Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
He didn’t say anything, but she could see from his expression that he was… happy.
“You mean all that, don’t you?”
She straightened her spine and nodded. “Yeah, I really do.” He smirked, and she found herself doing the same. “You like me?”
His face sobered, and he nodded before leaning forward and resting his forearms on the table. “Yeah, I really do,” he repeated her words.
She felt tingles settle in the most intimate parts after hearing him say that. “And I like you. That’s all that should matter.” She reached out and took his hand and watched as he lowered his focus to the act. His olive-toned skin was a stark contrast to her pale shade, but his warmth was the same as hers, and when their fingers entwined, it just felt right. “It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks or says. I don’t care, do you?”
He looked up at her and slowly shook his head, his eyes hard. “I never have, and I sure as fuck don’t care if anyone has a problem with you and me.”
Good, because neither do I.
They ate, their conversation easy and light. He asked her things she liked, stuff she didn't. He talked about his plans for after graduation, asked about what hers were. She learned the little things about him, and in turn he learned them about her. It was a perfect night, the perfect start to whatever this was becoming between them.
On the way out, he reached for her hand again, and the tingling intensified. He pulled her in close, her shoulder brushing along his body, the hardness meeting her softness. He helped her into the truck again, and once he was seated beside her with the vehicle started, he shifted so he faced her.
But Keira didn’t want to go home, and by the look on his face, she didn’t think he wanted that either.
“God,” he said hoarsely.
The interior of the truck was small, but right now, it felt tiny, suffocating, as if whatever chemistry bounced between them was sucking out all the oxygen.
“What?” she whispered back.
“You’re so fucking beautiful, Keira.”
Her pulse raced. She’d never been called anything but homely, maybe pretty but plain. His face was mere inches from hers, and the mints they’d shared after dinner not only cooled her mouth, but filled her nose as Reese breathed out. It was an aphrodisiac.
“I don’t want to take you home yet.” His eyes dipped to her lips again then lifted back to her eyes.
“I don’t want to go home either.” She felt surprise fill her at the sound that left him after that.
It was low. It was rough. It sounded animalistic.
“Can I show you something?” The sound of his voice, so low and deep, had her nodding.
She would have said yes to just about anything he asked.
And then he leaned in and brushed his lips along hers.
It was the kind of kiss that stole her thoughts, made her body ache, and had her feeling like he was the ocean and she was right in the center of it.
18
Reese had just snapped, just said fuck it and kissed her. He should have gone slow, taken his time. He should have built up that moment over a long period of time, but when he’d picked her up tonight, something in him had shifted to the point he knew he wouldn’t be able to control himself. It had his mind fucked, twisted, and his heart beating like a war drum. She’d seen the change in him. That had been clear on her face. And so he’d just done it, pulled her close and kissed her in that theater.
She could have slapped him, maybe should have. But she’d fucking kissed him back, and now his damn blood sang, this strange but powerful possessiveness toward her like a living entity in his body.
He wanted to kiss her again and again… and do so much more. But this wasn't what being with Keira meant for him. He didn’t want to ruin things, because she was special. She was so fucking special to him.
Before he knew what he was doing, he was driving farther toward the outskirts of town. He knew exactly where he wanted to take her, where they could be alone, where they could talk and he could get to know her even better.
The place he had in mind was special to him, a place he’d gone many times, because it was a reprieve from the fucked-up life he led. He’d stumbled upon it by accident one day when he hadn’t wanted to go home so he just drove. He couldn’t count the number of times he’d gone there in the middle of the night, when his father came home drunk off his ass and was looking for a fight.
Those were the times he’d had to draw up all his strength and force himself not to leave town and never look back. He glanced at Keira, the glow from the dashboard illuminating her feminine features. He was glad he stayed, and it was because he shared this moment with her right now.