Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 83171 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83171 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Fuck her until morning.
That would scare the hell out of her, though.
So I stay quiet.
No forced conversation. I’m good with that.
“Do you have any pets?” she asks after swallowing a bite of broccoli.
“A dog.”
She widens her eyes. “Oh?”
Does that surprise her? It does most, and I’ve never understood why. Can’t Braden Black be a dog person? I love dogs.
“Yeah. A rescue pup. She’s adorable.”
She smiles and lifts her eyebrows. “You rescued a dog?”
“Is that so hard to believe?”
“Well…no.”
Again with the surprise. Animal rescue is something I feel strongly about. I’m very generous to local shelters. I pull out my phone and hand it to her. “She’s great. Part border collie and part Australian cattle dog with some other stuff thrown in. I did one of those doggie DNA kits on her.”
Her eyes go wide again, this time with appreciation. She’s definitely a dog person.
“She’s beautiful.” Skye gives my phone back.
“How about you? Any dogs?”
She shakes her head. “I love them, but my apartment complex doesn’t allow them.”
“Then move.”
“It’s not that easy when you don’t have millions sitting around collecting dust like you do.” She freezes, her fork halfway to her plate, and she looks away from me. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t called for.”
I shake my head. “No worries. I’m used to it. But, Skye, I’m not any different from the next person.”
“Except that the next person can’t buy whatever he wants.”
“I can’t, either.”
She returns her gaze to mine, her eyes almost taunting me. “Exactly what do you want that you can’t buy?”
I don’t even have to think about my answer. It rolls right off my tongue.
“You,” I say. “In my bed.”
Chapter Five
I’ve never paid for sex, and I never will, but from time to time, women have offered themselves to me for money. Or jewels. Or a luxury sedan. Or first-class plane tickets to Paris.
I’ve sent them all on their way.
Skye would never do anything so demeaning. She’s too challenging. Too sure of herself. Too independent. Too focused.
She carries a condom in her purse, for God’s sake. This isn’t a woman who puts herself in any situation where she’s not in control.
I respect her all the more for that.
I’m not interested in anything easy.
I’m interested in a challenge.
I’m interested in Skye Manning.
Very interested.
“No,” she says. “I’m not for sale.”
“That’s why you’ll come willingly.” I lower my gaze to her mouth.
That gorgeous mouth, lips glistening and parted just so…
Damn. My cock is already about to explode.
I’ve got to have her. Tonight.
She grabs her napkin and wipes her mouth.
“Let’s go,” she says, and my heart pounds.
I eye her plate containing about a third of her fish and a few broccoli florets. “You didn’t finish your dinner.”
“I’m suddenly not hungry. You want to fuck me? Let’s go fuck.”
Music to my ears.
“Works for me.” I motion to Cory. “We’re ready for the check.”
…
I’ll give Skye credit. She doesn’t gasp in awe at the sight of my downtown penthouse decorated in black and forest green. No. She’s more interested in the black-and-white ball of fur biting my ankles.
“Hey, Sasha.” I lean down and scratch the fur on her shoulders.
“She’s beautiful.” Skye kneels to scratch her behind the ears. “Hi there, Sasha. You’re so pretty.”
Sasha licks Skye’s face for a few seconds but then grows bored and heads somewhere else in the penthouse.
Skye nods toward the black lacquer grand piano that sits in one corner. “Do you play?”
“No.”
“Then why do you have a piano?”
“I hire a pianist for my parties,” I say. “Guests love it. Do you play?”
She shakes her head. “We didn’t have a piano. My dad plays the guitar, though.”
I lead her to the piano, where a guitar also sits. “I do, too. Just dabble really. But I love playing classical guitar and then of course some folk songs. All acoustic stuff.”
I hope she doesn’t ask me to play something, though. In truth, I haven’t touched my guitar in ages. My business occupies most of my time, a big reason why I’m not wired for any kind of long-term relationship. I have my own way of working off steam, something I hope will interest the gorgeous woman in front of me. For now, though? I’ll settle for a good old-fashioned fuck.
In and out, wham, bam, and thank you, Ms. Manning. I close the distance between us and gaze down at her, zeroing in on her mouth again. I trail a finger over her upper lip and then her lower. “I’ve wanted to kiss those full lips since I saw you at Addie’s office. You have the sexiest mouth I’ve ever seen.”
I crush my mouth to hers.
Her lips are already parted, and I thrust my tongue between them.
She’s as soft and supple as I imagined, and she tastes of crisp wine and sweet spice. I deepen the kiss, and she kisses me back as if her life depends on it.