Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
He holds his arm out for me and I take it graciously. We exit the apartment, and then Ed guides me for a few blocks.
“So where are we going?” I ask. To be honest, I never eat out because it costs money, and I don’t have very much of it. Instead, I almost always cook (using groceries that Ed’s paid for) and as a result, I barely know any of the eateries in the area.
“So where are we headed?” I ask again, gazing up at my man’s strong profile.
He grins.
“It’s a BBQ joint called Claymore’s. Their barbecue is the best on this side of the Mason-Dixon, and you’re going to love it. Of course, honey, it’s not as good as the food you make.”
I giggle. “Oh you! I don’t make BBQ, so this is a nice change, but thank you for the compliment.”
“I only give compliments when I mean them,” Ed growls, shooting me a meaningful look. “You deserve it, sweetheart, and I’m going to miss your cooking once you go back to school.”
Those words make me choke because at this point, we only have about ten days left before classes start and the dorms open once again. My heart contracts painfully, but I make myself stay cheery. This date is no time to get down about things I can’t control.
Finally, we arrive at Claymore’s, which interior resembles a rustic barn with a large, wood-beamed ceiling, rough-hewn tables, and a counter where the BBQ is cut and prepared. Country music jangles softly as Ed ushers me in. We’re immediately led to a table by a young man wearing a white shirt featuring the red outline of a pig being slaughtered with the word “Claymore’s” in big block letters above it. I suppose that’s one way to advertise.
He hands us menus and I look it over quickly, my eyes going wide.
“Wow, this all sounds so good.”
Ed grins. “Order whatever you’d like, honey, but I have to recommend the pulled pork because it’s finger-lickin’ good.”
I giggle because there’s nothing even remotely healthy on this menu, except maybe a garden salad, which doesn’t appeal to either of us. As a result, when the waiter comes back, I ask for a pulled pork sandwich, collard greens, candied yams, and a side of mac and cheese. OMG, my date is going to think I’m such a pig, but at this point I don’t care because I’m not wasting the opportunity to try the best BBQ in town. That and the fact that Ed worships my luscious curves.
“I hope this is good,” I say.
Ed snorts.
“Hon, this food is amazing. You’ll have to try the brisket next time because it’s delicious, albeit with a lot of fat. And you’re definitely having one of my bacon wrapped meatballs because what could be better? Anything wrapped in bacon is delicious,” he winks.
My stomach growls at the very thought. “It sounds great.”
He nods with approval.
“Good, honey. I like that you have an appetite. Hey, you need to eat a lot these days to keep up with the calories we’ve been burning every night.”
I flush because it’s true. We make love until the early hours of the morn, and sometimes, I don’t get out of bed until 11 a.m. after Ed leaves for work because I’m so exhausted. But it’s a good kind of exhaustion, and I don’t mind it one bit.
“I guess that’s true,” I giggle. “I mean, I do want to keep up my energy for you.”
He grins.
“You’re doing a great job, honey,” he growls. “Because fuck, I always want you. But damn, I was literally sore at work today because of that thing you did with your finger. Some of my coworkers even noticed me limping around and asked if I was okay.”
I giggle.
“Oh, you mean the prostate massage?”
His blue eyes gleam as he leans forward.
“Yeah, exactly that. Where’d you learn that anyways? I thought you said you were pretty new to sex games.”
I giggle.
“I am, of the real-life kind. But a girl can watch porn, you know. That, and my romance novels get raunchy on occasion. Okay, not on occasion. More like all the time.”
Ed lets out a guffaw of laughter.
“They’re talking about prostate massages in your romance novels? The hell?”
I nod happily.
“Oh yeah. That and a whole lot more, big boy. I’d be happy to show you what I’ve learned.”
He takes a slow sip of his beer, shaking his head.
“Hot damn. I had no idea. Maybe I should take up reading romance then.”
I giggle.
“Well, I can recommend a couple books for you to get started, and trust me, they do not include Fifty Shades of Grey. They’re way more graphic than that.”
My man merely shakes his head again.
“Shee-it. Who would have guessed my sweet girl is getting her sex ed from books!”
I giggle.
“Don’t worry, because it works right? I love doing all this naughty stuff and it turns me on.”