Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 118780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Mercy comes when she slips into the house alone.
Fucking finally.
The perfect moment is now.
I round the corner and lean against the wall, hearing the sink turn on and off. Rowan opens the door, smiling widely, and freezes when she spots me. Her smile falters, her eyes darting side to side.
“No one else is around.”
“Um, why are you waiting for me outside the bathroom—again?”
“Because last time I fucked it up.”
I move fast, scooping her up and moving back to my room. The door slams before she snaps out of her shock.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting my do-over.”
Her blue eyes swim in confusion. “Do-over?”
“Do-over. Getting my second chance at our first kiss.”
He jerks back, not going far because I tighten my grip. “If you remember, it ended horribly. Not sure it’s worth a second chance.”
“I remember everything about it. The second your soft lips landed on mine, the first taste, the silky strands of your hair, the sting on my chest where your hand gripped. Every single second of that kiss is burned in my brain.”
Her breath hitches. “You pushed me away.”
“You took me off-guard, and I reacted badly to the surprise.”
“Reacted badly? You reacted like a man who was repulsed by the thought of touching me.”
“I realized my mistake immediately. You ran. And, baby, you didn’t just run, you fled like the hounds of hell were at your feet.”
“It was mortifying.”
“Let’s see if we can erase that mortification.”
“By kissing again?”
“Yeah, Rowan. I want you to kiss me again.”
“Forgive me for being a little gun-shy.”
“Fair enough, this time it’s on me.”
Her eyebrows shoot up and eyes grow wide when she realizes my intention. I lower my mouth to hers, skimming across her lips softly. She parts them slightly, giving me my in. My tongue slides inside, sweeping through. Lime, citrus, and tequila all mix together with the familiarity of just her. A taste I’ve been craving since the first time.
My hand glides into her hair, pulling out the tie and sifting through the strands as they fall.
She moans lightly, her grip on my biceps tightening.
My cock springs to life, straining against the swim trucks and aching to hear the sound again.
I slant her head, deepening the kiss.
Her sun-heated skin presses into mine, her nipples poking into my chest. A growl escapes my throat, my hand caressing her scalp.
Her tongue tangles with mine, giving me control but curling in sync. On instinct, my hand on her lower back goes lower, grasping her ass and pressing her hips to mine.
Another little mew escapes and my dick lurches.
Shut this down! My brain screams.
Reluctantly, I slow, pulling back and kissing lightly along her lips from corner to corner.
Her eyes open slowly, a haze clearing. “You did it a lot better than I did.”
I stare at her for a beat before bursting out and tucking her to me. “Fuck, baby.”
“I’m serious.”
“That’s why it’s funny. You have no idea. This wasn’t a contest. If it was, you’d win hands down.”
“Maybe we should try it again, see who’s the best two out of three.”
At this, I lose it again, tilting her face to mine. “It wasn’t a one-time thing.”
“It wasn’t?”
Her baby blues could be my undoing. So pure, so fresh, so real. No games, no bullshit—just beauty.
“Baby, we need to talk. And it kills me to say this, but now is not the time with a yard full of people.”
She nods, understanding washing over her.
“Hey, Ford? Are you back here?” A small rap follows the shrill voice, and my door swings open.
Tera’s smile wavers, her eyes flashing in surprise before filling with displeasure.
“There a reason you’re barging into my room without permission?” I growl, feeling the heat coming off Rowan’s cheeks.
“I-I-I’m s-s-sorry. I didn’t know you weren’t alone.”
“Alone or not, never enter my room without my approval. What do you need?”
She flinches at my brutal honesty. “I heard someone asking where you were. They’re ready to grill.”
Rowan makes a move to step away, but I hold her tighter, using her to suppress the anger running through my veins. Her excuse is bullshit. “Any one of them knows how to use the grill. They don’t need me. This is their house, too.”
If my message isn’t clear enough, the anger radiating in my tone is. Wisely, she backs out, shutting the door.
“I think you may have hurt her feelings,” Rowan says softly.
“Don’t give a shit. The woman has overstepped her bounds for the last time. My sisters had better find her somewhere to live tomorrow. Anywhere is fine, just to get her out of my hair.”
“I get the impression she doesn’t want to leave.”
“Yeah, well, so much for being the nice guy.”
“It was generous to help her out.”
“That feeling of generosity died the night of the party when you slunk out of here with tears in your eyes.”
She jerks out of my hold. “I didn’t slink out.”