Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“Fuck.”
She dropped the jersey out of necessity, bracing both hands on the closet wall now, using all her strength to squeeze her thighs together, even if that only made the ache intensify.
“Sig, I can’t have you anymore, without having you. I can’t do it anymore.”
A few seconds passed in silence. “I’d rather torture myself with you than be with anyone else.” He cursed under his breath and she sensed, rather than saw him take a step in her direction, his fingertips just barely grazing her spine. “Come here.”
She turned and barreled straight into his chest, knowing he wouldn’t budge an inch, sighing with equal parts frustration and relief as he wrapped her in his arms, holding her like letting go was an unthinkable concept, his hands stroking her hair, up and down her spine.
“We’ll stop,” he said against her temple, before rubbing his cheek on the spot. Hauling her closer, higher until her toes were barely brushing the ground. “I let it go too far and now I’m hurting you. We’ll stop.”
“It’s still going to hurt tomorrow.”
And the day after and the day after that.
“Don’t say that, Chloe. I’d rather die than hurt you.”
His words did nothing to diminish the hopeless feeling inside of her. For the last six months, she’d had this secret belief that Sig would find a way for them to be together. That everything in her life would work itself out, like it always had. However, along with her new and expanding awareness that life outside of Darien wasn’t designed for her enjoyment came the realization that . . . life didn’t always work itself out.
She was in love with Sig.
And they might not end up together.
That was reality.
Every day, she fell deeper, too. Maybe . . . maybe she needed to find a way to put the brakes on before she went careening over the side of a cliff.
Maybe it was time to start thinking about dating?
Why did the very idea make her stomach shrink to the size of a pea?
Holding on to the last thread of her courage, Chloe pressed her tongue to his neck and licked up that thick cord of muscle that caused her so many sleepless nights. “We could give in just once,” she whispered. “No one would know.”
Sig pulled back just enough to meet her eyes, letting her see the agony, the regret, the lust. All of it. “Feel me, dream girl.” He jerked her right leg up around his hips and tilted his lower body, grinding upward and lifting her higher, to the very tip of her big toe, until her vision went totally black. “You think I could stop at once? I’d never be able to stop. I’d be hiking up your skirt at their wedding reception. I’m already an addict and I’ve never even gotten a hit.”
“Taste me.” Liquid heat pooled between her thighs. Preparing. Every underused muscle below her belly button cinched up and twisted. “Everyone already suspects us.”
“Yeah, but I know I’m doing right by you, Chloe.” He dropped his mouth over hers, his frustrated breath heating her lips. “I’m not giving in unless it’s right. Unless I know that I’m not dragging you into something wrong. Something that could hurt you. Your future.”
“Drag me. Please.”
He interlocked their lips and moaned.
Chloe’s heart went wild. She held her breath. This was it. This was it. Damn the consequences. They would burn alive now and figure out a plan tomorrow. Sig would know what to do. He’d know how to turn what they were into something socially acceptable, so it wouldn’t bring shame to her family name or hurt any possible advances in their careers. So they wouldn’t have to be judged by everyone in their lives and everyone they ever met in the future. How could something that inspired this much love inside of her be so bad?
“Sig, please. Just take me to bed.”
“Jesus Christ. Don’t you think I want to? Feels like I’ve spent my whole life wanting to get inside you. I fucking belong there.” Avoiding her eyes, he set her down and backed off, raking five unsteady fingers through his hair. Pacing out of the closet and into her bedroom. Stopping. “I have to go before I let us do something we can’t take back, Chloe.”
With that, he took one final agonized look at her, his gaze blazing a path down to her naked thighs, before he turned on a booted heel and strode for the door.
Still stunned, she stared at the space he’d occupied, the sound of the front door opening finally forcing her into motion. Leaving? He was just going to leave after she’d made herself completely vulnerable? “When I said I can’t do this anymore, I meant it,” she called, speed walking after him. Stop talking. You’re keyed up. You’re going to say something you’ll regret. But the voice of reason was a lot quieter than her sexual frustration at that very moment. “Having you and not having you at the same time . . . I can’t live like this anymore. It’s torture.”