Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
His growl of frustration was adorable.
Walking out to the living room, I let Ada know that I was running over to Gale’s place and would bring him and the food back with me.
“Is he finally home?”
“Yeah, but what do you mean by finally?”
“Well, you’ve been pining, my darling, so I’m thrilled that he’s back.”
“Pining?” I was defensive.
She laughed at me and pointed at the door.
I bolted from the room and left the house fast with Misha right behind me. Even though I had the key, I knocked on his front door. I loved that the door was instantly flung open and he stood there staring at me.
“Hi,” I greeted him.
“Hi back,” he returned, smiling wide as Misha darted by him and into the house. “What took so long?”
“That wasn’t long,” I argued.
“Fine, whatever,” he said, hooking a hand around the side of my neck and drawing me close.
“Wait,” I said, both hands flat on his chest. “Did you kiss anybody else while you were gone?”
“Fuck no,” he replied sharply, glowering at me. “Did you?”
“No, I did not.” I grinned at him. “Okay, you can make with the kissing now.”
“Are you sure?” he murmured under his breath before he bent and kissed me.
I had missed kissing this man. It was new and exciting but also felt like I’d been kissing him for a lifetime. Like we fit together perfectly. There was so much yearning intertwined with a certainty of affection. I didn’t have to guess with him. I knew I was both wanted and needed. I felt the same.
In moments he had me through the door and knocked back against it, his hands all over me, up under my T-shirt, then down under the waistband of my sweats, squeezing my ass. I was his for the taking, my body hot and willing, going boneless under his touch.
It was a surprise when he stepped back.
“What’re you— I thought––”
“Chinese food, right? Ada’s expecting us?” He was heaving for breath, his chest rising and falling, his hands fisted at his sides.
I chuckled. “She is. Yes.”
“I kinda hate you right now.”
“I have no doubt.”
“It’s not funny.”
I sighed deeply, loving the frustration on him and seeing how much he wanted me. “Okay, so yeah, I wanna be in this with you.”
“In what with me?”
“Don’t be stupid.”
He nodded. “Come here.”
I couldn’t stop smiling as I stepped close and wrapped my arms around his waist. “I missed you so much.”
He grabbed me tight, crushing me against him. “I missed you too.”
Sometimes a hug was even better than passion.
I was on the couch with Misha, glancing around at Gale’s living room and marveling at the interior, same as I’d done the first time I was there, after he left for training. Funny that I hadn’t been in his place before that, but there had never been a time to just pop over and check it out. I was busy, he was busy, and the timing had never been right. Plus, his home seemed more serious. Like if we were there, we had to put a name to us. Sleeping together at my house, with Ada at the other end, but still there, was like being there with a parent. We had to behave ourselves. But he’d given me the key before he left and asked me to air out the rooms and water his plants.
I’d been surprised because the outside of his home with the manicured lawn, limelight hydrangeas, pink peonies, and Victor Hugo roses was beautiful, but really, inside, his sweet little Craftsman was simply stunning.
There were open ceilings with exposed beams, the floors were reclaimed barnwood, so they had a beautiful variety of color, and the kitchen was all stainless-steel appliances with a deep farmhouse sink, pot filler over the stove, and a refrigerator with glass doors so everything was visible inside. The counters were white-veined granite, he had open shelves, and the backsplash was subway tile.
The living room was done in shades of blue, the coffee table stained a beautiful shade of navy, and even being a cool color, it was warm and inviting, much like the man himself. The fireplace looked like it belonged on Christmas cards, all heavy stone, and from the area rug to the pillows and throws, it was pristine. I had been worried at first because Misha had gone straight for the couch and rolled on the pillows.
“You know,” I commented when he walked back into the room, “I really don’t see me and Misha spending a lot of time over here.”
“What? Why?”
I gestured all around me. “If Misha has an accident or shreds a pillow, which he might do… I mean, anything could happen.”
Gale walked to his coffee table and lifted the lid. “You’ll learn this about me, but so you know, I’m a planner, Maks. I’ve got that covered.”
Inside were stuffed toys and balls, some hard rubber ones, and a lot of other things I had no idea existed, like a licking mat. Reaching in, he pulled out what I suspected was supposed to be a monkey, but the eyes were red and it had creepy eyebrows.