Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
She looks up at me, still annoyed.
“Kiss me back, goddammit.”
It’s the only warning she gets, then my lips are on hers again.
She still wiggles beneath me, her goddamn tempting little body rubbing me in all the wrong places if what she really wants is to settle me down.
I don’t believe that, though. It wasn’t true in the shower, it’s probably not true tonight, either.
Whether it’s true or it isn’t, I don’t listen. I hold her down, lacing my fingers together with hers, keeping her body pinned beneath my weight. I wedge a knee between her thighs and kick her legs apart so I can position myself between them. I kiss the goddamn brat until finally… finally, she kisses me back.
So much tension eases out of my body as her lips soften beneath mine. I let go of one of her hands so I can touch her face, then I slide my fingers through the silky strands of her hair.
“I miss you already,” I murmur against her lips. “You’re not even gone yet, and I fucking miss you.”
Her expression softens. Before I said that, she may have finally kissed me back, but she hadn’t given in. Her brow was still furrowed, her expression still guarded against me and thoroughly aggravated.
I feel her chest sink beneath me as she sighs.
It’s defeat for her, but victory for me.
She reaches up to push a few strands of hair back off my face—a gesture of tenderness.
Her eyes glint with sadness I know I put there.
I can tell she wants to say something, but whatever it is, she keeps it to herself.
Instead of speaking, she slides her hand around my neck and pulls me down closer to her.
Her lips are soft and sweet again, inviting me to kiss her.
I kiss her like I’m drowning and she’s the only dry land I’ll ever find.
My hands are rough and greedy as I reach for her panties—the only stitch of her clothing I haven’t yet removed. I resent them for being in my way, so I shove the fabric down her long, shapely legs.
I have to break away for a moment to unhook her panties from her ankle and toss them, to drag off my shirt and kick off my pants. To free my cock and guide it between her thighs.
She gasps when I shove into her, hooking her arm around my shoulder so she can hold on. She feels so fucking good as she struggles to adjust, taking every inch of me raw and without much preparation. I feel her stretching to accommodate me, feel the strain of her muscles as she shifts beneath me, trying to get more comfortable.
She looks up at me with her wounded heart in her big blue eyes, letting me have her one last time when she knows damn well she shouldn’t.
I could fall in love with you, I told her.
I didn’t tell her I’ve already started to fall.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Autumn
We get a late start leaving the following morning.
Everyone is awake, which is unfortunate. It was a long night, and I’m completely drained. I’m not able to fake very convincing smiles as we say goodbye to Jasper’s family, but I do try.
Maybe I shouldn’t care about keeping up his ruse. They’ll all find out we didn’t last when they never see me again anyway, but the memory of this Christmas with Jasper and his family in Stillwater… it’ll stick with me, even if he doesn’t.
I’m exhausted when we load into the car, but at least I don’t need to keep up a front once we’re alone. Jasper didn’t let me get much sleep, the bastard.
I was okay when I went to bed. Sad, but accepting. Resigned.
I should have known better than to get my hopes up. I should have known that a leopard doesn’t change his spots.
No matter how okay I made myself with Jasper’s past… it wasn’t his past yet. Because of his fears about my safety otherwise, being with me would mean completely changing his life, and that’s a hell of a sacrifice to make for someone you just met.
After the time we spent together over Christmas, I was willing to change my life for him, but I guess he doesn’t feel the same way about me.
I just don’t know why he had to lie to me.
I asked him if we were impossible. He said we weren’t.
I told him I wouldn’t sleep with him because I didn’t want to get attached, but he didn’t accept that.
I guess I thought it was because it was safe to get attached.
Turns out, it’s just because he’s an asshole and he wanted to fuck me.
I can let myself off the hook for that time. I let myself get swept up in the romance of that night. I wanted him as much as he wanted me. I knew better, but I did want him.