Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 80197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Idiot.
The picture of Eddie cheating flashes into my mind. He was in a booth like this with his tongue rammed down another girl's throat and his hand up her shirt.
Distantly, Travis asks me if I'm okay. I blink as his familiar blue eyes, filled with concern, trail over me. If Eddie can do it, so can I.
Without seriously considering the impact of my actions, I shift closer to Travis and press my lips against his. We both have our eyes open so I can see his surprise, but then he moves his mouth over mine in a sensual, slow, spine-tingling kiss, pushing his hand into my long hair and pulling me closer.
My head spins, but this time, it isn't from the cocktails. It's all Travis.
The scruff on his chin scratches my face in an arousing way, and when his tongue slides against mine, my pussy clenches between my thighs.
Jeez. Gabriella's brother has skills.
"Come on, Celine. You don't need to be doing that…" Elias's huge hand scoops me around my middle, and he hauls me off Travis. I blink, woozy in too many ways, turning to rail against the interrupter of my fun. Except, when I do, I find Elias's expression is quizzical rather than aggressive or judgmental. He has a smile playing at the corner of his mouth and eyes that seem to light with amusement.
"Celine." The way he says my name is like melted chocolate, and I'm immediately transported back to his dorm, where he moaned it loudly as he came inside me. It was a one-time thing when Eddie and I were on a break, a one-time thing that shattered every preconception I had about Elias. In daylight hours, he's a bear with a sore head with enough snark to cut through steel, but by night, he's a man of determined passion.
Those lips did things to me I can't think about without messing my panties.
I kiss him before the ramifications of my actions have time to register. The familiarity in how he kisses me back is like slipping into a warm bath with a glass of wine.
Jeez. Elias kisses me like he's searching for my soul in the rubble of my mind. His hand clasps my hip, and in a flash, I'm on his lap, straddling his big, solid body, pawing at him like we're alone and naked rather than in a bar, surrounded by our nearest and dearest.
A hand rests on my shoulder, pulling me back, and Dornan's voice cuts through the passion. "Hey, Celine…" I blink up at him, finding soft, concerned eyes. His blond hair flops as he tries to help me stand. "It's okay. You're okay." He's always the one looking after everyone. As soon as I'm on my feet, I grab the back of his neck, rising on my tiptoes to kiss him, too.
It's stupid. He's my friend. We've been through a lot together, and he's shown himself to be a good and reliable person. I don't need to mess with good relationships because a bad one turned sour.
But instead of shoving me away and telling me to stop, Dornan kisses me back, and it's good. So good.
I moan as he pulls me closer, his huge hand on my ass.
But before I have a chance to enjoy the experience fully, a familiar voice cuts through the bliss. "Come on, you guys. Pack it in." Ellie pries us apart with surprisingly strong hands.
Dornan blinks as though he's emerging from the depths of hell into the midday sunshine, and I sway as a broad smile breaks out across my face. I turn to my friend, suddenly feeling lighter than I have all evening.
"What's wrong, Ellie? I'm just gathering my own harem."
She grimaces, and pity widens her eyes and makes her shoulder rise in a dismissive shrug. "I don't think that's how it works, sweetie." When she pats me on the shoulder, words that would cut slash through my mind. Somehow, even though I'm drunk, I manage to keep a handle on them.
"You know, those drinks have gone right to my head." I laugh, and it sounds a little unhinged, then I laugh some more because it's funny as shit.
"I think you need some water, honey."
As I follow Ellie into an empty booth and, as she tells Seb to get us a bottle, a different idea about what I need forms into a plan.
2
DORNAN
"I don't know what to do with her," Ellie says, waving her arm in Celine's direction. "She's a mess."
"She's okay. Just hurting. All it will take is a little time."
"A little time while she kisses her way, or worse, around campus?"
"She's just getting back on the horse." I fold in my lips, remembering how Celine's mouth felt against mine. The passion in her kiss. The way I felt it from the roots of my hair to the tip of my dick. The way it felt so completely right.