Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 108483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 434(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 434(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
“She doesn’t.” He sketches a casual shrug with his broad shoulders. “She wanted to suck my dick, and I said no.”
My teeth clench, and I swallow around the painful lump in my throat. “Why’d you say no?”
“Because I don’t want anyone sucking my dick but you.”
My eyes snap up to meet his, and they’re completely serious. There’s no sign of humor. “Is there somewhere we can talk?” I ask.
“The garden.” He tips his head toward a large set of French doors. “Through there.”
I nod, and he pushes off the wall, grabs my hand, and leads me across the room and through the door. I hope the press of bodies hides our clasped hands. I don’t need any rumors getting started or to field dumb questions from snoopy journalists bored with politics and looking for more.
Once outside, we’re swallowed by shadows. He’s just an intimidating silhouette. I’d know the shape of him, his scent anywhere, but what do I really know about this man asking me to trust him on a new adventure? One that risks not just something of his but of mine?
My heart.
He pulls me deeper into the garden until a tall hedge of bushes shelters us on every side. We’ve entered a maze of sorts and continue a few yards more until we reach a small stone bench. He sits and leans back, supporting his weight with his hands flattened on the bench and his arms stretched straight.
“Talk to me, Nix,” he says, watching my face closely in the moonlight. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
I blink at the sudden hot wetness behind my eyes.
I’m afraid.
I want to tell him that I can face down Dobermans and tear gas and rubber bullets at a protest. I can give speeches broadcast to hundreds of thousands of people without a second thought. I can lead a team to elect governors and maybe even a president. But the thought of trusting him with so much of myself—again—scares me.
“Wallace and I aren’t together.” I start with the easiest of the things I need to say.
Maxim’s brows lift, and a satisfied grin spreads across his handsome face. “When did this happen?”
“Oh, about three months after we got together.” I pause for impact. “Almost ten years ago.”
His smile disappears. “Excuse me? But you said… You lied to me?”
“Not exactly,” I say, my voice offering no apology. “I did what you did. I let you believe what you wanted about the truth.”
“The hell I did that. What do you mean?”
“I did start dating him the year I graduated from college. I just left out that we only lasted three months.”
“You two still seem extremely close. Why didn’t it work out?”
“We are the best of friends.” I chuckle. “You’ll laugh at this. I told him it was like having sex with my foster step-cousin.”
He’s quiet while I snicker.
“You thought I would laugh about you fucking someone else?” he asks, a serrated edge to his voice. “I don’t find that funny at all.”
My light laughter fizzles into a thickening silence. He doesn’t crack a smile. “You’re being really intense right now, Doc.”
“I thought you knew I’m pretty intense when it comes to you.” Our stare holds in the moonlight with only the faintest clink of glasses and music in the distance. “I already knew you dated Wallace before because I kept tabs on you through the years. Not in a stalkery way.”
“Is there a non-stalkery way to keep tabs on someone for ten years?”
“Yeah, the way I did it.”
“If you say so,” I say with a tiny smirk. “Why’d you keep tabs on me in this non-stalkerish manner?”
“I wanted to see how your career was going. I knew you’d do great, but even I never imagined you’d do so well so quickly.”
“Thank you.”
“And I was curious if you married or had kids, a family.” He pauses before going on. “What I had with you, I’ve never even come close with anyone else, and that was in only a week. Imagine if it had been more. Now it can be more if you give me another chance.”
“I don’t know, Doc.” I let the words fall, unsure if I should pick them up again. I know what I want, that I want him, but the fear I hid even from myself still makes me hesitate.
“Give me another chance, Nix. That’s all I’m asking.”
“That’s all?” I nearly choke on my disbelieving laugh. “You’re a wolf in wolf’s clothing. You’ll want everything.”
“Everything.” His agreement comes softly, but his eyes turn hard as sea glass. “There’ll be no one else for you.”
“See what I mean? You’ll be growly and possessive and demanding.”
“Of course I will.”
“You’ll be all mine, mine, dammit, mine and—”
“Only when someone needs reminding.”
“I’m embarking on the most important campaign of my life, Maxim.”
“So am I, and I’m not talking about Owen’s.”