Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 35452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 177(@200wpm)___ 142(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 177(@200wpm)___ 142(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
I sighed. “Can’t we just go back to the way it was thirty seconds ago? You weren’t all flustered then.”
“Carnage --”
“Levi,” I said.
“What?”
“My name,” I said. “Levi Gordon.”
She looked up at me, confusion on her lovely face. “Levi?”
I grinned. “Now you’re getting it. What’s your question?”
She blinked. “Question?”
“That’s what I thought. Now. Do you need to go back to sleep for a while or are you ready to start this?”
“Start what?”
Slowly, so I didn’t startle her, I rolled us so that I lay half on top of her. I had one thigh between her legs and my upper body covering hers. She sucked in a breath, her lips parting on that little gasp, and her hands flew to my shoulders.
“We’re gonna see how we mesh as a couple,” I said, giving her a cocky grin I didn’t feel. Hell, I felt anything but cocky. I was actually nervous as I leaned in to nuzzle her neck. How long had it been since I was nervous about taking a woman? I wasn’t even sure I was nervous my very first time. Not like this. And I knew in my heart it was because this woman mattered in whatever way. Not only did I want to make her mine, but she mattered.
“What do you mean?” She shivered in my arms as I kissed and nipped her skin, running my lips over her jaw until I found her mouth with mine. I pressed gentle kisses there. Three. Then four.
“You need a man in your life. So do the boys. Consider yourself taken, because I’m claimin’ you as my own.”
“Don’t I get a say?” That was the real sell in this, wasn’t it? Did she get a say in this?
“Sure,” I said, pulling her more firmly beneath me and moving so that I lay between her thighs. I rocked my hips back and forth, letting her feel my erection. “Tell me you don’t want me right now, and I’ll leave.” I dipped my head back to her neck, letting my beard abrade her delicate skin as I blazed a trail down her neck to the swell of her breast beneath her shirt.
“Carnage!” Her fingers went to my hair where they tunneled and bunched into fists.
“Levi,” I reminded gently. “Say it.” I pulled away to look her in the eyes. I was inches from her lips, from kissing her again like I had the previous night.
“Levi…”
“Fuck.” I took her lips. Instead of the gentle seduction I’d intended, I found myself ravishing her mouth. When she gasped, I swept my tongue inside, taking a long, slow lick, drawing her tongue inside my mouth with kiss after scorching kiss.
I was lost. This wasn’t the best time. But, God! I needed Calliope like I needed air. I groaned when she tentatively licked my tongue with her own. Then she sighed contentedly and just surrendered to the overwhelming sensations right along with her.
She slipped her hands over my back and shoulders, bunching my shirt in her fists. I expected some resistance, but she tugged at my shirt until she bunched it up enough to reach bare skin. When she put her palm against my bare back, she sighed into my kiss like the feel of my skin on hers grounded her. Well. I could fix that.
I pulled away to sit back on my heels as she reached for me.
“Relax, baby,” I said. “Just losing some clothing. I suggest you do the same.”
Her eyes widened. When I pulled off my shirt she reached for me, her hands running over my chest. Tattoos decorated my skin, and I knew that with my ink and muscles, I was a sight to behold.
“Oh, my,” she whispered.
“Like what you see?”
“What’s not to like? You’re beautiful, Levi.”
I grinned. “Show me what I’m getting, Calliope. Take off your shirt.” It didn’t really matter to me what she looked like. I just wanted to get her moving. Because this was happening unless she expressly told me no.
Instead of telling me no or demurring, she nodded her head frantically and squirmed out of her shirt. I chuckled as I lowered myself back to her body, rubbing my chest over her breasts. She arched into my touch, her hands still rubbing across my shoulders and back.
“This feels so good,” she whispered. “Never felt so wonderful.”
“I ain’t even started yet, baby.” Finding her mouth again with mine, I kissed her. I needed more and more of her sweet taste, but I needed some answers first. “How many lovers you had?”
“What?”
“You heard me. I need to know how experienced you are before we go further. Don’t wanna hurt or frighten you.”
She sighed, looking away, almost ashamed. “One,” she said softly. “Mark was the only man I’d ever been with”
“Because of your responsibilities?”
She nodded. “I didn’t have a great support system. And it never felt right to leave the boys with a sitter for something like going on a date.”