Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 32750 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32750 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
She surprises me by rising onto her tiptoes and pulling me in for a deep, passionate kiss. When the two of us finally part, we’re both breathless.
“Ben, you have no idea how happy that makes me,” she says, caressing my cheek. “I love you, too. So much, it hurts. And I’m just so happy to hear you feel the same way.”
I slant my lips over hers, and she opens to me. Our tongues tangle as my fingers weave into her hair. The world falls away as my love for Skyler rushes through my veins. I can’t recall a time when I felt this happy, holding Skyler tight against me in the middle of a classroom—
Someone clears their throat behind us.
Skyler pulls back with a gasp and spins toward the sound.
An older dark-skinned woman smiles patiently at the two of us.
“Nice to see a couple that doesn’t skimp on the spice,” the woman says. “When you’re ready, please make your way to the front station and we’ll get started.” She gestures to the station where the other students have already gathered.
“Yes, ma’am, thank you,” Skyler says, a crimson blush painting her cheeks.
The woman—our instructor—winks at Skyler and then heads to the front of the room.
Skyler looks up at me, the red in her cheeks making her eyes shine like gems. “I guess we should stop making out and go join the others.”
“We will...” I grasp her wrist and gently pull her back against my chest. “But first, I want you to know that when we get back to the hotel, I’m going to show you exactly how much I love you, Baby Bird. I’m gonna love you so hard, you’re gonna need me to bring you breakfast in bed in the morning. That’s a promise, and Daddy always keeps his promises, doesn’t he?”
She captures her bottom lip between her teeth. “Yes, Daddy.”
I plant a final kiss on her cheek.
“Good girl. Now, let’s get cooking.”
ten
SKYLER
I hum as I unload the dishwasher, drying the excess water droplets with a dish towel and letting my mind wander back to the amazing weekend I spent with Ben.
The two days we shared in Chattanooga were an absolute dream. I can’t help but smile every time I think about how adorably helpless Ben was at the start of the cooking class, intimidated by all the spices and unfamiliar ingredients. The dishes we made together were such a departure from his usual method of sprinkling salt and pepper on some chicken, tossing it in the oven, and calling it done. When we finally sat down to taste our delicious meal, his chest puffed up with pride. He liked it. And I was so happy that he was happy, that he’d genuinely enjoyed the process.
But the best part of the weekend, hands down, was the moment Ben confessed his love for me. As soon as he said it, I knew in my bones that I felt the same way, and it was such a relief to hear him say the words.
And now that we’ve admitted our feelings to each other, it’s like our relationship has become a hundred times deeper, a thousand times more intimate. Even the sex is more intense because of it.
When Ben moaned the words, “Daddy loves you, Baby Bird,” while burying himself to the hilt inside me, I saw shooting stars. I came harder than I’ve ever come before, my whole body shuddering with the force of my climax. I whispered my love for him in between moans and whimpers, and I know he felt it because he came soon after, rasping my name into my ear.
We’ve been away from each other for less than a day, but I already miss him like crazy. I can’t wait to see him again tonight, and every night thereafter.
God, I love him, I love him, I love him...
I didn’t think it was possible to crave another person this intensely. But I need to see him, need him to wrap his big, strong arms around me. I’m literally counting down the minutes until I can see his face again—
A series of swift knocks on my door snaps me out of my thoughts.
I set down the plate I’ve been drying and go answer the door.
My heart stops.
Crystal stands outside my apartment with her arms crossed and her mouth pinched in anger.
“We need to talk,” she says tersely.
Inevitability, like a bucket of icy water, pours over me.
She knows about my blog.
I expect to feel mortified, but I don’t. What I feel is a bittersweet blend of pity for Crystal and vindication for myself. Surely, if Nate had shown her my blog, she’d have asked him why he was looking at it in the first place. She’d have to at least wonder what made him seek me out, and then maybe she’d start to question his side of things. Right?