Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 82747 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82747 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
"This is what you wanted to talk to me about?"
I dip my head.
"I thought you were going to lay down the law about it being a sex-only arrangement. I thought you saw something on my face that I wanted more from you, and it freaked you out."
"I'll be honest. I am a little freaked out, but only because I've never felt this way before, not because of how I feel. I'm scared I'll mess it up too. We're learning and navigating this together, Riley, and there's not another person walking this earth that I'd want to do this with."
"It sounds too good to be true," she says.
"Isn't that the way true love works?"
"I wouldn't know," she answers, but I take it as a good sign that she no longer seems like she wants to escape my embrace.
"I think that true love makes others want to hurl like they can't get away fast enough."
"That's what it felt like when Madison, Adalynn, and Claire were talking about their significant others this past weekend."
"I avoided the men's get-together because they're all happy and in love and sickeningly sweet on their significant others."
"But that's what you want for us?"
"Without a doubt," I answer without hesitation.
"What now?" she whispers before her teeth close down on the corner of her bottom lip.
I swear this woman could just walk by me, and my body is ready to lay her out on the floor and spend hours worshipping her.
I give her a slow, devious smile. "I have a few ideas."
"Is that right?" she asks, her lips turning up in the corners for the first time since we came into her house. "Tell me more."
"You want me to talk dirty to you, baby?"
"I want to know how you feel, how I make you feel. I hear what you're saying. Believe me, I've locked it all away to mull over later, but I need to know that this is more than just sex."
"I think we're perfect for each other," I say as I shift my weight from one leg to the other.
I don't mind giving her exactly what she needs, but my body is on fire. It's been so long since I've had her under me that I'm finding it rather difficult to pull my mind from that space.
"I love that a salad is a side for you, not the entire meal."
"It depends on the protein content," she says, making laughter bubble out of my throat.
"I can't wait to watch you suck the meat off of a chicken wing because I know exactly what those lips feel like wrapped around my cock.
"That's... graphic," she says with her nose scrunched, but there's still a hint of humor in her eyes.
"I love that you have an appetite both in bed with what I have to offer you and also when we've burned so many calories that you're ready to eat tacos in bed after. When you put on weight while growing our babies, I'll put on weight right along with you."
She gives me a weak smile as if she still isn't ready to accept that these are all things that I want with her.
"When you wake up at three in the morning needing something to eat, I'll help you get ingredients out of the fridge," I assure her. "If you're craving dessert for dinner, then that's what we'll both have."
"That's ridiculous."
"I'd love nothing more than to sit on the sofa watching TV and eat an entire cheesecake with you right out of the pie plate."
"Savage," she mutters but her grin is growing.
"Only for you," I say, clasping her hand and pulling it to me to run down the front of my straining jeans. "I love your body, baby. Never doubt that."
I use my free hand to lift my t-shirt, resting her hand on my stomach.
"I know you love mine."
Her eyes grow a little hazy as she watches her hand running along the ridges of my abdominal muscles. How can she not see that her reaction to me is the very same reaction I have to her?
"Want to take me upstairs?" she asks, giving my body another long look before her eyes drift up to mine.
I shake my head, hating the way shadows threaten to darken her eyes.
"I want you right here," I say, taking another step closer to her.
"Here?" she asks, looking around the room.
I dip my head in a nod. "Right here."
I pull her against me, trapping her palm between our bodies.
"We don't have to have a plan for every second of every day," I assure her. "I want plans, don't get me wrong, but the spontaneity has its own appeal."
"I'm not complaining," she says. "I'm just worried about comfort."
"You won't be once we get started," I assure her, lowering my mouth to hers.
I absolutely love the way she clings to me and the way she lifts up onto the tips of her toes to get closer to me during our kiss. This part of what we have has never been a concern. I just know that I have to love her through all of it, the doubts, the struggles, the times when she doesn't feel worthy. I have to fight against the urge to beat the hell out of anyone who ever put those shadows into her pretty eyes, knowing that I played some part in what happened in high school.