Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 97592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
“Sorry? Why are you sorry?”
“Because I was at the center of that scene. Because if I’d let myself be open to you, I never would have dated Gavin in the first place. Because…” She shrugs. “I should have known it was you from the start.”
“Sammy, come on. None of this is easy. I don’t expect you to be anything but yourself—wouldn’t want you to be. If it took this long to know… Well, I’m guessing there’s a reason. I’m not mad.”
“You’re not?”
“What kind of asshole would I be if I was angry with you over something that wasn’t your fault? Trust me, I’m not that guy. I’ll never be that guy.”
“God, Noah,” she breathes out on a sigh. “I swear to you, I haven’t been out with Gavin since that night I ran into you at Bailey’s. We had gone to dinner that evening, and he wanted me to go back to his hotel room, and I…didn’t want to do that. He got mad at me, and yeah, I haven’t seen or spoken to him since.”
He got mad at her because she didn’t want to sleep with him? If Carrie hasn’t already killed him, I will.
I grit my teeth to keep myself from making Sammy feel any worse than she already does. “I appreciate your telling me that, but I’ll be honest, Sam. It doesn’t matter. I’ve decided you’re mine. And no history with that fucked-up prick is going to change it.”
Immediately, she brushes her lips against mine.
I want to slide my hands into her hair and deepen the kiss. I want to lift her up into my arms and wrap her legs around my hips and push her back against the brick wall of the restaurant, but I force myself to have some restraint.
I don’t know what it is about Sammy, but any time her mouth comes into contact with my mouth, it drives me fucking wild. I don’t think I’ve ever had this kind of primitive, primal reaction with another woman in my life.
“Is this okay?” she whispers, and I almost want to laugh at how ridiculous of a question that is right now.
Is this okay? This is more than okay.
“Yes,” I answer, leaning back to meet her eyes with a steady gaze. “You kissing me is always okay, Sammy.”
“Good.” She grins, but it has an edge of mischief to it.
“What?” I question. “What’s that look for?”
She searches my gaze before leaning forward and whispering into my ear, “After seeing you go all caveman and standing up for me, and then kissing you just now, a lot of dirty things are floating around inside my head. Things I probably shouldn’t be thinking.”
Well, fuck.
Her coy expression and the way her breasts brush against my chest with each unsteady inhale of oxygen pushes me over the edge. Before I even know what I’m doing, I pull her away from the front of the restaurant and off to the side of the building where an empty alley provides a semblance of privacy.
The second we’re tucked away from possible prying eyes, I gently press her back against the brick wall and crush my mouth to hers. This time, I don’t hold back. This time, I slide my tongue past her lips and deepen the kiss.
Her hands are gripping my shoulders, and a little moan jumps from her throat. I swallow it down greedily and move my hands to her perfect ass, even lifting her up so that she can wrap her legs around my waist, the entire time her back is still pressed against the brick.
The feel of her curves crushed against me and the way her soft lips meld with mine make my head spin.
I want more. So much fucking more.
But the random city sounds of honking taxis and sirens start to filter inside my brain, and I know that I need to stop before I lose control. Before we lose control.
“Shit,” I breathe out, resting my forehead against hers. “I want you. But not here. Not like this.”
“I know,” she says through a sigh. “And I have to get home to the boys.”
“Of course.” I nod and brush my hand against her cheek. “And I should get home too and get some sleep. I have an early surgery in the morning.”
A mixture of sexual frustration and disappointment form a cloud of silence between us.
“Sammy?” I ask, and her eyes explore mine.
“Yeah?”
“I think it’s high time I took you out on a real date.”
She grins up at me. “And I think I can free up an evening this Sunday. How does that sound?”
“Sounds like Sunday it is, Sam. You, me, and a real date.”
I can’t fucking wait.
Sunday, May 29th
“Can I just say that I’m beyond thrilled that you chose this place for our date tonight?” Sammy comments, smiling at me over her chocolate milkshake.