Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
He smiles at this, looking relieved and a bit dazed himself, which gives me a boost of pride.
When he reaches down to make an adjustment to the front of his pants, I want so badly to know exactly what’s going on there, but I can’t manage more than a quick glance, and we’re still standing so close that I don’t see anything except the fabric of our clothing.
He wants me. The thought gives me a heady feeling. I’m nervous and intimidated, but also incredibly curious. There’s a ball of achy need deep inside me that’s spinning in endless circles.
“I’d better go,” he says. He cups my cheek and presses one more kiss to my lips. “I had a great time with you.”
“Me too.”
His thumb strokes my chin in one final touch before he steps out into the hall. “Remember to lock your door.”
I nod. “Good night.”
As soon as he’s out of sight, I close my door, lock it, and then I give in to all I’m feeling, letting my weight fall back against the door before I slide to the floor, collapsing in a heap, letting out a long sigh as I finally catch my breath. It’s several more minutes before my pulse calms to its usual pace.
AVA
I’d always pictured my life unwinding in a fairly straight line. Education, work, dating, marriage, children.
Though I’m still basically on that path, twists and turns are popping up, making things interesting and surprising.
I can hardly believe that I’m dating two men at once, and one of those men has brought me to a third man’s apartment, where I’m playing a game of pool, while that third man—Gray—flirts shamelessly with me.
I was relieved when, instead of inviting me out on a date alone, Gray suggested that Erik and I come over to his place. If I’m being honest, part of me was also a tiny bit disappointed, because I assumed the group invitation meant that Gray wasn’t interested in dating me, but the way he’s behaving says otherwise.
But maybe this is just how he is.
Right now, his arms are wrapped around me, and his hand is covering mine as he shows me, for a second time, how to hit the ball with a cue stick.
I suspect it’s not all that difficult a skill to learn, but it’s extremely hard to focus when the spicy scent of his cologne tickles my nose and the soft silkiness of his casual but expensive-looking shirt brushes against my bare skin.
“That’s it. Keep your hands wrapped around the stick, and lower your chest toward the table.”
“Like this?”
“You’re doing well, Ava, but I’d better keep guiding you to make sure you get your form right.”
Erik barks out a laugh at Gray’s thinly veiled excuse for holding me close, and I glance over at him nervously. Erik didn’t want to hear about me kissing Brax, so I suspect he’s not thrilled about seeing his friend pressed up against me, but if he’s bothered, he’s hiding it well.
In response to Erik’s derisive laughter, Gray says, “You’re right. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with Ava’s form.” As he says this, he steps back, his eyes raking over my body, making it clear that he’s not talking about my billiards technique.
Though I can’t come up with a clever response, I’m proud that I at least manage not to melt onto the floor.
Gray quickly returns to me, getting his hands back into position over mine and squeezing me close as he guides me to hit the cue ball, which zings across the table, smashing straight into three other balls that each go spinning off in different directions.
“We’ll get it next time.” His voice is warm next to my ear, and he takes his time straightening before preparing for his own turn.
“I think she has the hang of it,” Erik says before tipping back a bottle of beer to take a drink.
While Gray takes a shot, I take an opportunity to get another long look around his home. Calling this place an apartment doesn’t seem right, though I suppose technically that’s what it is.
It’s enormous, for one thing, with so much open space, even though it holds a large sectional couch and chairs, an oversized coffee table, the pool table we’re playing on, a spacious kitchen, and a bar. That’s most of what I can see from where I’m standing.
There’s also a set of stairs at one end of the long room that lead up to the open loft that is Gray’s bedroom. Though I can’t see much of it, the sight of the foot of his bed is enough to keep me distracted. I can see just enough to know that the covers are rumpled, and that’s very … intriguing.
I’ve been in Erik’s apartment, which is very similar to mine minus all the yarn, and I’ve been in my brother’s home, but that’s about it when it comes to seeing men’s living spaces. This place is so sleek and masculine, there’s no doubt that a man lives here.