Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“There aren’t any strings,” I lie outright to him. “Either of us can walk at any time.”
He gives me a sad, knowing smile. He gets why I just said that, and he understands me better than perhaps I know myself at this moment. I don’t know if I should like him or hate him for that.
“There are strings,” Lucas says firmly. “I was jealous of you talking to Cash. That’s a string. If you were honestly jealous of me talking to Rona, then that’s a string. I’ll let you discuss that with your conscience, but I’ve got no problem admitting it. Not when what we just shared in this bed is so beautiful and amazing.”
Oh God.
Just…oh God. He really means that and this is really happening.
“I don’t think I’m ready for strings,” I whisper fearfully to him, my heart now racing as fast as it was right before he brought me to the height of pleasure. My chest feels weighted with anxiety as I consider how very threatening this is to my way of life, and at the same time, I’ve got this undeniable excitement making me absolutely jittery.
Lucas’s hands grab mine and he squeezes them gently. “Stephy…it’s just a string. Not a commitment, not a proposal, not a declaration of emotion or feelings. It’s just a string. Probably means nothing more than we are proprietary about each other’s bodies.”
He’s lying to me to help put me at ease, damn him and his sweet ways. That’s not what it means, but he sounds so earnest in his reasoning I think I’m going to accept that. No, I know I’m going to accept that, because even though I’m not ready to consider something that risks my heart with Lucas, I’m not ready to give him up either.
So I nod to him and exhale. “Okay.”
“Okay,” he says with a smile. “Now we need to talk about something else.”
“Can we talk over Cherry Garcia?” I ask with a perky smile.
He rolls his eyes and then lifts me off him. He slips out and I hate how I hate losing that connection.
“Go get us some ice cream,” he orders with a swat to my ass.
I scramble off the bed and run through my small apartment. In less than a minute, I’m back with a fresh pint. The one he and I started three days ago is long gone.
Lucas is in bed, sheet pulled up to his waist, watching me with appreciative eyes when I walk in. He’s told me so many times how beautiful I am. How beautiful my body is, and yet…when he looks at me, he conveys something even deeper about how much he likes what he sees. His expression actually makes me giddy.
Crawling into bed, I hand over the ice cream. He opens it while I situate myself beside him against the headboard. I don’t bother with bringing the sheet up to my breasts and instead keep it just over my lap like him. Our legs are pressed together and our shoulders touch. I watch as Lucas takes the first spoonful of ice cream before handing it over to me. “I have to stop joining you in your cravings. I’m going to turn into a cow at this rate.”
I snicker and plunge my spoon in. I’ve heard of men gaining weight when their significant others got pregnant and now I know why. “I’m quite sure your workout regimen lets you have a few bites of ice cream here and there.”
“That’s what I’m telling myself,” he says as I let the heavenly concoction of dark chocolate and cherry slide down my throat.
I hand the ice cream to him. “So what do you want to talk about?”
“Play-offs,” he says, and then I wait for him to take another bite and swallow. He hands the pint back to me and explains. “They’ll be starting soon…April fifteenth to be exact. And as you know since you’re a fan, we’ve got a great chance at winning the Cup again.”
I nod as I eat the ice cream, not intending to give it back yet.
He continues. “And I just wanted to let you know that it’s just a high-pressure situation. The physical and mental toll is going to be tough on the entire team, and well…I guess I just wanted to warn you. I get really intense during play-offs, really focused on that trophy. I’ll be involved in the pregnancy, but I’m afraid my head may not be there all the time and I just wanted to explain it to you. It’s nothing personal. I’m like that with my family and friends too. All of us players, we’re just sort of in a zone, and I didn’t want you to take it to heart if I’m distant.”
My stomach sinks as I process what he’s saying, and I realize I don’t want a different Lucas. I want this easygoing, fun, and sexy guy. He’s making it sound like he’s going to turn into a monster or something during the play-offs. Even worse, what if he’s letting me know this is the start of the end of us? I think he’s telling me that’s when our expiration date will kick in, and I don’t like the way I feel incredibly let down right now.