Total pages in book: 296
Estimated words: 284055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1420(@200wpm)___ 1136(@250wpm)___ 947(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 284055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1420(@200wpm)___ 1136(@250wpm)___ 947(@300wpm)
“Is that how you win all the girls over? Skip over the dating and get-to-know-yous and go straight for the panty-dropping one-liners?”
“I know everything about you, Rowan. At this rate, we’ve been datin’ for years because there isn’t anything I don’t already know or haven’t observed.”
She scoffs. “You don’t know everything.”
I close the gap between us until my mouth hovers over hers. “Try me,” I challenge. “I bet if I slid my hand between your legs, you’d be wet. Am I right?”
She swallows. “Wrong.”
I smirk. “And I bet if I rubbed my thumb over your nipple, it’d be hard.”
“It’s chilly in here.”
“That right? So I have no effect on you? Is that what you’re sayin’?”
Rowan shrugs, unfazed.
“You’re bruising my heart here, woman. Throw me a bone or something,” I plead. “I won’t kiss you again until I know where your head’s at.”
I refuse to screw this moment up by thinking with my dick. As much as I want her, I won’t go into this one-sided. She’ll have to tell me she wants me just as much, or she’ll need to stop this before it can even start.
“Alright,” she says, sitting straighter. “Can I show you?”
I wave my hand out, motioning for her to proceed.
Rowan grabs my wrist and places my palm against her chest. “You feel that?” she asks. I close my eyes and feel her heart rapidly pounding.
“Yes,” I tell her.
“That’s you,” she says softly. “Something changed between us, and now when you’re near, my body reacts to your presence.” She exhales sharply. “Even more with your touch.”
“What changed?” I open my eyes and ask, sliding my hand up to her face.
“I started seeing you.” Rowan looks up at me, her expression soft and vulnerable. “You still annoy the shit outta me, but now I see a man I want to spend more time with than away from.”
Chuckling, I brush my thumb over her flushed cheek. “Took you long enough to get here.” I cover her mouth with mine, sliding my tongue between her lips, and give in to the desire I’ve held back for so long.
We battle with our bodies, touching, sucking, pushing, pulling. I can’t get enough of the woman I’ve wanted since I was a teen, and it feels too good to be true.
“What does this mean for us, Row?” I ask, leaning my forehead against hers. “The ball’s in your court.”
I watch as she licks her lips and blows out a shallow breath. “I think it’d be best if we just take it slow and see where things go before announcing anything.”
“You’re afraid of what Riley will do?” I cock a brow.
“Well, yes,” she admits, then smirks. “Plus, sneaking around could be kinda fun. Gives us a chance to explore our feelings before the whole town’s in our business. Because they will be.”
She’s right. The moment the news is out, everyone will have an opinion about it. “Alright, I’m good with that.”
Rowan smiles, then nervously chews on her bottom lip. “Now what?”
“Now I walk out of here with blue balls, and we try this secret dating thing until we’re ready to tell people, which means we have to keep up the act of only being friends in public.”
“Does that mean you’ll be dating other people in the meantime?” she asks. “You know…to keep up appearances.”
“Hell no and neither will you. I’m not screwing up the best thing to ever happen to me.”
Rowan’s who I’ve always wanted anyway, and I’ll do everything I can to prove that to her.
She chuckles, then nods. “Okay.”
“Rowan Bishop, are you blushing?” I tease, pulling on one of her braids.
“Oh my God, I hate you!” She punches my arm, laughing.
“See? People will be none the wiser that we’re dancing between the sheets behind closed doors.” I waggle my brows, and she pushes me back, jumping off the stool.
“I’m already regretting this decision,” she states, walking away, but I quickly grab her arm and pull her back into my chest.
“I’ve always adored that smart mouth of yours,” I tell her, bringing my lips to hers. “I can’t wait to see what else you can do with it.”
Diesel
You’re lookin’ pretty sexy in those jean shorts. Especially when you bend over.
Rowan
Stop staring at my ass.
Diesel
Never. I’ve been staring at it since I was ten.
Rowan
OMG! You were a little perv.
Diesel
Says the girl who wore bikinis around all summer. Would you rather I stared at your chest?
Rowan
I’m almost certain I did catch you looking a few times…
Diesel
Well, I only had so much willpower. Teenage hormones won nine times out of ten.
Rowan
Go away.
Diesel
Come home with me tonight.
Rowan
I can’t. I’m trying to work, and you’re distracting me.
I chuckle, unable to hide how happy bantering with Rowan makes me. She’s working till close, and I’ve been here for two hours, purposely ordering expensive beer that she has to get from the bottom of the cooler. Though she’s trying to act unaffected by me, she’s doing a shit job with her hidden glances and flushed cheeks. We’re supposed to be acting normal so no one notices, but considering Riley and Grayson both asked why I’ve been smiling all day, I know I’m not doing a great job at it either.