Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 39424 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39424 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
I tilt my head to the side. “No.”
He puts his hands on the counter behind him and watches me closely. “So what’s going on then?”
I bring my hands together in front of me and am on the balls of my feet. I could sprint over to him in an instant, and I’m barely holding myself back. I want to be near him, but I’m not sure what the protocol is here. “What do you mean?”
He straightens from his leaning position and takes a few steps toward me and then stops only coming halfway. “Well, if I didn’t hurt you and I didn’t do anything wrong, then why are you all the way over there?”
I clasp my hands together. The truth is I don’t want to be all the way over here, and I’ve been fighting my desire to run to him this whole time. “I was trying to give you space.”
He laughs and shakes his head. “I don’t want space… not from you.”
I walk slowly toward him, and right before I reach him, I stop. It would be so easy to just fall into whatever it is he’s offering, but after last night, I know I need to practice some kind of self-preservation. I’m already in love with him, but he doesn’t need to know that. “I’m not sure what this is, Elias, but I know I won’t survive you leaving me again. I need to guard my heart.” I suck in a breath as I lie through my teeth. “We need to keep this light and just have fun. No promises this time.”
His forehead creases. “Have fun?”
I nod. “Yeah. And no expectations.”
I can’t read the look on his face. Is he relieved? Disappointed? I can’t tell, and the longer we stand here with him staring at me, the more uncomfortable I get.
His jaw tightens. “What exactly does that mean, Chloe? No expectations?”
I cross my arms over my chest and start to ramble. “I told you I forgave you and I do. And I’m not the type to throw things in your face but…”
I let my voice trail off, and he asks, “But what?”
“But… you hurt me, Elias. You chose to push me away instead of letting me be there for you… where I wanted to be. I don’t want to feel that kind of hurt again.”
He blanches and looks ashamed. “I get it.”
We continue to look at one another, and he takes a step toward me. His hand goes to the side of my face, and he brushes a finger down my cheek. I should have taken a look at myself before I came out here. I’m sure my makeup is smudged and my hair is everywhere, but he’s looking at me as if I’m the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. “Like I said, I get it. But I DO have expectations.”
Being this close to him makes my emotions go haywire. “You do?”
He nods as he cups my chin. “Yes.”
I swallow. “What are your expectations?”
His voice is husky. “While we’re doing this—having fun, you called it?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
He continues as he steps toward me, and I can feel the warmth off his body. “Well, while we’re having fun, are you still going to be dating other men?”
I shake my head with my eyes wide. “I’m not dating…” I let my voice trail off when I remember that I was just on a date with Ronnie a couple of weeks ago. I swallow and ask him, “Do you not want me to date anyone?”
His eyes go three shades darker until they’re almost black. “You’re mine… while we’re doing this, Chloe, and I don’t share. No one touches you but me.”
I lift my hands to his chest, and he sucks in a breath. It’s nice to know that I affect him the way I do. He reaches up and presses my hands against his chest, holding them there all while looking into my eyes. “Can I ask you something?”
He gives me one nod. “You can ask me anything.”
Since he’s got his hands on mine, I can’t move them, so I lean into him, smashing my unbound breast into his chest. He lets out an “oompf” when I’m pressed against him and releases my hands to put them around my waist. I loop my arms around his neck and look him in the face. “And you? Are you going to be dating anyone else?”
He rolls his eyes. “I wasn’t interested in dating the last five years. You think now, when I have you right here, literally in my hands, I’m going to date someone else?”
I lift my shoulder. “Date? Hook up? Fuck? Whatever you want to call it.”
He chuckles. “The only one I’m dating, hooking up with, and fucking is you. Got it?”
I smile because how could I not? His hands slide down across my lower back, and he palms my ass, pulling me up so I can feel his hard manhood pressed into my belly. “You know what I want?” he asks.