Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
The lingering silence is affecting her, not me. Finally, a slow smile pulls at the corner of her plump, red, shiny lips. Lips I'm sure people pay out the ass for, but I can tell everything about Lev is all natural. Even the makeup she applied to accentuate her features remains authentic to who she is.
“Did you come over here to hit on me?”
“I came over because it’s easier to stare at you when I’m next to you than from across the room.” She posed a direct question, but I believe Lev is anything but straightforward. If she was, she wouldn’t be throwing up so many don’t fuck with me signs.
She’d simply say it when someone tried to talk to her. But I get the sense she wants you to be direct back or at least appear that way. If I told her all the things I have thought about doing to her since I saw her, she’d smack me across the face. Again, very not like me. My mother would have my ass. I’ll have to keep those thoughts locked up tight… for now.
"And why are you staring at me?" Her eyes roam up and down me. I wonder if my size bothers her. I’m at least a foot taller than her.
"You're a beautiful woman."
"Right." Lev rolls her eyes. She puts her elbow on the table, leaning closer to me. I match it, leaning over toward her. The smell of lilac and vanilla wafts off her. I take a deep breath, wanting to breathe her in. "I know I'm not"—she motions with her hand toward the reception—"like you guys, but that doesn't make me a cheap, easy lay."
"I'm not going to sleep with you." Yes, I know where I want to go, but still, as I said, the best things are worth the wait. And little does she know I don’t just plan to sleep with her; I plan for her to be my forever.
Lev starts to lean back, but I catch her, my hand cupping the back of her neck to keep her in place. Those dark eyes widen in surprise. I'm sure she didn't see that coming. When you’re calm and relaxed, no one ever expects it. Her silky hair brushes against my hand, and it's even softer than it looks. So is her skin. I think all of her is, inside and out, but she tries to hide it.
"Not tonight, and not until you ask." Her lips part in a small, silent gasp. One day I'll get it to make a sound. I stroke the back of her neck twice before letting her go. I lean back into my seat. Lev stays still for a moment before she scoots back into her own chair. I miss her smell already.
"Aren't you supposed to say beg?" She shakes her head, giving me another one of those eye rolls. "You're not going to fuck me until I beg."
"I never said fuck." Oh, I will fuck her, but not the first time.
"You know what I mean. Not till I beg you."
"No, Lev." I give her a soft smile. "I'd never make you beg. All you ever have to do is ask."
3
LEV
His touch lingers on the back of my neck. “All right.” It’s not all right. I didn't anticipate him saying that. “Then how about a drink? I’d like one of those.”
“It would be my pleasure.” He stands. “Don’t go hopping away on me now, bunny.” I watch him go. I notice a few other women at the party do too.
I should run, but I have a feeling he’d bust me, and my pride won’t let me. Instead, I search for Gabriella. I see her standing a few tables over with her new husband, talking to an older couple. I don’t know if she senses my stare, but she turns, locking eyes with me. She excuses herself to make her way over to me.
“I was sure you'd have hightailed it out of here by now.” Gabriella says this as she approaches me.
“I have to keep you on your toes. I can’t have people being able to predict what I’m going to do.”
“Well, you’re doing a good job because when I first spotted you, I’m pretty sure you might have been flirting with a man.” Gabriella lifts one of her perfect eyebrows that I shaped for her earlier.
“Well—” I raise my chin teasingly. “The staff here isn’t the best, and I needed a drink, so I had to make do.”
Gabriella laughs. “I know you’re not going to ask me about Eros, so I’ll tell you what I do know.” I both love and hate that she knows me so well.
“What?” I pretend to be confused, but she ignores it. As she should.
“He went to college with Caleb, and they stay in contact.” The little devil only gives me a tiny morsel of info when she knows I’m dying for more. She’s not going to break me.