Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 87601 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87601 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
My usually PG-13 mind is suddenly alive with X-rated kitchen fantasies.
I don’t know what’s happening to me, but I have no interest in slamming on the brakes. I’d rather pour fuel on the fire, and I know just the person to ask for advice…
I pull two bowls from the cupboard and quickly spoon rice into the bottom of each, before telling Gideon, “I’ll be right back. I promised to send my friends pictures of the dogs. I’ll take them to the puppy pads in the garage to go potty, snap a few shots, and be right back.”
Gideon nods as he drops pieces of sweet potato into a napkin. “Sounds good. Don’t forget their treat.”
“Thanks.” I accept the napkin before grabbing my cell from the island and tucking it into the pocket of my sweatpants. To the dogs, I add, “Come on, guys. Let’s go to the garage and potty. Then you can have a yummy treat.”
All three puppies squirm faster, proving they know exactly what a “treat” is, and Egg flops down on his back again, showing his Sunny side. Clearly, he’s the submissive one of the bunch, a thought that leads my brain into uncharted territory as I move through the rec room to the entrance to the garage.
I’ve never been a fan of the whole Dom/sub theme in romance novels—that’s more Elaina’s thing—but I wouldn’t mind it if Gideon wanted to boss me around in bed.
In fact, I think I’d really, really enjoy it.
In the garage, I quickly coax all three very good boys into peeing on the puppy pads and reward them with a treat. Then, I throw one of the tennis balls on the shelf in the corner for them, letting them run off some of their puppy energy as I text the girls—
Hey guys. I’m home safe and about to sit down to eat with the pilot, but I’d be a lot happier if he were having ME for dinner…if you know what I mean.
I realize this is totally not my style, but he’s so kind and sexy and saved me from getting crushed by a tree at the airport. He’s also fifteen years older, but there are zero Dad vibes. I’ve never been this attracted to a man in my entire life.
I’ve also never had a one-night stand or seduced a man who’s put off by our age gap. (But he almost kissed me before the oven alarm went off, so this is NOT an exercise in futility. He’s feeling the energy, too. He just needs a little push, I think.)
So, what do I do ladies?
I need advice, and I need it quick!
I’m putting my phone on silent while we eat, but I’ll be back to check for seduction strategies in forty minutes. Don’t let me down. *smiley face*
Oh, and here are a few shots of the puppies. Aren’t they adorable?
I send over the pics I took while the boys were sitting pretty to earn their treat and leave the puppies in the garage with a few of the toys Gideon brought with him. It’s a cool summer night, but it’s warm in the garage and Bacon, Egg, and Cheese will have more fun running around here than being cooped up in their kennels, so they don’t devour the couch while we’re eating.
Or spend the entire meal begging for scraps.
You could beg Gideon for scraps. Maybe that’s the fastest way to ease his mind. Be completely honest about how desperate you are to have him toss you on a mattress and show you everything you’ve been missing. Tell him that no strings attached sounds like the perfect first time as far as you’re concerned.
But that would involve telling him that I’m a virgin.
Call me crazy, but that doesn’t seem like a good plan. He’s already hesitant to bridge our age gap. If he knew there was an experience gap, too, he’d probably insist on sleeping in the garage with the puppies, the better to be as far away from my tempting, too-young-and-virginal body as possible.
“But at least he finds me tempting,” I murmur as I plug my cell in to charge at the desk in the living room.
Willing the girls to come through for me with the advice I need to make this a night I’ll never forget, I head into the kitchen, starved in more ways than one.
five
GIDEON
The conversation flows easily over dinner, but beneath our discussions of favorite New England camping spots, sexual tension simmers like a pot about to boil over.
My knee brushes hers under the small table, and an electric shock of awareness races across my skin. Her fingers brush mine as we reach for the dressing, and I forget how to inhale. She sweeps her tongue across her full bottom lip and moans in appreciation of our simple meal, and I’m instantly hard beneath my cloth napkin.