Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Ben smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Right, well, tell her I asked about her.”
“Sure thing.”
As soon as he walks away, Cruz breaks the silence. “Why is he asking about my sister?”
I look at Ben’s retreating back before answering Cruz. “Uh….” I start but don’t finish. Should I tell him that his sister met Ben at a tattoo shop? I’m not sure he’d like that.
He tenses. “Fuck, is he the one that broke Lexi’s heart?”
My mouth drops open. “What are you talking about? No one broke her heart.”
He looks at Ben. “She said she liked someone but it didn’t work out. She’s been different the last few months. Something is going on with her.”
I think about the past few months and wonder, have I been so caught up in my stuff that I’ve ignored Lexi? “Noooo, if she liked Ben, I would know that. They never… I mean she met him when I went to get a tattoo.”
His eyebrows raise. “Tattoo? He gave you a tattoo?”
“Yeah, he’s an artist at Heat & Ink.”
He grimaces. “Where is your tattoo?”
“His shop is next to the clubhouse at the outskirts of Whiskey Run.”
“He’s a biker!” Cruz exclaims, and I instantly hush him.
“Yes, Cruz, he’s part of the club.”
He juts his chin in anger. “I wasn’t asking where his shop is, I’m asking you where your tattoo is on your body?”
By this point, we’re both standing, and I point to my hip. “Right here.”
He puts his hand over my hip and squeezes me gently. “I don’t know if I should carry you over my shoulder back to the room and punish your sweet ass or if I should go kick his ass because I’m sure he’s the one that broke my sister’s heart.”
I hold up a finger. “First of all, what you do mean, punish me?” I hold up a second finger. “And second of all, how do you know he’s the one she was talking about?”
He grits his teeth and pulls me against him. “I don’t like to think of another man’s hands on your body.”
He doesn’t answer the last question, but I don’t ask him about it because I’m trying to get past his possessive words. His hard manhood is pressed against my belly, and I melt into him. “Be careful, Cruz. You’re starting to act like a jealous boyfriend.” I tap his hard stomach. “This is fake… remember?”
I try to hide the hope from my voice. I keep reminding myself that this is fake, but I can’t deny that I want something, and the way he’s acting, I’m wondering if there’s a possibility he does too. As I rest my head against his chest, I know what I need to do. If one Valentine’s Day is all I have with him, then I’m going to take complete advantage of the situation. For one night, he’s going to be mine.
14
CRUZ
I’m on edge, pacing across the living room of the hotel, trying to get my feelings under control. Tara disappeared into her bedroom five minutes ago to change into something more comfortable, and I’m trying to convince myself to go to bed before she comes out.
Just as I’m about to walk away, her bedroom door opens, and she steps out in a pair of short shorts and tank top. She looks at me and then down at herself. “I thought you were going to change.”
Speechless, I just shake my head. Fuck, I’m not going to survive this.
She walks toward me, and my feet are glued to the spot. She doesn’t stop until we’re toe to toe. “I have a proposition for you.”
I suck in my gut when she reaches for me and puts her hand at my waist.
I let my breath out in a slow hiss as I put my hands over hers.
She tilts her head up to me. “Aren’t you going to ask me what it is?”
I suck in a breath. Walk away. Walk away, I repeat to myself over and over, but I don’t listen. “What is it?”
“You’re attracted to me.”
It’s not a question. And there’s no reason why I would try to disagree with her. Hell, half the night I’ve held her against me, and my cock has been hard. I’d be lying if I told her I wasn’t.
When I don’t say anything, she removes her hand from my hold and lets it stroke up my abdomen, across my chest, and then she rests it on the side of my neck before she drops her bombshell. “I’m attracted to you too.”
I lick my lips. I’m a weak, weak man. “What’s your proposition?”
She traces her thumb over the pulse at my neck. I’m barely holding on here. She’s had to go to her tiptoes to reach me, and her hot body is pressed against mine. I can feel her erect nipples as they scrape against my chest. For just a second, there’s a flash of insecurity on her face, but then she pulls her shoulders back and leans into me. “One night.”