Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79488 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79488 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
She steps out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel, and I have to remind myself—specifically my dick even though it just got plenty of attention thanks to her perfect mouth—to chill out. She’s not feeling well, and the last thing she needs is me constantly attacking her because I can’t seem to keep my hands off her.
Once she’s dressed—in a pair of sweats and a shirt that reads, “When a Southern woman says ‘Oh hell no,’ it’s already too late”—we head up to my place. We’re on the couch with Savannah tucked into my side, deciding what to order, when Brody plows through the door like a tornado, throwing his bags on the floor.
He stops in his place and eyes us. “So you guys finally started dating, huh?”
“What? No!” Savannah squeaks out.
At the same time, I say, “Not yet.”
Brody barks out a laugh. “You guys might wanna figure that out.”
Savannah moves to the other side of the couch like my touch is suddenly contagious. “There’s nothing to figure out,” she says through clenched teeth, glaring at me. “Tell him… Tell him we’re just friends.”
“You don’t have to pretend for me,” Brody says. “I’m not a kid… and I’m okay with you two dating. Hell, I’m okay with you getting married. It just sucks my mom couldn’t find someone nice too.” He shrugs and walks through the living room, already pulling his phone out of his pocket. “I’m calling Sariah. Let me know when dinner’s here.”
The second his door closes, Savannah bolts to her feet. “What the hell was that?”
“That was my kid,” I say, knowing full well that’s not what she was referring to.
“Ben…” she warns.
“I’ve actually been meaning to talk to you.” When she takes a step back, I stand as well. “I know we agreed to no strings, but—”
“Don’t do this…”
“Savy.” I sigh, stepping toward her. She takes another step back. “Things have changed.”
“No, nothing has changed!” she whisper-yells. “You promised me no strings. You said you were a man of your word.”
“That was before…”
“Before what?” she barks, her chest rising and falling in quick succession.
“Before I started to fall for you.”
“No… No. No. No. You promised!” Tears fill her eyes and quickly spill over, shattering my heart. This isn’t what I had in mind when I imagined telling her I want to be with her. “You promised, Benjamin!” She throws her arms in the air. “I need to go.”
Before I can beg her not to leave, she’s out the door, slamming it behind her. I’m stuck in place for a few seconds, unsure what to do, when Brody makes his presence known.
“What are you waiting for? Go after her.”
Shit, he’s right. I run out the door and down the hall, catching her while she’s waiting for the elevator. Tears are running down her face, and she’s sniffling loudly.
“Savannah, wait,” I call out when the elevator opens. I sprint in front of her and block the doors. “Please talk to me.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Yes, there is.” I close the space between us as the doors close since nobody got in. “Over the past several weeks, my life has changed drastically. From Brody moving in, to meeting you. When I agreed to no strings—”
“You didn’t agree,” she hisses. “You offered.”
“I did, and at the time, I had every intention of keeping it that way. I’ve been single for the past fifteen years and have had zero interest in anything more… until you.”
“You don’t mean that,” she whispers. “You think you do, but you don’t.”
“I do.” I cup her face in my palms. “When we hang out, I can’t stop touching you, needing to be close to you. When we’re not together, I miss the hell out of you. I’m always wanting more… more of your smile, more of your laughter. You make me a better person. You make me want everything I never thought I wanted.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying,” she breathes shakily.
I use my thumbs to wipe the liquid emotion from under her eyes, hating she’s so upset. “When you thought you might be pregnant, I didn’t freak out, and when you got your period today, a part of me was sad.”
“Stop it,” she begs. “Don’t do this. You might think you want more, but this isn’t who you are, and when you change your mind, you’re going to break my heart.” Her voice cracks on the last three words, and I vow at this moment to never let them be true. “Please… if you care about me at all, stop saying this stuff. We can cut the sex out of it and be friends.”
“I don’t want to be your friend.” My hand moves to the back of her head, entangling my fingers in her hair. “I want you, Savy. All of you. Your mind. Your body. Your heart.”