Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45785 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 229(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45785 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 229(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
One more breath.
Walls back in place and reinforced.
“It means absolutely nothing,” I replied quietly. “Just like you and I do to each other.”
2015
I didn’t know how to leave. I couldn’t find the strength to get out of bed, put my clothes on, and walk out that door.
This hotel room had been my sanctuary for three days. Three days of hanging out, watching movies, talking, having the best sex of my life, ordering takeout… We’d hit up the hotel’s gym twice, and we’d taken a walk. We’d held fucking hands and all.
I released a breath and stared up at the ceiling.
“That wasn’t a good sound.” Joel lifted his head from my chest and scooted higher up.
I cupped his cheek and kissed him softly. “This is hard.”
“That’s what he said.”
I smiled, and I turned on my side. “How old are you?”
He grinned. Then he pulled the duvet over us and hitched a leg over my hip. “You know, we don’t have to say goodbye this time.”
Didn’t we?
“I don’t want to.” He sobered and touched my cheek. “I don’t wanna wait another fifteen years before I see you again.”
Christ, he couldn’t say that shit to me. I was already hooked. But how the hell was this gonna work?
“What do you propose?” I asked warily. “You’re stationed in Florida, and when they deploy you to San Diego, you’re on call twenty-four seven for three months straight. I’m out of the country probably six or seven months of the year. I’m headed to the airport right now to spend the next nine weeks in Uzbekistan, and when I get home, I have divorce proceedings to look forward to. Then my business with Tariq—before I have another contract in Mali.”
He smiled faintly and pinched my lips together. “You done?”
I gave him a look.
“Here’s what’s gonna happen,” he murmured. “You’ll do all that. Get divorced. Complete your contracts and come home in one piece. I have eight months before I can make any changes—I can ask to be permanently transferred to a helicopter unit here in San Diego.”
Jesus Christ, he was serious.
“In about a year or so…” He brushed his thumb across my bottom lip. “You call me up. You say, ‘Hey, sweetheart. It’s Elliott. Can I take you to dinner? I have a bachelor pad in LA, and you have one in San Diego. I suggest we get this thing off the ground and make shit work together.’”
I nipped at his thumb and couldn’t help but grin. Fuck me, he was dangerous.
“I really say all that? It doesn’t sound like me.”
A lot could happen in a year, but that didn’t stop me from getting my hopes up.
“Then start practicing, because those are the words I wanna hear.” He leaned in and kissed me teasingly. “Don’t you wanna at least give us a shot?”
“I do.” No hesitation. I really did. “Sweetheart.”
“Yeah… Now we’re talking.” He kissed me again, deeper this time, and I was quick to roll on top of him. “Fuck, Elliott… We have enough time for one more round? I need that big cock.”
As if I could resist.