Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 72828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
I grin over at him, and he just gives me a knowing nod.
“I heard someone say something about pie. No idea what kind,” Isaac says as Drew jumps up, carrying his empty plate.
“I’ll go scout it out,” Drew promises. “I have to get over there before Uncle Will eats it all.”
“I’ll go with you,” Liam says.
“I need more ribs,” Isaac adds and follows the other two toward the buffet line, leaving me alone with Matt.
“Don’t let your hang-ups about fame destroy a really great connection with a beautiful woman,” he says, not even looking my way.
“I can’t deal with that life.” It’s really as simple as that.
“You can,” he says. “You don’t want to. There’s a big difference.”
“Can’t or won’t, it doesn’t matter. The outcome is the same. We’ll enjoy each other while she’s in town, and then it’s finished.”
“If you can let a woman like that walk away from you so easily, you really are an idiot.”
My head comes up in surprise, and Matt’s staring at me now, chewing on his food.
“Because I’m not in love with the woman I’m sleeping with? That makes me an idiot? Last time I checked, it made me human. You can’t sit there and tell me that you loved every woman you fucked before you met your wife.”
His blue eyes narrow, but he doesn’t swipe back at me.
“I’m not implying that you have to love all of your sexual partners. Absolutely not. I had my share of fun before I met Nic. I’ve had experiences that you wouldn’t believe.”
“What kind of experiences?”
He’s quiet for a moment, but he doesn’t look around to see if anyone else is listening.
Matt isn’t a man to be embarrassed about his life choices.
“I’m a dominant,” he says at last. “And I have an affection for bondage.”
My jaw wants to drop.
I have a million questions.
“And no, I didn’t love every woman I had in my ropes or fucked in the club where I’m a master.”
“Jesus, Matt.”
“But I knew the minute I saw Nic that she was the only one for me. It’s an awareness. A gut feeling that, when you’re with her, sexually or not, you can’t see yourself doing that with anyone else. And it’s not out of regret, but out of contentment.”
I take a deep breath, and he continues.
“Not to mention, the thought of another man fucking her the way you do makes you want to kill someone.”
My eyes meet his, and he simply grins and nods.
“Yeah, I thought so.”
Chapter 9
Sidney
“So, what happens at those guys’ parties, anyway?” I ask Keaton as I fold some clothes and stuff them into a small suitcase. “Like, do you get drunk and talk about girls?”
The scowl that immediately comes over his face makes me giggle.
“Fuck no. We eat food and call each other names.”
“Sounds like a guy thing.” I prop my hands on my hips and examine my progress. I need socks and some pajamas. My favorite hoodie. “But all jokes aside, you had fun?”
“Yeah, it’s always a good time when the guys get together. Where are you going?”
I grin over at him and flutter my eyelashes playfully. “I thought you’d never ask. I’m gonna rent a car and drive over to Idaho to see my parents for a few days. I spoke with Maya last night, and she said that Mom’s been doing a lot better lately but asked about me yesterday. I’m right here, only a six or so-hour drive away. I need to go see them.”
“I get that,” he says with a nod.
“I should have gone before this. I feel a little guilty about that.”
“You’re going now,” he replies simply.
I’ve been tempted to ask him to go with me, mostly because I don’t love the idea of being away from him, even for a few days.
Which tells me that asking him to go is a bad idea. I need to be away from him for a little while. Getting too used to being with him can only spell disaster, with a capital D, in the long run. I’m just setting myself up to have my heart bruised, and that’s no one’s fault but my own. Keaton has been honest from the beginning.
“I wonder if it’s cold there.” I frown over at Keaton as I reach for the hoodie. “Do you think it’s cold?”
“I’ll check the weather app,” he replies, pulling his phone out of his pocket and tapping the screen. “Depends on what your definition of cold is because it’s gonna be in the sixties, and that doesn’t sound too bad to me.”
“But their house is on the lake, and it’s always a little colder there,” I reply, chewing my lip. “I’ll take another sweater. How’s work going?”
“I’m almost finished with the Mustang, so I’ll be passing that on to Uncle Will this week, and then I’ll dig into the next thing.”