Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 46875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Guilt not being something I was expecting. I’m actually feeling guilty about not going home now because she wasn’t angry.
Maybe she’s right. Maybe it is time for me to start making my own decisions.
I mean. Maybe I know I’m right in the first place, and being with Zak and working with him is the best thing that could happen to anybody.
And he’s all mine.
Zak’s in the bathroom, and I can hear the tub's faucet and the shower running by the time I shake off the call with my mom and remind myself to try and enjoy myself instead of worrying about other people all the time.
I know Zak’s running the tub for me and creeping into the huge bathroom adjoining our suite’s bedroom; I pause a moment.
Watching him naked. His eyes closed as he turns to face me—both his hands rinsing thick, creamy suds from his thick hair.
Streams of foam running over his perfectly proportioned, tanned, and very muscular physique.
What would have made me feel awkward yesterday is suddenly the greatest turn-on of all because I know Zak wants me.
And it’s only a moment I can pause to take in the view.
When he’s this close, there’s no point just looking. A girl wants to touch and feel a man as well as look at him.
Sensing me nearby, Zak’s hands reach out for me, pulling my naked body closer to his as he growls with satisfaction.
His eyes are still closed, and his suds are running over me too. The water, the smell of the bath salts, everything’s just perfect.
Zak’s even lit a bunch of candles around the edges of the huge, ancient-looking tub that’s more than big enough for both of us.
“You talk to your mom?” Zak asks, hugging me from behind and starting to wash my front with his soapy hands.
“Yeah,” I murmur, wondering just how much of my call he might’ve heard for himself.
“I told Mom I wasn’t going home…not just yet anyway. My new job is based in Philly,” I repeat aloud for his benefit, noticing his smile twitch in the huge mirrors opposite the shower and feeling another part of him springing to life.
“Hmmm, sounds interesting. Go on,” he croons in my ear, nibbling at my neck and tickling me with his soapy five o’clock shadow.
“…and Mr. Templeton has a lot to show me,” I continue, really starting to ham it up for Zak now.
“Oh, he does. He definitely does,” Zak agrees before turning me to face him.
Getting serious now. Not fooling around.
“I want you with me, always, Jade. I know it’s a big ask and so soon. But just tell me this is what you want. Tell me you want to move in with me.”
“C’mere,” I whisper to him, feeling him lift me up again. His mouth swarming hot over mine in a second.
Giving him my answer in the best possible way. And the only way we end up communicating for the next few hours.
Even though it’s technically a day off, my first day on the job is a complete success.
CHAPTER TWENTY
TWO WEEKS LATER
Zak
“You know what moms like,” Jade reminds me when I quiz her on why we need to go get all of her things from her mom’s place.
“I know, but sheesh, it’s been like two weeks,” I groan. “You sure she’s okay? I mean, about you moving in with me,” I ask.
Though I was there when we told her mom, right here in her mom’s front room.
Before Jade officially moved in, she wanted to get things off her chest with her mom, and the biggest part of that was coming clean about our relationship.
Which her mom had kind of already figured out.
I mean, it wasn’t that obvious to us, but maybe that’s what other people saw or thought.
But looking back…well. It wouldn’t have taken a computer scientist to figure things out the way her mom did.
“She’s fine,” Jade says, forcing a smile for my benefit.
“Not having second thoughts, are you?” she teases me, and I set down the pile of boxes I’ve just lifted, moving over to Jade and pulling her close.
“Don’t even joke about things like that,” I scold her playfully, kissing her long enough to let her know that there are no second thoughts when it comes to her.
Except maybe only wishing I’d met her a little earlier.
But destiny is destiny, and everything so far has been perfect. So, it’s not unusual that her mom’s happy for us to move in together.
“We’ve got to pick up Joey on the way, remember?” Jade reminds me, letting our embrace linger a while.
“How could I forget?” I retort. “I can’t wait for Miles to finally meet the guy who’s been kicking his ass at the game and telling him everything wrong with it.”
Since Joey’s been helping me out with the game testing online and getting pointers from Jade about how to word things, poor Miles thinks he has some serious competition for his job.