Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 75195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
And the moment between us shifted, becoming something else. Something more than just words and understanding.
When he finally pulled away, he ran his fingers through his hair. “I don’t know what I’ll do without him.”
I let Tristan go and touched my chest. “If you need anything, I want you to let me know.”
“You already know what I need.”
“Tristan. . .”
“Come to lunch with me.”
I frowned.
“Yes. I know.” He shrugged. “I’m now playing the sympathy card.”
“So. . .I will be there for you, but. . .like for if you need a shoulder to cry on or someone to talk to.”
He licked his lips. “I’ll need more than that, Nova.”
“That’s not happening.”
He leaned his head to the side. “Did you think about me?”
I swallowed. “Yes.”
“What did you think about?”
“Does it matter?”
“It does.”
My voice was barely a whisper. “I’ve been thinking about our first date.”
Hope filled his eyes. “Yeah?”
“Yes. However, that doesn’t change anything for me.” I took a step back. My legs were unsteady. I needed to put some distance between us, to regain my composure.
But Tristan was not so easily deterred. He reached out and grabbed my arm, stopping me in my tracks. His touch sent a shockwave through me. “Let me take you somewhere for lunch.”
“I made a sandwich.” I gestured to my bag.
His expression shifted to skeptical. “Show me the sandwich.”
I blinked. “What?”
“Show it to me.”
I frowned. “Fine. I didn’t make one.”
“You’re bad at lying.”
“I’m not trying to be good at it.”
“Let’s go to lunch together. I know for a fact that you want to go with me.”
I gritted my teeth.
“Say yes, Nova.”
I let out a long breath. “Okay.”
He watched me.
“However. . .”
He raised his eyebrows.
“Due to us having very different views about dating and relationships, it would only be lunch. Eating food. Talking. Nothing more.”
A devilish smirk spread across his face. “Is that right?”
“Yes.”
“No, Nova.” His hand cupped my chin and he tilted my head up as if he were about to kiss me. “This will be much more than lunch.”
“Tristan—”
He closed the distance between us until our lips were just a breath apart. His mouth hovered above mine. “Say my name again.”
I shivered.
“Say it.”
“Tristan.”
“Mmm.” He captured my lips, and my body sizzled with sparks of pleasure.
I tried my best, but I couldn’t stop myself from melting into him.
Our tongues danced together.
He tasted like honey and his lips were incredibly soft.
Groaning, he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer. His hands roamed my body, sending more shockwaves of pleasure through every nerve ending.
The intensity of the kiss felt like a force of nature, too unstoppable to deny. I gasped for breath and he deepened the kiss even further, as if it were necessary for us both to survive.
When we finally came up for air, I could feel myself trembling from head to toe.
He rested his forehead against mine and our breathing slowed down until it matched each other’s rhythm. “Never have I missed anyone. . .like I missed you.”
My chest rose and fell.
Slowly, he stepped back. “I can’t predict the future, Nova. I don’t know where this is going. But today, right now, I want to be with you. I need to be with you, and. . .”
I stood there speechless.
“I won’t take no for an answer.” With that, he offered his arm. “So, come on. Let’s go. Now.”
Fuck.
Although in an absolute daze, I hooked my arm around his. “Tristan.”
“Yes?”
“This is just lunch.”
He pursed his lips and led me away.
Together, we left the lecture hall.
What the hell am I doing?
I knew it was probably not the best path to be walking on, but I could not stop.
After those words and that kiss, I desperately wanted to be with him today.
No. No. I won’t let him back into my life that easy. We’ll just. . .eat and. . .I’ll be there for him due to this loss of his friends. But. . .that’s it.
Tristan was becoming an addiction. Something about the way he spoke, the way he looked at me, the way he touched me, was triggering all sorts of chemical reactions within my body.
Every time he was near, I felt my heart race, my skin tingle, my stomach flutter.
It was as if he had tapped into something primal within my heart, something deep, powerful, and overwhelming.
And yet, I also knew that this addiction was dangerous.
It was thrilling and intoxicating, but it was also consuming and destructive.
I had already been burned once, already felt the pain of his rejection and the sting of his impatience.
Was I really willing to risk that again?
Was I really ready to put myself out there?
I looked up at Tristan as we walked down the hallway. His face focused and serious. I could see the determination in his eyes.
But was I ready for whatever he had in store?
Was I prepared to take that leap, to jump into the unknown, to embrace this wild, passionate, and chaotic situation again?