Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 66865 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66865 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
I regret the words as soon as I say them because they come out harsh, and rude, and bitter.
I soften my attitude. “Come home with me. Please. That’s the only way we’re going to get past this.”
Let me change your mind.
Every nerve in my body screams that she’s going to say no. She’s going to reject the idea, hop out of my car, and I’m never going to see her again.
“Yes. You’re right.”
I let out a breath, a puff of air, then clutch the steering wheel with both hands. “All right then. Great.”
I’m so fucking relieved.
Putting the vehicle in reverse, I take us back the way we came. Past the administration buildings. The student union and library. Away from campus and three miles out of town.
Only when we’re sitting cross-legged on the living room floor does Teddy speak again.
“I think…I reacted so badly because…the differences between us suddenly became so pronounced. You came strutting toward me looking so handsome and fancy, and I was standing there wearing a borrowed dress and borrowed shoes. I borrow a car—I have nothing.”
“That doesn’t matter to me.” I say it with conviction. “And I don’t strut.”
She laughs, stretching out her leg toward me. I take her foot in my lap and begin massaging her pretty ankle as she talks. “But it matters to me; the way we were raised and the roads we’re taking, you know? It became so very clear to me after I realized it was you.”
“I can’t help the fact that my parents are wealthy, Teddy. You can’t hold that against me—people have been doing it my whole life. It’s a hard thing to escape. That’s why I came here.”
“I know. I get judged too, for being poor, and I hate that. I’m not saying it was horrible being me, but my mother works in a bar—and not a very nice one. A few times we’ve lived above it, and it was loud and smoky, and I’m never living like that again. That’s why I’m busting my ass now.”
“I don’t think we’ve talked about this, but…I’ll probably work for my dad when I graduate. Is that going to be a problem?”
“That’s not my decision—why would you ask me that?”
“Uh, because you’re my girlfriend?”
“I am?”
How did she not know that? “Affirmative. And you probably won’t be able to get rid of me.”
“Oh.” She bites down on her bottom lip, pleased. “Well in that case, you should probably take me upstairs.”
She doesn’t have to tell me twice.
I stand, bending at the waist and scooping her up as if she weighs nothing—she doesn’t—and carry her up the stairs. Over the threshold to my bedroom, setting her on the edge of the bed.
“I don’t think I got the chance to tell you how pretty you look tonight.”
Blue is a great color on her; the dress is prim but sexy, both hugging her curves and hiding them at the same time. Her toned arms and legs are the only skin showing, but when she slides off the bed to stand on the floor and presents me with her back, I get to see more of her as I slide the zipper all the way down.
It whirs, causing both of us to shiver when it splits.
Smooth skin.
No bra.
Sensible cotton underwear.
No frills for my girl, but that will come in time; when she trusts me and doesn’t get freaked out by expensive gifts, I’m going to spoil the shit out of her. Buy her lacey bras and panties and whatever the hell she wants.
“God this is taking you forever,” she complains when I still haven’t slid the dress off her body.
“Patience.”
My hands are huge compared to her shoulders, and I love watching them glide across her skin. Love the way she feels under my callused palms—have from the first time I touched her.
Knew she would feel this way the second I saw her standing at that keg in the living room of the rugby house.
Hell, I think I fucking loved her the second I saw her. Period.
When you know, you’ll know, my obnoxious sister is always telling me about finding the right girl for me, never really believing I’d sworn off of them forever.
Dammit. I hate when she’s right.
It’s so fucking annoying.
She’s definitely going to be rubbing this one in my face when I see her.
I finally get Teddy naked, hoist her onto the bed, propping her ass on the edge. Spread her legs and kneel.
“Oh my god, what are you doing?” She’s raised up, trying to see what it is I’m doing.
“Shh. I’m gonna show you what it’s like to have a smooth face between your legs before I grow it back. No beard burn.”
“Uh-h o-okay,” she stutters, letting her head hit the mattress, her feet now propped on my shoulders like stirrups at the goddamn gyno’s office.