Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 107673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
What I hadn’t judged properly was my attire. Amidst the sea of crisp, new suits and shiny polished shoes, I’d opted for pressed blue jeans and a relatively new SMU sweatshirt. If the clothing weren’t enough to make me stand out, I also refrained from drinking, choosing a club soda with lime instead.
My innate sense of responsibility didn’t allow me to drink and drive. The way things were looking, I’d be everyone’s designated driver tonight.
I lifted my glass for the toast then dropped an ice cube inside my mouth. I had somehow commandeered the best stool at the table, giving me a view of everyone. The Dedman pride resonated deeply throughout the entire bar.
The low hum of the music began to amplify, signaling it was ten o’clock. Time for the bar to go from sedate to popping. A Madonna hit replaced the previous instrumental playlist. Of course, I knew the song. An essential requirement in maintaining good standing with my gay card. My head began to nod to the beat of the infectious tune.
My simple move seemed to serve as an invitation. Alexis bounded from her stool, grabbing my forearm. I was yanked to my feet. “Dance with me.”
I barely managed to get my glass to the table when she tossed her hands in the air and began dancing. The sultry sway of her body aligned against mine. What was I to do with that?
As suddenly as Alexis started, she stopped. Whatever she saw had her standing to her full height, her attention laser-focused behind me. That same weird sensation from earlier resurfaced. I didn’t understand it any more than I did this afternoon, but also didn’t resist it.
I allowed the feeling to guide me.
Something unseen circled my heart and tugged me forward. My nerve endings sent in flight. A shivery sensation washed over me in continuous waves. Dark shadows encroached on the edges of my vision. What I was able to see came through saturated, vivid, and sharp, all at the same time.
“Damn…” Alexis declared appreciatively, craning her neck to see the front door. “I’ve never seen his kind here before.”
I scanned the bar, searching for the source of my unease and Alexis’s delight. My gaze zeroed in on one of the ornate support columns in the open space. My unsteadiness held the focus of two dark blue sleeves poked out from each side of that column.
As I moved closer, the world fell silent.
From the sweep of chestnut colored hair falling onto his forehead, to the strong jaw encasing such a handsome face, my vision began to tunnel. It was Beau. He’d changed. Larger, harder, and almost too gorgeous for my senses to absorb. My heart stuttered to a stop for one, maybe two seconds then began to race wildly as his familiar amber stare met mine. He left the waitress hanging as he zeroed in on me like I did with him. Uncontrolled tears spilled down my cheeks as I broke into a run, launching myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck, my legs tightly around his waist.
Even with a balancing step backward, I had no idea how he managed to stay on his feet after my forceful impact. Both his hands gripped my thighs, my ankles locked together. Inches from his handsome face, I kept my gaze fixed on his, afraid to close my eyes for fear I was once again dreaming.
My words faltered as I gently used my palm to brush aside the long strands of hair from his forehead. Through all of the tortuous time and distance, nothing had changed. Beau was with me again.
“You came,” I whispered seconds before my lips crushed against his, my eyes closed as my tongue insisted on entry into his mouth. He opened, and I swiped forward, executing the perfect deep dive all the way in. My arms tightened possessively around his neck, determined to never let him go again.
I lavished his mouth, taking everything he offered, which wasn’t much. Where I was fully committed, he hesitated. An inner conflict urged me to slow down, but how could I? Full throttle was my default setting where he was concerned. As if he read my thoughts, he gently eased off the kiss, causing my arms to cling tighter around his neck.
“Stand on your feet,” he whispered huskily. His warm, sweet breath coated my lips. The deep tenor of his voice vibrated through me. The masculine tone had changed too.
“No.” And I didn’t. Instead, I buried my face into the crook of his neck. The scent of an enticing cologne mixed with a fragrance that was unmistakably him. “Not ever again.”
Sadly, he didn’t caveman out. Sweeping me from the bar to have his way with me, or me with him. Instead, he leaned forward, letting go of my legs. My feet dropped as his strong hands gripped my biceps, pulling my arms from his neck.