Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
He wanted to experiment with something. When he rubbed the skin at the back of her neck again, she let out a deeper moan.
Fuck.
Her face went to what seemed to be its favorite place, pressed in against his shoulder and neck.
“Such a good girl. That’s it. Just relax. Shh.”
Gradually, her breathing deepened, which was what he’d been hoping for. He didn’t know how long he sat there, holding her. Just reveling in touching her.
This felt right.
Like she was just where she needed to be.
But he knew she’d get a better sleep in her bed. So eventually, he forced himself to stand and carried her to the bed. He shifted her weight carefully to free up a hand so he could pull down her blankets. Then he placed her in the bed, and covered her up, tucking her in.
She murmured something and flung out an arm as though searching for him. Or maybe that was wishful thinking.
Fuck.
He couldn’t sit here and watch her sleep. That would be fucking creepy. And he had better shit to do. He was just here for a fuck.
Yeah, right.
He couldn’t even lie to himself anymore. He wanted her. More than he should. More than was healthy for her. He didn’t want to risk her. He brushed her hair back off her face.
“Gray. Scared.”
He froze. She wasn’t scared of him, was she? No, there had been nothing to indicate that. Was she scared of something else? He realized he hardly knew anything about her. Because he hadn’t wanted to know, he’d wanted to keep a barrier between the two of them.
He checked his phone. He had a few things he could be following up on, but he couldn’t make himself leave her. Instead, he settled in. His jobs would wait a bit longer.
18
Maeve was feeling pretty damn good.
Last night she’d had an amazing orgasm.
She’d gotten to suck Gray off.
Two things that she liked a lot.
“Like a lot, Squish.”
Squish looked icked out.
“Sorry, next time I’ll hide you somewhere so you don’t have to see that.”
Sure, Gray had been gone when she’d woken up, but she was trying not to let that get her down. He’d probably had to go to work. Although he seemed to keep odd hours. She guessed being a bodyguard he was really just on-call when his boss needed him.
She should have asked him who his boss was. Maybe he was someone famous.
Not that it mattered.
She wasn’t going to take offense that he’d left. It wasn’t like they were in a relationship. Although, the way she was feeling . . . yeah, she kind of wanted something more.
You can’t say anything.
She was also feeling good because there had been nothing from her secret admirer in days. Okay, she hadn’t left the apartment in days because she was scared.
But still, no deliveries were a good thing, right?
No more flowers, no more notes. She was starting to even second guess whether they’d been for her. It wasn’t like they had her name on them.
She was going to have to leave her apartment soon, though, to wash her clothes. No way was she using the machines in the basement.
Nope.
She wasn’t stupid. But she was getting desperate. She sighed. She’d last another few days.
She definitely had to move. It would be silly to just stay here and hope that it was all a mistake or someone who didn’t mean her any ill will.
Perhaps you should have told Gray last night.
She’d thought about it. But then they’d gotten busy.
Besides, she’d thought he might overreact.
Either that or he’d try to distance himself, thinking she was too much trouble.
With a sigh, she gathered up her dirty washing. She glanced out the window.
Yuck, it was raining.
“Yes, Squish, I’m delicate and I will melt in the rain,” she grumbled. “Maybe I could go tomorrow.”
Only, it was meant to rain again tomorrow.
“Fine, fine, I’m going. But you’re such a slave driver, Squish.”
Three hours later, she returned to her room. She hadn’t felt anyone watching her and she was starting to think she’d imagined everything.
She opened her door and stepped inside. Something white on the floor caught her eye.
Setting her bag down, she turned and locked her door then bent to pick it up.
Anxiety had her feeling jittery.
What was it?
Sitting on the sofa, she looked over at Squish. There was nothing on the envelope.
But she knew there was going to be something bad inside it.
Someone must have pushed it under her door.
Don’t freak out. Maybe someone is inviting you to a potluck dinner.
Yeah, no one here was really into that. She’d tried to broach it with a few of her neighbors once and they’d looked at her like she was insane.
With hands that shook, she opened the envelope. A number of photos slipped out. They’d been printed on normal paper so they were grainy and poor quality.