know what people would say about someone like you with someone like me.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Damn it, Conor, don’t act like it isn’t obvious. I get it, you’re trying to make me feel better and that’s sweet, but let’s be real. People see us and they think, what is he doing with her? We’re a punchline.”
“Bullshit. I don’t believe that.”
“Oh my God, you heard it yourself at the banquet! You heard all the shit Abigail and her douche army were saying about us.”
“So what? I don’t give a shit what other people think.” I don’t live my life on the basis of other people’s opinions or to please anyone but myself. If she’d just fucking let me, I’d like to try pleasing Taylor, too.
“Well, maybe you should. Because I can assure you, they’re not thinking nice things about us.”
There’s ice in her voice that I’ve never heard from her before. Hatred, even. It’s not directed at me, but I’m starting to get a sense of how deep her insecurities go.
My next breath comes out ragged, frustrated. “I’ll keep saying this until it sinks in, but there’s nothing wrong with you, Taylor. There isn’t some arbitrary hierarchy between us. I want you. I’ve wanted you since the moment I watched you cross the room at that party.”
Her turquoise eyes widen slightly.
“I mean it,” I say. “I have a thousand filthy thoughts about you a day. That night in my room when you were running your fingers through my hair, I had half a hard-on just lying there.”