Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
It’s pitch black, but I can tell when he wakes because he hauls me on top of his burning body.
“Fuck,” he groans.
“You were having a nightmare.”
“Yeah.”
“Are you okay?”
“Am now.”
I lay my cheek on his chest, feeling the speeding of his heart. My nails trace over the ink I’ve memorized the last few days. The hammering against my cheek lessens, and he sifts his hands through my hair.
“Sorry I woke you.”
“It’s okay.”
My mind wages a war on whether to let it go or press further. Before I can rationally work through the pros and cons, my mouth speaks for me. “Do you have nightmares often?”
“No.”
“Who’s Koby?”
His body goes rock solid. “What did you say?”
“Koby? Who or what is Koby?”
“Why do you ask?”
“You were saying it in your sleep.”
He exhales loudly, gently sliding me off him and putting space between us.
“You don’t have to answer.”
I blink rapidly at the soft light that fills the room a second later. He twists back to me, and I fight back tears at the tortured expression on his face.
“I said Koby?”
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat.
“Shit.” He scrubs a hand over his face and through his hair. “I haven’t dreamt about him in years.”
I stay quiet, watching as he struggles through something.
“He was my best friend growing up.”
“Was?”
“He was murdered the year after graduation. Wrong place at the wrong time. Drive-by took him out.”
There’s no stopping the shocked gasp that escapes. “Oh, Major, I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, it fucking sucked. The guy had it all going for him. We were joining the Marines together.”
“And tonight you dreamed about him? Is it his birthday?”
“No, have no idea why he was on my mind.”
“Want to tell me about the dream?”
“I don’t remember much. Wouldn’t have known Koby was in it if you didn’t tell me.”
“Think this has anything to do with us going to Chicago this weekend?”
“He died over a decade ago. I’ve been home since then.”
I brace up on my elbows, leaning in to kiss him softly, hoping it helps ease him. “I’m sorry about your friend.”
He moves fast, hauling me up so I’m straddling his lap and wrapped around him. His heart is racing again, his breathing ragged. Whatever he was struggling with before is still bothering him. I wait, holding tight and trying to communicate I’m here for whatever he needs. We stay like this for a while before he finally speaks.
“I’ve seen and done a lot of shit in my life that is dark. It doesn’t come up often, but once in a while, something will trigger my subconscious and memories will resurface. Never have I woken from the darkness with something so utterly perfect. Thank you, baby, for that.”
“I’ll always be here for you.”
“I’m counting on it, Julianna.” There’s unmistakable finality in his statement.
His lips graze my neck and continue a path up and down the column of my throat. A slow burn ignites low in my abdomen.
This is need, sparking a desire unlike anything I’ve ever felt.
Pure, raw, overwhelming need.
I’ve never been a woman who’s particularly shy. My experiences with men have usually grown from mutual attraction. Sex is sex.
But everything is different with Major. He hasn’t even touched me sexually, and I know whatever happens between us will be explosive. It’s much more than the way I get lost when we kiss, or the way my body reacts when his eyes heat while looking at me. It’s an intimacy all in itself.
And it scares me.
Before I lose my courage, I lean away enough to whip my shirt over my head. His eyes flicker with surprise as he holds my gaze.
“Jewls—”
I circle my arms around his shoulders and press close, my nipples hardening at the warmth and skin-to-skin contact. He caresses the back of my head, tilting my face to his.
“Baby, what are you doing?”
“I need to feel you.”
“There’s nothing more in the world that I want than to sink inside you, but not like this. Not after what happened.”
“We’re not having sex, Major. Whatever triggered your memories, let me try to take them away. Let me be this for you.”
My stomach swirls with insecurity as he stares at me. Then he closes the space, bringing his mouth to mine. Slowly, he kisses along my lips, the tip of his tongue darting out to trace the seam. I open, welcoming the invasion as his tongue sweeps through before curling around mine. A whimper bubbles from my throat when he sucks deeper, gripping my head possessively.
Since Friday night, I’ve kissed this man dozens of times. Each one a new and different experience. Regardless of his confessions and reasoning, a part of me has been scared to give in fully, knowing how easily he shut me out before. But this is different. My heart threatens to soar apart, knowing he’s letting me in.
I’ve lain awake at night, wondering what it is about him that has me in knots. It’s not my style to let any man get under my skin.