Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 123579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 618(@200wpm)___ 494(@250wpm)___ 412(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 618(@200wpm)___ 494(@250wpm)___ 412(@300wpm)
Her head drops to my chest, the deep breath she draws brushing her nipples against me.
That’s not helping.
“That dude’s such a cock blocker,” she whispers.
We both laugh, loosening the passion that held us so tight moments before.
“I’m sorry.” I pull back just enough to study her face. “I shouldn’t have let it go that far in here.”
She’s not even blushing, the minx. She grins wide, pulling all the way back until she floats out of my arms. She faces me, topless for a moment, her nipples high and tight, before letting go of a lusty laugh, plunging underwater, and swimming over to retrieve her bikini top.
I run my hands over my hair and face, grappling for control and composure, when really I just want to take her under and make love to her on the pool floor. We might both drown, but what a way to go.
“For the record,” she says, hauling herself to the lip of the pool, giving me a great view of the round, firm cheeks not completely covered by her bikini. “I did beat you fair and square.”
She sits on the edge, long legs floating in the water. I swim over to stand in front of her, and we’re back where we started, only my dick is a lot harder now.
“I’m not sure I can trust you,” I say, cocking a brow.
Her smile fades until she’s biting her bottom lip, lashes down to cover her eyes.
“You can.”
I lean forward, lifting her chin with a finger until I have her eyes again.
“Goes both ways,” I say. “You can trust me, too.”
She still hasn’t told me what happened with her mother, but I know it wasn’t good. When she didn’t call me, I called her. I could tell immediately that things had gone badly, but I didn’t press. All through dinner at her apartment last night, I didn’t press. And I won’t. I have to believe she’ll trust me. Is that what I’m actually waiting for? Looking for before we take this thing to the next level?
“I know I can trust you.” She bends to trail her fingers through the water.
“I want to be there for you, Sofie.” I catch her hand in the water and hold her eyes. “Let me.”
“Okay.” She nods, licking her bottom lip before looking at me squarely. “Will you come with me tomorrow to talk to Shaunti Miller’s lawyer?”
“Yes.” I’m flying to South Africa tomorrow, and I don’t even know what time this meeting will happen. I’ll rearrange the flight if I have to. “What time?”
“It’s at ten o’clock tomorrow morning, but if you can’t make it—”
“I can.” I reach up to brush my thumb across her soft lips, brushing away any more protests. “I will.”
She smiles, turning her head to kiss my palm.
“I do have a flight to catch.” I drop our hands, clasped, to her knee. “But it’s not until evening, I think.”
She doesn’t shutter her expression quickly enough to hide her disappointment.
“The Collective meeting in South Africa?”
“Yeah.” I release a heavy breath. “Unfortunately.”
“How long will you be gone?”
“We leave tomorrow, and come back sometime late next week.”
She nods, eyes on the water.
“Hey.” I tip up her chin until she can’t look away. “I’ll miss you while I’m gone.”
Her smile is my reward, and despite the embers, still hot from our last kiss, I initiate another one. This one softer and slower, but still telling her that I can’t wait much longer to have her. That I don’t want to.
“Come out with me tonight,” I whisper against her lips, still pressing soft kisses to her mouth.
“Are we really going to try that again?” She leans down, her fingers wandering to the back of my neck, pressing me in to deepen a kiss.
I pull back to answer her.
“Yeah. Come with me tonight.”
She looks like she might turn me down, but I’m not having it.
“Say yes. It’s important to me.” I didn’t want to play this card, but I will to get her to come. “I’m being honored, and I’d love for you to be with me.”
“You’re being honored?” Her eyes widen, a smile starting small and spreading over her mouth. “For what?”
“For my work with developing nations. Does it matter? I want you with me; now, are you coming or what?”
“Well I guess I am.” Her smile melts, leaving concern behind. “And you’re coming with me? Tomorrow, I mean?”
“I’m here for you, Sof. Nothing will shake me loose. Not lies or hearsay or scandal.”
“What about the truth?” Her lips barely part to let the words out. “When it’s not lies, but it’s the nasty truth about something stupid I did a decade ago. Would that shake you loose? Because I wouldn’t blame you. Wouldn’t think any less of you if you want to get out of this now before it goes too far.”