Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
She was practically beaming as she slipped out of the room and headed down the hall. She’d only been gone for a minute when Tenzleigh walked in wearing a short black dress and high heels. Her eyes lit up when she spotted me across the room. “Well, hey there, handsome.”
I didn’t respond, but sadly, that didn’t stop her from sashaying over to me. “What are you up to?”
“Playing a round of pool.” She looked like she was dressed for a night on the town, so I asked, “Where you headed off to?”
“Abbi and I are going into the city.” She stopped in front of me with a sexy smile as she asked, “You wanna come join us?”
“Afraid not, doll. I’ve got other plans.”
“Are you sure?” She slipped her arms around my neck as she purred, “I bet we’d have a real good time.”
Just as I was about to turn her down for a second time, I spotted Jules standing in the doorway staring at Tenzleigh and me with a blank expression. She stood there for a moment, then muttered, “I think it’s time for me to go.”
“What?” And just like that, our great night had gone to shit. The second Jules turned to leave, I nudged Tenzleigh out of the way and rushed after her. “Hey, Jules! Hold up!”
She was halfway down the hall when I finally managed to catch up with her. She was still charging ahead, so I called out to her again, “Jules! Stop!”
“Thanks for the lessons and all, but I have to go.” Jules stopped and turned to face me. Her bottom lip quivered like she was trying not to cry as she told me, “I shouldn’t have come. I have things I need to do.”
“Why didn’t you mention that before?”
She shrugged. “I forgot.”
“And you just now remembered?”
“Um-hmm.”
“So, you leaving has nothing to do with Tenzleigh?”
“With whom?” She inhaled a quick breath and then sighed, “Oh, you mean the pretty blonde. No, no. It has nothing to do with her.”
“You sure about that?” I pushed. “You weren’t bothered that she was trying to make a play?”
She didn’t respond.
I wasn’t expecting her to.
I was learning that once Jules got something in her head, it was damn near impossible to get her to change her mind. I knew having Tenzleigh’s arms wrapped around my neck looked bad, but I needed her to know that she had nothing to worry about. “I got no interest in Tenzleigh.”
“Hmm. I wish I could believe that.”
“Well, it’s the truth. There’s only one woman I’m interested in, and she’s standing right in front of me.”
She studied me for a moment, then her eyes drifted to the floor. “I can’t do this.”
“Can’t do what?” Without answering, she turned and started for the door. She hadn’t gotten far when I called out, “Jules.”
“Just leave it alone, Quinton.” She reached for the doorknob as she grumbled, “It’s better this way.”
“Damn it, woman,” I grumbled, cutting her off. “You’re even more bull-headed than I thought.”
I took hold of her arm and tugged her down the hall. When we got to my room, I opened the door and led her inside. I closed the door behind us, then turned to face her.
I didn’t say a word. I simply stood there staring at her dead in the eye, waiting for her to say something.
Anything.
After what seemed like a lifetime, she finally placed her hand on her hip and sassed, “I don’t know how to do this, Quinton. It’s just so hard.”
“It doesn’t have to be.” I took a step over to her and placed my hands on her hips as I whispered, “You can trust me, Jules.”
“I know.”
“You say that, and yet, here we stand.”
“But...”
I could see her winding herself up to come at me again, and I just couldn’t hold back anymore. I ran my hand behind her neck and pulled her parted lips to mine, silencing her with a kiss. As soon as her tender, full mouth pressed against mine, her tense muscles melted into my arms.
We were both becoming lost in the moment when I broke free from our embrace. I looked down at her, and when our eyes met, I said, “Tell me you want this, Jules.”
She didn‘t answer.
Instead, she simply stared at me with lust-filled eyes, making me want her even more. I wound my fist in her hair and pulled her back to my mouth. She let out a needful moan when the once tender kiss quickly changed, becoming more intense and heated. She opened wider, inviting me to claim her with my mouth.
Damn.
Jules felt so fucking good in my arms, and as my hands drifted to her hips, pulling her closer, I thought about all the wicked things I wanted to do to her. The thought of tasting and exploring every inch of her naked body had me spiraling. When she looked up at me, I could not only see, but I could also feel the need radiating off her. As much as I wanted to take her right then and there, I wasn’t going to push. She would have to say the words.