Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 48187 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 241(@200wpm)___ 193(@250wpm)___ 161(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48187 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 241(@200wpm)___ 193(@250wpm)___ 161(@300wpm)
“You were right,” he says.
“Aren’t I always?”
He rolls his eyes. “It’s pretty much the only thing you’ve ever been right about.”
I playfully scoff. “Asshole. What was I right about?”
“Your spaghetti sauce is better than Mom’s. Don’t tell her I said that, though. I’ll deny it until the day I die.”
I pick up my fork and grin at him. “Thanks. But if you ever make me mad, I’ll totally tattle on you.”
His green eyes gleam with mischief as we eat. The sauce is good, but it reminds me of Mom. This will be the second Mother’s Day without her. That first one I barely crawled out of bed. This one, I can’t imagine it’ll be that much better, especially without Dad and Landon here.
“What’s wrong?” Daniel’s voice is gentle and his brows are scrunched together in concern. God, he’s beautiful.
“Nothing,” I say in a playful tone, but it falls flat.
He sees right through my façade. “Tell me about nothing then, because I sense it’s still something.”
I poke at my noodles with my fork. “Sunday will be my second Mother’s Day without her.” Hot tears burn at my eyes, and I bite on my bottom lip to keep from crying.
His chair scrapes along the tile as he stands. In the next moment, he’s kneeling beside me, taking my hand. “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry.”
A tear streaks down my cheek and he reaches up to swipe it away with his thumb. My throat hurts from stifling a sob. Exhaustion weighs heavily on me.
“I think I’m done,” I mutter, pushing my plate forward.
He rises to his feet and helps me to mine. When I’m pulled into his strong embrace, I relax against him. “Why don’t you get ready for bed? I’ll clean up in here and come tell you good night before I leave.”
I nod, but it’s not what I want.
I don’t want him to leave at all.
While Daniel cleans up the kitchen, I take a quick shower. I’m embarrassed that I got upset and ruined what’s essentially our first date. I can’t help it, though. I miss my mom so much. After I brush out my wet hair, I’m feeling slightly dizzy from the hot shower. I wrap my towel around my body and then head into my room on a hunt for clothes. I’m stopped short to find Daniel sitting on the edge of my bed, his green eyes sharp and probing as he rakes his gaze down my body. A shiver ripples through me.
“Cold?”
“Nope.” I smirk at him. “Hot actually.”
“That’s a given.” He spreads his thighs a little, so I take his unspoken command to come stand between them. “You feeling okay?”
I groan and start to pull away, but his strong hands grip my hips over my towel.
“You can’t expect me to never ask about your well-being, Lauren. Don’t put that on me because I can’t be that person.” His thumbs stroke me as he tilts his head up. “I obviously really care about you. Give me that.”
Releasing a heavy sigh, I run my fingers through his hair. “I just don’t want this relationship to be based on you worrying over me all the time. I want us to have fun and feel each other.”
“I want that too,” he murmurs, sliding his palms to my ass. “But I can’t change who I am. I won’t nag you about your health, but I sure as hell won’t shy away from it.”
“Fine,” I clip out.
He grips my ass, pulling me closer. “Fine.” His lips tug into a crooked smile that makes my stomach flip. “Now come give me a kiss.”
I grip his shoulders and then straddle his lap, my knees resting on the bed. He’s hard beneath me, like before, and I want to grind against him. With nothing on under the towel, though, I worry about getting his jeans wet from my arousal. He grips my neck in a gentle, yet possessive way, and pulls me closer so our lips touch. His hot tongue slides against the seam of my mouth, begging for entrance. I let out a breath of anticipation, accepting his unspoken request, so I can taste him again. The moment our tongues clash, heat zips down my spine like a lightning strike, zapping me straight in my core. A small moan murmurs through me as I kiss him in a needy way.
Where I kiss like I need his taste to live, he kisses me like he wants to devour every cell in my body. Consume or be consumed. In my case, he consumes me. Decimates me to my soul. Kisses me with a fire that’s catching and cataclysmic.
“Lauren, baby, you’re turning me into a madman,” he growls against my mouth. “And I fucking love it.”
I smile, but then he steals it with a bite to my lip. A claim. A promise. A warning. He’s the leader in our naughty parade. His hand slides to my hair, gripping it tight enough I’m unable to move. He tilts my head back, exposing my neck. Hot breath tickles my still-wet flesh just below my jaw line. His tongue slides out and he licks me. Firm, owning, powerful. Desire tingles through my every nerve ending. My towel has loosened enough that I’m able to grind my pussy along his obvious erection. He lets loose a grunt and nips at my throat.