Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
“Not when the risk is losing my friendship with him,” I said firmly. “I can’t risk that. Not just because I want to think with my cock.”
“You don’t think he’s really into you?”
I sucked in a long breath, but before I could speak, Perry rushed out from the kitchen.
“Sam, did you take my last chocolate-covered cherry?” he asked, his brow furrowed. Perry always seemed like a total gentle giant in the body of a sexy silver fox, but if someone messed with one of his test recipes, his wrath came out.
Sam looked down at the red cherry stem in his fingers and gave me a mock guilty face.
“I have to go calm down an angry chef,” he told me. As he made his way back to the kitchen, he called out to me one more time. “Go rub the Big Rock Cock for good luck! It never fails!”
It was stupid. It was ridiculous. But after tossing back the rest of my beer, I figured there was no reason not to go partake in the silly Red’s Tavern tradition. I went over to the center of the room where the phallic statue was, touching a place near the top of it and closing my eyes.
I need all the good luck I can get, I thought. I just want us both to be happy. Me and him, him and me. Because Tristan deserves all the best in the world.
When I opened my eyes Tris was strutting over toward me with a confident swagger.
“I won,” he said. “Because I’m fucking good at pool.”
“You’re great at it,” I corrected. “Really great. I mean, Tris, there isn’t anything you’re bad at, is there? You even saved my life, earlier tonight—”
“Saved your life?” he said with a smile, reaching out to grab my hips. “You must really be drunk if you think I had anything to do with that plane landing safely.”
“You had everything to do with me feeling safe.”
His thumb circled the area just above my waistband. “Sure. Okay.”
I swallowed hard. I definitely was a little drunk now, but I was pretty sure that wasn’t the only reason I felt like the bar was melting away, and Tristan was the only thing left in front of me. “Earlier you said you wish I could accept that you… that you loved me.”
“That I’m falling in love with you,” he corrected, and just hearing it again so plainly made my heart skip a beat.
“I want to accept it,” I said quietly. “If you think I don’t want you, Tristan, you’re fucking nuts. I’ve always wanted you. And it’s always felt like I could never have you.”
He breathed deep, leaning in and pressing a kiss to my forehead.
Fuck.
He was being so goddamn sweet, even here, while I was drunk and we were standing next to a big, penis-shaped sculpture in a bar. Even while I was a total confused mess.
“I understand,” he said simply.
“Thank you.”
“Let’s go home, okay?”
“Already?” I asked. “I don’t know if I’m ready to be alone right now.”
He rolled his eyes, squeezing my hip. “Alone? Of course not. I’m sleeping over tonight, dummy.”
Yes. Fuck yes. How did that still feel like winning the lottery? Even after all we’d been through the past few weeks, it still felt too impossibly perfect that he could just sleep right there next to me if we wanted.
“Well then let’s get on back,” I said, trying and failing to seem casual about it.
Tristan settled up at the bar and we said good night to everyone. He drove us back, and the drive was still rainy, but the worst part of the storm had blown over. By the time we got back to my place, the rain was just pattering steadily on the roof, now calming and soothing rather than a downpour.
After we washed up and changed into cozy soft shirts and sleep shorts, and I crashed into bed like it was the promised land.
“I really do want this, you know,” Tristan said from behind me as he cuddled up near me, kissing the back of my neck and squeezing me close. “I don’t care how long it takes you to believe it.”
Part of me believed it already. Part of me thought I’d never be able to.
But here in his arms, all I knew was that I felt at home.
“Easier for me to believe when you’re all pressed up against me like this,” I said softly, already feeling the gentle pull of sleep.
He hummed. “Good,” he said, cuddling up a little closer. I could feel the gentle weight of his head resting just behind my shoulder.
“Of course I want this forever,” I murmured, so low I didn’t even know if he could hear me. “Need you.”
I felt him press a kiss to my shoulder as I drifted off, too tired to feel anything other than love.