Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 61082 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61082 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
If I had to guess, I would say he is conflicted. And I get it. I do.
So I don’t say anything and wait for him to speak first.
“I’ve gone back and forth…”
“Okay,” I breathe, nervous and confused, but listening.
“A part of me doesn’t want to be with you, Adora.” I bite my lip at his words. “Another part is screaming at me whenever you are near me because I want you so much.” He stops, and I stop with him. Cars are honking, and buses are everywhere, the streets are packed, as is typical in New York.
“This is for you.” He pulls a set of keys from his pocket, offering them to me.
“What are these?” My eyes narrow in question as he sets them in my palm.
“He may have taken things away from you, from us, but I want you to have this.” He nods to something behind me, and when I turn around, there’s an empty shop.
“I don’t get it.” I turn back to him, and he steps closer until his hands touch my shoulders, and he spins me, so my back is to his front.
Leaning down, he whispers in my ear, “Your bookstore. Yours and only yours,” he says, causing shivers to rack my body. “The last one was taken from you, and we know he will never repay you. This is one of my properties. And now I am gifting it to you. The lawyer will draw up the paperwork and send it to you tomorrow.”
His words shock me still.
What? How? Why?
I glance over my shoulder at him. As he stares at me, so many emotions cross his face. I wish I was only responsible for the good ones.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know. I wanted to…” He pauses, seeming to struggle with what he wants to say next. “This does not mean I want you, Adora. I want to fuck you. The two are different.”
“Are they, though?” I whisper. He’s so close that he could easily kiss me again, but I know he won’t.
“For me, they have to be.”
I nod, trying like hell to accept it, then take a step away from him and go straight for the door. But I pause before putting the key in the lock. “I think you should do the honors,” I tell him, handing back the keys. “I’m too nervous.”
He takes the keys and unlocks the door, then swings it open. As soon as I step in, a smile erupts on my face.
This is my new home.
I know it.
I feel it.
My last bookstore was everything to me when I had lost so much.
This is that and so much more, and I’m so excited for the fresh start. I spin around and face him, and he’s watching me from the door, a smirk flirting on his lips.
“I think you should lock the door,” I tell him as I saunter toward him. “Friends who fuck, right?” I slowly remove my cardigan, and he nods, reaching behind him to lock the door with ease. His eyes never leave mine.
“Stop,” he orders as I get to my dress. I do as he says, and he walks over to the windows and pulls down a blind that’s full of dust. Standing in front of the now-covered window, he looks back at me. “Undress.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, my hand caressing my shoulder, playing with the neckline. Waiting…
“Darling,” he teases. “Undress, now.”
“As you say.” I smile and let the dress fall to the floor. “Tell me. Who do you like fucking more, your blonde or your brunette?”
“Do you have to ask?”
I reach for my panties, my fingers brushing the waistband. “Yes, now answer.”
“You. Which you know.” I turn around and slowly pull panties down my hips, giving him a full view of my ass and everything else. I hear him take in a deep breath before a groan rumbles from his chest.
Rough hands slap my ass, hard. I yelp but stay bent over. I can hear the rustle of clothing and know he’s undressing. When I turn back around, he is standing there naked.
“You are in control. Where do you want me?” he asks. His cock is hard, and his chest is ripped to perfection. I just want to touch him all over. Stepping forward, I stroke my hands down his torso, stopping on a new tattoo. It’s randomly placed under his rib cage… a set of books.
“It’s new.” It’s not a question.
“It is,” he confirms. I look up at him, and those eyes that hold so much and yet so little stare back at me. And for some reason, my belly takes flight with butterflies before I ask the next question.
“What does it mean?”
“You.”
“Lie down,” I tell him, pushing him away from me. He glances at the floor and doesn’t even fight me on it, lying down and waiting for me. I walk over to him, position my feet on either side of him, and shuffle up until I am above his face, my pussy directly above his line of sight. “I want…” My hands trail down my belly, and he watches the action until I reach between my legs. I slide my fingers between my folds and smile down at him. “Joey.”