Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 137433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 687(@200wpm)___ 550(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 687(@200wpm)___ 550(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
“Big words from someone who begged me to fuck her ass with my fingers not even two weeks ago.”
Snorting, I murmur, “I was high. Now I’m sober, so all your flaws are on display. And there are many, Lev Cole.”
Rather than verbally spar with me, he leans back, having his fill. His jade irises skate down my body slowly, halting everywhere they land.
I can almost feel him clasping his teeth over my tight nipples, grazing them along my stomach. The way his tongue swirls around my navel and dips south, to the holy triangle between my thighs.
I’m shivering all over, and I know he can tell. Finally, he opens his mouth and says, “Your body is full of blues and purples.”
My heart somersaults to the pit of my stomach. This is what he noticed?
Huffing, I answer, “Welcome to college sports. That’s what your reality is going to look like unless you get the balls to apply to the Air Force Academy.”
He doesn’t say anything. Just swallows. And now I’m embarrassed because Sober Me remembers Lev has a huge problem on his hands—his future—and instead of helping him, all I do is sulk and give him whiplash.
Our hands find one another—mine wet, his dry and rough—and our fingers lace and play with one another, doing the soothing thing we used to do when we were BFFs. Somewhere between a thumb war and piano playing.
“Come on,” I whisper, stroking his thumb with the pad of mine. “If you won’t tell Uncle Dean he is overstepping, I will. You were born to become a pilot. Your résumé is flawless.”
More staring. I don’t know what he’s thinking, and that scares me because I always know what Lev’s thinking.
Used to, anyway.
“Marx, point taken. I look haggard.” I disconnect our hands, grabbing the towel from the sink and wrapping it against my body to hide it. “Anyway, about the Air Force Academy—”
“You don’t look haggard.” His voice comes out thick and gruff. Honey soaked.
My throat dances with a swallow. “I don’t?”
He shakes his head.
“What do I look like, then?”
“You look like the love of my life, who I’m scared to death of losing.”
My heart.
My dang mangled heart is about to be vomited out of my mouth and onto the floor.
Lev is telling me he is in love with me.
I open my mouth to confess the truth. That I’ve always been in love with him.
That I want to get better. But as soon as the first syllable slips out of my mouth, loud bangs fill the bathroom. The door shakes on its hinges from the force of a fist.
“Bailev!” It’s my dad, and he sounds exactly like what a dad should sound like when he knows his naked daughter is locked in a bathroom with a sexy football captain who spends twenty-five percent of his awake time watching porn. “Get your asses out, pronto. I thought Mel was watching Bailey.”
“No. She is taking care of Sissi while Penn and Daria show the sitter around,” I shout back.
“Well, evidently.” Dad sounds pissed. “Open the damn door before I break it, then use it as a weapon against Lev.”
Hurriedly, I put on panties, a pair of Lululemons, and a 49ers hoodie.
Lev adjusts his hard-on before opening the door. His sharp cheekbones are stained pink, and his Adam’s apple is rosy.
Dad is wearing a death glare, standing on the other end of the threshold with his fists curled.
“Bails, did he act inappropriately?” He is asking me but staring at Lev.
I sigh. “No, unfortunately.”
Lev gives me a really? look. I counter with a private grin only he can see..
“Did you take a look?” Dad thunders at Lev.
“No, sir.”
“Are you lying to me right now?” Dad’s eyebrows shoot up.
“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir. It’s not my fault you make good-looking kids.”
Dad shakes his head with a sigh. “She okay?”
“She’s right here,” I say through gritted teeth. “Still capable of answering a question, thank you very much.”
“Bitching and complaining but sober.” Lev ignores me.
“Good. Enjoy your very cold shower, Lev.”
“You’re welcome, Jaime.”
“Apparently, you’re welcome,” Dad bites out after Lev’s back. “Also, what happened to Uncle Jaime?”
“With the things I want to do with your daughter, safe to say we’re not family.”
Then he whispers, almost inaudible, “yet,” and again, I want to kiss this guy hard.
Dad starts after Lev with every intention of shaking him but then thinks better of it when he realizes I would be left alone for a few minutes.
I rearrange the hoodie to cover my wet hair and skulk out of the bathroom.
Dad follows me. He looks dapper in a striped navy suit, his blond-gray hair pulled back into a bun.
“Where are you guys off to?” I toss today’s clothes into the laundry basket, incredibly aware of how close I am to my suitcase—and the drugs inside it.
“Drinks with this Yellowstone-type bullshit cowboy.” He blocks my way to the closet.