Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 121764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
It was her laugh, wild and carefree. It was the little shimmy she did every time she bounced that quarter right into the glass. It was how no matter what was happening around us, no matter how loud and rowdy the crowd got… her eyes always found me.
Eventually, the crowd tired of losing, the energy draining because Grace fucking Tanev was unbeatable at this game. So, I called it, signaling for our check before I posed for a photograph with each group that had challenged her — regardless of the fact that they didn’t ever win.
Grace almost pouted when I did, but I just smirked at her, shaking my head and scribbling out some autographs before saying goodnight to the guys.
They were happy as could be, laughing about the game and comparing photographs as they spread out through the bar.
And I turned back to find Grace looking up at me with drunk, lazy eyes.
“Hiiii,” she sang.
I chuckled, signing our check to my room number before I reached for her hand. “Come on, little Nova.”
She giggled as I hauled her off the chair, keeping her hand firmly in mine as I weaved us through the crowd and toward the elevator. She was swaying a bit, and a group of the guys who’d been challenging waved as she passed by. She waved in return, and then someone broke out a slow clap, and Grace yanked free of my grip long enough to jump on top of a plush chair and do a dramatic curtsy.
“Thank you, thank you, oh, you’re all too kind,” she said, blowing kisses around the room. The crowd ate right into it while I wiped a hand over my mouth, shaking my head.
But when she went to bow once more, she lost her footing, and I shot my hands out just in time to catch her before she tumbled to the floor.
“Wee!” she said when I swung her back upright. I held my hands on her arms to steady her, but as soon as I removed them, she swayed into my chest.
“Alright,” I said on a laugh. “Looks like someone needs a ride upstairs.”
Before she could agree, I scooped her into my arms, and she kicked her feet like a little kid the entire way to the elevator.
The crowd roared their approval as we passed, Grace waving at them over my shoulder until we slipped inside the elevator. The moment the doors closed, a heavy silence fell over us.
And I was suddenly all too aware of every place my skin touched hers.
Grace seemed completely unbothered, however. She laced her hands together behind my neck, staring up at me with lazy, happy eyes.
“Hi,” she said again.
I laughed. “Hi.”
Her eyes washed over me, pausing at various places — my jaw, my throat, the tattoos on my forearm. Then, she groaned, burying her head in my chest.
“If you’re going to throw up, give me a warning,” I said just as we reached our floor. I stepped out and headed for her room, still holding her tight.
“The only reason I’d throw up right now is from how disgustingly hot you are.”
I barked out a laugh at that. “Um… thank you?”
“No. No, thank you. It’s a problem, Brittzy. A real problem.” She hiccupped. “I protected you down there. I’m your princess in shining armor.”
“That you are,” I agreed, a smile curling on my lips. When we made it to her room, I carefully set her back on the ground in front of the door.
But she didn’t let go.
Instead, she pulled me flush against her, fingers wrapping into fists hard enough to untuck my shirt where she gripped it. She closed her eyes as her head fell back against the door, smiling for a long moment before she peeked them open again and looked up at me.
Fuck.
Those eyes were like a neon sign the size of Texas screaming all the dirty thoughts in that pretty little head of hers. They danced with mischief, with an invitation — one I couldn’t accept, especially tonight.
“You called me Nova,” she said, her words slurring a bit.
“I did.”
“Why?”
I swallowed, using my knuckles to sweep her hair out of her face. A voice deep in the abyss of my mind screamed that I needed to stop touching her, but I couldn’t.
“Because you burn brighter than anyone else in the room.”
Her lips tilted up, eyes wide like she couldn’t believe I’d said that about her. She watched me like that for a pause before a little laugh rumbled in her throat, and she shook her head on a sleepy smile. “Stop flirting with me, Brittzy.”
I laughed, taking that as an excuse to put much-needed space between us. I backed away only a few inches before she clamped my arm in both her hands, pulling me into her again.
“These fucking tattoos,” she said, trailing one long line of black ink with her nail.