Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 124574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 623(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 623(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
He made my heart tingle as well as my downstairs area. “You know how insane it is to practically try and move me in when we’ve had exactly two nights together, a collection of moments, right?” I said through the swirling amount of emotions within me.
I didn’t think it was crazy. That was the scary thing. It seemed like the most natural thing in the world. I didn’t even want to question it.
But I did. Because that was the reporter in me. The cynic in me, I guessed.
He looked at me. “No, I’m not seeing how it’s insane,” he said firmly, stepping forward. “You see, I’m a selfish bastard. Because I don’t want just a few of those moments that some unlucky shmuck won’t even get to put his hands on, let alone collect in his soul.” He stepped forward so his heat engulfed my ice, melted the chips left protecting my heart. “I want all of them,” he murmured against my mouth. “I want a lifetime of moments with you. I know you want it too, whatever that delicious mouth says.”
His hands traced down the V of my tee and danced with the top of my left breast, leaving fire in their wake. “Because I know what this says,” he said, his large palm settling on the thundering and traitorous organ below my ribs. “And it says you want a thousand of our moments too. ‘Cause, darlin’, even the worst of those are better than most fuckers get in a lifetime. And I’m selfish. So, I’m gettin’ the best.” His eyes glowed and his other hand yanked my waist so I couldn’t escape, my body pressed into the ridges of his, fitting like a jigsaw piece. “And I’m takin’ it.”
Before I could open my mouth to protest, to lie, to sully that moment with the dirt of protest and protect the remaining ice that was puddling in my chest, his mouth covered mine.
I should’ve struggled. At least a little. For self-preservation if nothing else.
But I didn’t.
I melted.
Completely gave in to the fire that burned me inside and out.
For self-preservation.
Because I feared for my life, for my sanity if he ever let me go.
“You’re not packing enough,” Polly informed me from her position on my bed, drinking a cup of herbal tea.
Fuck knew where that came from. Neither Jon nor I were herbal tea people.
“No,” I argued, shoving a fourth pair of heels into my bag. “I’m packing too much. I should be packing nothing at all. I should’ve told him such a request after such a short amount of time was nothing less than insanity.”
I didn’t stop packing, though.
Keltan had followed me home in his truck, walked me to my door, and then informed me he had “shit to take care of” and would be back in two hours, expecting “a big-ass fuckin’ bag to lug down to his truck.”
So, he’d driven forty minutes, likely more, in traffic in order to pick me up from work, kiss the shit out of me, inform me that I was staying with him for what sounded like indefinitely, and then follow me another thirty minutes to my place only to make sure I made it there safely.
I didn’t know how concerned he was with my security but regardless of how over the top it was—and the answer was a lot—I liked it.
Loved it.
But I’d never tell him that.
I was too stubborn for that.
Polly rolled her eyes. “Not enough time? Two years of dancing around each other is more than time enough to get here,” she said firmly.
“Dancing around is not cohabiting. Having a proper relationship,” I argued, putting my cosmetics in my large case.
Another eye roll. “Simple, really. Do you love him?”
I paused, a wand of mascara in my hand. I met my sister’s eyes. “Yeah,” I said simply.
She smiled, wide and genuine and warm. “Well, that’s all there is to it.”
I sighed. “It’s just…. I don’t know. My life was never peaceful. Especially with Rosie as a best friend and you as a sister, not to mention all the crazy women who ended up with the men I thought of as brothers. And lovers occasionally.”
Polly smirked at me. “And because of you. You can’t blame all the craziness of youth on me and Rosie being the bad influencers. I think you were the influence, and you just made us think it was our idea to throw a party on a boat, that sank, if you remember.”
I laughed at that memory.
“Fine. Whatever. It was chaos. Some sort of balanced chaos, if that oxymoron even exists.” I tossed the wand in my hand. “But now I’m starting to get the balance without the chaos.” My eyes misted up for a bit. “Not that that means Rosie’s absence is to do with it. I’d take all of the chaos in the world to have her back. Or at least to know where she is.”