Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 95080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
“No?” I baited him.
“No, Tracy. He was never gonna keep you.”
And he was so very right.
ELEVEN
The Alcotts insisted on feeding us. They had a whole spread of turkey with all the fixings, as if Thanksgiving had come a month early. It was all beautifully presented, all the flourishes just gorgeous, no detail missed. I had never seen a more lavishly catered meal. Cord and I sat together at the kitchen table while everyone else was in the great room, spread out over couches and love seats. When we were done, I offered to help clean up, but Michelle said the service was paid to leave her kitchen immaculate as well.
I went up three flights of stairs with Cord, who yanked me into his room and shoved me against the door as he locked it. He kissed me before I could get a word out.
There were things I wanted to say, but as much as I knew we needed to talk, I couldn’t stop kissing him long enough to form words. When he finally pulled away from me, I was absolutely aching.
“Come back,” I uttered hoarsely, my voice crackly with need.
“I gotta go,” he said, clearing his throat, sounding unhappy about it.
I crossed quickly to his bed and sat down, patting the space beside me. “C’mere and talk to me.”
“I can’t,” he insisted, pulling his brown barn coat over his gray cable-knit sweater with the button neck. “I have to go check in with the chief of police here in Fieldcrest.”
“Who’s gonna watch over me?”
“Officer Dennis Cumberland, who I think is downstairs already. I’ll make sure before I go. You know I wouldn’t leave you alone.”
“Yes, I know,” I whispered, gesturing for him. “Come here.”
“No.” He chuckled, his smile decadent.
“Cord, I—”
“Now listen: do not leave this house for any reason.” He walked to the door and stood there, poised to leave the room.
“You’re really going?” I grumbled, annoyed that he was leaving. I got up, ready to intercept him.
“Yes,” he answered, opening the door before I made it halfway to him.
“Cord!”
“Take a nap,” he said gruffly, walking out.
“Come back here and blow me,” I demanded in a sharp whisper.
“Later,” he called back.
I caught up with him at the top of the stairs. “Seriously, why the hell are you leaving? You can’t touch base over the phone?”
“No.”
“Why not?” I asked, my hands on his sides, feeling the steel strength in the man beneath my palms.
“Because that’s not how things are done,” he said, slipping his hand around the back of my neck and easing me forward.
“Cord,” I whined without meaning to, lifting as he bent to kiss me.
He was not a gentle kisser, not yet. Everything between us was brand-new, so when we connected, it was explosive. He drove his tongue deep, dragging it over mine, and I opened, loving the feel of him, his taste, wanting to get closer, my body pressed tight to his.
I wanted to go to bed with him, feel his weight on me, holding me down, and have him buried inside my body as hard and deep as he could. When I whimpered in the back of my throat, he tore free, pressing his lips on the side of my neck before shoving me out of his reach.
“What?” I rasped.
“God, you’re cute,” he said, smiling quickly, then leaned in and kissed my forehead.
I was what?
“I’m sorry?”
“When I get back, you better be ready for me,” he said, taking the first step down.
“Maybe I’ll be asleep already.”
His laugh was lusty and rich. “You’ll be pacing the floor.”
“You’re so sure?” I said to his back, watching him descend to the first landing.
“I’m sure.”
My jaw muscles tensed. “Fine.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” He snickered, turning to look up at me.
“You’re so smug.”
“Only ’cause you’re lookin’ at me like you’ll die if you don’t have me.”
“You’re such an ass.”
“Don’t forget it,” he said, and I could hear him chuckling as he went down the second flight of stairs, where he called out to me, “Hey!”
I moved quickly down the first three steps so I could lean over the railing and look down at him.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can. Do what I said and stay here.”
“If you’re so worried, maybe I should come with you.”
His eyes, the way he was staring at me… I really had no idea anyone would ever gaze at me like I was simply too dear for words. The urge to keep him, put a ring on his finger, took a deep bite out of me.
“I’ll be back soon.”
I nodded.
“I’m taking your scarf ’cause I like it better’n mine.”
“Yes, please.”
He gave me a grin that made his dimples pop, and then he was gone. It was probably good he was leaving me for a little while. I had lots of calls to make.
It took the better part of two hours to talk to my dad, Alex, Evan, and Matt. I talked to Dimah as well.