Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
I cleared my throat. “I should get dressed.” When he didn’t move, I added, “Are you gonna stand there and watch me or something?”
Josh didn’t answer. But he didn’t move from his spot, either, his gaze glued to mine.
Feeling a bit out of control, I slowly opened my robe and let it fall to the floor, leaving me in nothing but a bra and panties. Josh’s eyes turned glassy as they traced my body.
He swallowed hard.
While I would’ve given anything for him to touch me, I knew he wouldn’t. Josh was the king of tease and restraint. With every second that passed, I grew wetter as he continued to stare, his pupils dilated. My body begged silently for his touch. I’d take anything he’d give me.
He moved toward me until he was just inches away, his breath teasing my face. He wrapped his hand around my neck, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe.
My eyelashes fluttered. “You’re not being very polite right now, Mathers.”
“I’m not feeling polite.” He ran his thumb along the skin of my neck. “How do you politely tell someone you want to fuck them until it hurts?”
My knees nearly buckled.
“Fuck.” He shook his head and released his hold on my neck as if he’d just woken from a daze. “I’m sorry. That was…”
Josh stepped back and left the room, leaving me a pile of aroused mush.
He wants to fuck me.
Until it hurts.
Now I’d have to change my damn panties when I’d just put this pair on.
Josh’s resolve had finally cracked. Yet he still refused to let go, refused to actually go there with me. I wasn’t going to entice him further because I didn’t want to be his biggest regret. But the way he’d been looking at me, like he could eat me with his eyes, and then those words that would surely replay in my head all night. He had pushed me over the edge. I needed relief.
Grabbing the package Christina had sent me, I ripped it open. On the off-chance Josh came back in, I snuck into the closet and picked a spot on the ground before spreading my legs. This wouldn’t take long at all.
Except nothing happened. I looked at the package again. Batteries not included.
Yep. I was currently the only thing turned on in here.
CHAPTER 23
* * *
JOSH
AFTER CARLY LEFT for her date, I felt completely stir crazy. I couldn’t believe what I’d said to her, but that little striptease had made me lose my damn mind. What the hell was I thinking, hanging around her room while she was getting ready just so I could ogle her and get my damn fix before she left? Left for a date with another man, I reminded myself.
I wanted her in the worst way, and evidently, I wasn’t even trying to hide it anymore. Also, what was up with my inability to lie for a second and swear on the dog’s life when she called me out for flirting? You learn something new about yourself every day.
Tonight I’d learned I was a superstitious pussy.
I was driving myself nuts. I needed to talk to someone, so I dialed my brother Michael.
He picked up on the third ring. “Hey, dude.”
“Hey.”
It sounded like he was in a crowded restaurant.
“What’s wrong? You never call me, Josh.”
“I think you were right,” I told him. “About Carly and me.” I tugged on my hair.
“What about Carly?”
“My inability to keep my dick in my pants. I’m a ticking time bomb. I fucked up royally tonight—crossed the line and said some shit I shouldn’t have. The longer we’re here in Woodsboro, the harder this is going to be.”
“What did you say to her?”
Exactly what I’d been thinking in the heat of the moment. “You don’t want to know.”
“I think that means it’s definitely something I’d want to know.”
“It doesn’t matter what I said. Just know that I’m losing it.”
“Hang on,” I heard him say to someone. Then the noise seemed to fade away. “Sorry. I stepped outside so I can hear you better.” He sighed. “Anyway, I know you have this self-imposed rule about not being able to cross the line with Brad’s girl, but you need to think about it from a different perspective. There’s no one around to hurt anymore.”
The reality of Brad being gone forever always hit in waves. A part of me still hadn’t truly grasped that. Michael had just cut to the chase, and it felt like a knife.
“This isn’t just about what Brad might think,” I said when I could take a full breath again. “It’s about my own guilt, regardless of how he’d feel.”
“I get it. And I can’t take that away, but—”
“She’s out on a date tonight,” I blurted.
“Well, that’s fucking stupid. You let her go?”
“What do you mean let her? I don’t own her. We’re not together.” I sighed. “Where are you anyway?”