Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 48271 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 241(@200wpm)___ 193(@250wpm)___ 161(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48271 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 241(@200wpm)___ 193(@250wpm)___ 161(@300wpm)
“Look, I’ll admit I don’t have this all figured out, Elle. This is new for me too, but what I do know is that you will always be my best friend. Nothing in this world will ever change that. You want a baby and I want to give it to you. So, let’s do this. Once you get pregnant, if we decide we are better off staying just friends, then we will be two best friends who raise this baby together. If not …”
Her eyes lock with mine at the trail off. “If not?” she challenges.
“We will be two best friends who get to fuck all the time for the rest of our lives.”
She chuckles, the soft sound exactly what I was hoping for.
“I think we owe it to ourselves to at least explore this,” I continue. “If not for us, then for the child we will raise together.”
Silence falls, hope and indecision battling on her face.
I hold my breath, waiting for her to say the answer we both want to hear.
Just as she opens her mouth, the words poised on her lips, a sudden sound pierces the air—the chime of her phone shattering the moment.
Looking away, she stands from her chair and crosses the kitchen to grab her phone off the counter. “Hello?”
The female voice on the other end of the line is loud enough that I hear her state she’s from the clinic.
Ellie’s gaze snaps to mine. “Yes, this is she.”
“I’m calling to confirm your appointment for tomorrow at nine a.m.”
My heart jumps into my throat, threatening to suffocate me. Each pulse echoes in my ears like a steady drum as I await the verdict.
Silence stretches on for what seems like an eternity, Ellie’s face a battlefield of emotions as we lock eyes through the heavy silence.
“Hello? Miss, are you there?” The receptionist’s voice breaks through the silence.
“Yes, sorry,” Ellie apologizes, clearing her throat. “Um, unfortunately, I’m going to have to cancel my appointment.”
My heart drops back into my chest, pumping at normal rhythm.
“I’m sorry for the short notice,” she says.
“No problem. It happens more often than not,” the woman replies sympathetically. “Give us a call back if you’d like to reschedule.”
“I will, thank you.”
As the call draws to a close, I push from my chair and head straight for her.
Ellie’s gaze tracks my every move, following the silent dance unfolding between us, her head tilting further back the closer I get.
Once reaching her, I gently lift her to sit on the counter, positioning myself between her legs.
Quickened breaths race past her slightly parted lips. Pretty pink lips that are so close to mine I can practically taste them. So close that I can hear every frantic beat of her heart. See the pulse thrumming at the base of her delicate neck.
My hand lifts to the side of her face, fingers sweeping away a few stray tendrils of golden hair.
Her eyes fall closed as she leans into my touch, the move in itself a silent confirmation. Yet I find myself asking anyway. Needing to hear her say it.
“We doing this?”
Her eyes snap open at the question, jarring me on impact. “Promise me, no matter what happens, we will stay best friends.” Raw vulnerability bleeds through every word.
My other hand moves to the opposite side of her face, my gaze steadfast. “Forever. I promise.”
I witness her resolve before the words reach my ears. “Then yes, we’re doing this.”
It’s all I needed to hear. My mouth descends, raw and desperate as I finally claim what has always been mine, forever transforming what was always meant to be.
Ellie
I’ve often wondered what it would feel like to kiss Gunnar, and I’m not talking about the long peck we had at Heart Mountain when we were kids. I’m talking about a full-on lip lock while playing a game of tonsil hockey.
Pretty much exactly what we are doing right now.
I knew it would be good because Gunnar excels at everything he does in life, but I can say with absolute certainty I never imagined it would feel quite like this.
Earth-shattering, combustible, life-altering …
His lips are as soft as I remember when we kissed in the rain all those years ago, but unlike last time, his mouth commands mine in a way I never knew I craved. His tongue orchestrating a beautiful dance that takes me by storm, awakening something profound within me.
“I fucking knew you’d be sweet,” he rumbles against my lips, deepening the kiss.
There’s nothing sweet about him. He’s all spice and sin. The rich flavor of his beer is potent on my tongue, the very essence of him completely intoxicating.
It lures me in, igniting an unwavering desire for more.
My arms curl around his neck in an effort to bring myself closer, every part of my body suddenly aching to touch his.
He gives me exactly what I seek. His hands drop from my hair down to my waist, fingers digging into the soft flesh of my hips as he pulls me to the edge of the counter, bringing my hot center in direct contact with his very impressive erection.