Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 115288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Gavin mutters an apology that I wave off as we carry several loads of stuff into Karen’s house. It’s clear that Karen is making an effort, and I want to acknowledge that, even if it means canceling our dinner reservation.
Karen and Kyle’s house is exactly what I expect from Karen. Not a thing out of place, pristine, organized, and clutter-free. The house is a little dated—everything looks like it was purchased in the previous decade—but it’s all been well-maintained.
I don’t have much of an opportunity to check out Peyton’s room since all I manage to do is drop an armload of stuff in the space that’s been carefully decorated for a little girl who is a big fan of fairies and princesses. But as I walk down the hall, I glance at the framed photos lining the wall. I follow Gavin down the stairs and notice that he keeps his gaze trained ahead of him, as though he purposely avoids looking at the pictures.
It’s a family history laid out in photo form. Some are of grandparents and great-grandparents. Yellowed and faded black-and-white photos in pretty, decorative frames show smiling younger men and women in wedding attire. They slowly change to color photos, Karen and Kyle, young and in love at their own wedding. Their entire lives ahead of them. Blissfully unaware of the tragedy that would strike their family when they were gifted their first grandchild.
I soak in as much as I can as we make our way back downstairs, Peyton leading the way. We bring the last of her things inside, and then we’re ushered into the dining room for roast beef dinner.
We make small talk, the conversation not easy like it is with Gavin’s parents, but it’s not nearly as tense as it was the last time Karen and I were in the same room together. After dinner I help clear the plates and bring them into the kitchen. Gavin doesn’t leave me alone with Karen for a second, and I’m unsure if that’s intentional.
When she offers tea or coffee, Gavin declines, saying we should probably get going. We give Peyton hugs and kisses and tell her we’ll see her on Sunday. It’s after seven thirty by the time we pull out of the driveway.
“I’m so sorry about that,” Gavin says as soon as we’re on the road again.
“You don’t need to be sorry. It was probably just a miscommunication.”
“I swear I told her we had dinner reservations, but maybe I didn’t.”
“It’s fine. We have dinner tomorrow night.” I give his hand a squeeze. “Besides, I doubt I’m going to want to leave our room once we’re in it. We can order something later if we need a midnight snack to get us through until morning.”
He brings my hand to his lips and plants a kiss on my knuckles. “That sounds perfect.”
Twenty minutes later we pull up to an estate that’s been converted into a bed-and-breakfast. Gavin’s rented us the one-bedroom cottage at the back of the property. It’s stunning and private, surrounded with lovely gardens and a covered porch with a swing. It’s the perfect setting for a romantic weekend.
There’s a fire crackling in the hearth, a bottle of champagne chilling, and a platter of chocolate-covered strawberries on the table by the fireplace. “This is amazing.”
“I wanted privacy and this has it. There’s a hot tub out back that we can make use of later.” He kisses the side of my neck and drops his bag on the floor.
He barely has the door closed and the lock turned before our mouths are connected. I part my lips and stroke my tongue out. A wave of need washes over me, intense and overwhelming. In all the months we’ve been seeing each other, there have only been a handful of nights where it’s just been us. And there’s something intoxicating and exhilarating about knowing that for the next day and a half, he’s all mine. I have his complete, undivided attention, and he has mine. And I plan to take full advantage of that.
He cups my face in his palm and the fingers of his other hand slide into my hair. Gripping lightly, he angles my head to the side and deepens the kiss, a low feral sound humming across my lips. I go for his belt buckle, flicking the clasp and pulling it free. Popping the button on his dress pants and pulling the zipper down, I cup him through his boxers, already hard and ready for me.
I squeeze once, then dip inside the waistband of his boxers to skim the length. He groans and I sigh as I wrap my hand around him.
He breaks the kiss for a moment, both of us panting hard. “The first time is going to be quick and dirty, but the second I’ll take my time.”