Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82439 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82439 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
As I ride, shadows stretch across the pavement, dark figures cast by the trees lining the street. Their branches sway gently in the night breeze, their leaves rustling softly like whispers in the darkness. The streetlights flicker in the distance, one by one, marking the path toward Eva’s house. The closer I get, the tighter the knot in my chest becomes.
I don’t know what I’ll say when I see her, but I know I have to be there. The uncertainty churns in my stomach, twisting tighter with every passing moment. I need to know about Christopher, need to unravel whatever connection he has to Enzo. But the last thing I want to do is spend the whole night talking about her ex-husband. The mere thought of him lingers like a bitter taste in my mouth.
What I’d rather do—what my entire body is screaming for—is to feel her. To close the distance between us and let every inch of her skin press against mine. The thought of touching her ignites something primal in me, a fire that’s been smoldering for too long. My hands ache to trace the curves of her body, to pull her close and feel her heartbeat syncing with mine.
I want to kiss her. Long, deep kisses that stretch into the night until we’re breathless and aching. The kind of kisses that leave no space between us, that drown out every thought except for how much I need her.
My body is a living, breathing temple. A shrine to her. Every muscle, every breath, is attuned to her presence. She’s the one thing that makes sense in this mess of a world, the one thing that grounds me in the chaos. My heartbeat quickens just imagining her lips on mine, her hands in my hair. It’s more than just desire—it’s an all-consuming need that won’t let go until I’m wrapped up in her, until every barrier between us is shattered.
Talking can wait. Right now, all I want is her.
As I approach her apartment, I spot one faint light glowing in her window, casting a soft, golden hue across the shadows of the night. The sight of it stirs something deep inside me, a quiet reassurance that she’s still awake, still there, waiting. My bike screeches to a halt as I park it along the side of her apartment complex, adrenaline surging through my veins. I barely register the cool night air against my skin as I take off toward her building.
The stairs loom ahead, but I don’t slow down. I race up, taking them two at a time, my feet pounding against the steps as my heart hammers uncontrollably in my chest. It’s as if the rhythm of my pulse matches the urgency in my head—the need to see her, to be near her, to forget about everything else.
I barely pause when I reach her door. My fist slams against the wood, my breath ragged from the rush. The seconds feel like hours as I wait, my mind a blur of anticipation, need, and uncertainty. And then, the door creaks open.
There she stands, framed by the dim light from her living room, her silhouette almost ethereal. Eva, looking as breathtaking as ever. Barefoot, dressed in a sweater that clings to her curves in all the right ways, her long, tousled hair framing her face like a halo. Her eyes lock onto mine, wide with surprise but laced with something else. Something deeper.
“Eva, I…” My voice comes out as a whisper, barely audible above the pounding in my ears. My words falter as she steps aside, her silent invitation pulling me in. She doesn’t need to say anything; the way she looks at me, the way she holds the door open with a soft gesture, is enough.
I step inside, the air thick with unspoken tension as the door clicks shut behind me. The world outside fades, and now it’s just her, and me, and the unyielding pull between us.
“Benedict,” she whispers, her voice a breathy mix of hesitation and longing. The sound of my name on her lips sends a shiver down my spine, electrifying the space between us. I can’t hold back any longer. My hands find her waist as I push her gently against the cool, solid wood of her front door, caging her between my body and the world outside.
“We shouldn’t,” she murmurs, her voice shaky, barely more than a plea. The words hang in the air, fragile and uncertain, but I see the way her eyes flicker, the way her breath hitches as I lean in closer. It's all she can manage to say before the tension snaps, and I’m claiming her lips with mine.
The moment our lips meet, it's like a spark igniting gasoline. Her taste, sweet and intoxicating, floods my senses. I press her deeper against the door, my hands sliding up to cradle her face as I pour everything I’ve been holding back into the kiss. Her soft gasp sends heat coursing through me, and her hands grip the front of my shirt, pulling me closer, her resistance dissolving with every second.