Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 14883 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 74(@200wpm)___ 60(@250wpm)___ 50(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14883 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 74(@200wpm)___ 60(@250wpm)___ 50(@300wpm)
Knowing her, she’s probably not. She’s kind of a superwoman like that.
I thrust my hand in between the doors, and in seconds, she lunges forward.
There’s no one else inside, and she’s breathing hard like she just ran a marathon. Unashamedly spinning to stare at her, I smirk and tip my head to her. “You’re welcome.”
She throws me a glare even as she tries to catch her breath, chest heaving and fingers splayed across her chest, her shoulder bag sliding to her bent elbow. She’s wearing one of her favorite office dresses—those vintage-y kind with lace sleeves and some kind of tie at the neckline. Her long, toned legs are in full display and my mouth waters at the thought of skimming that smooth expanse of skin with my tongue.
Piper is fucking delectable. There’s a reason why I spend hours awake most nights, just thinking about her and wondering what I need to do to make her mine.
“You know, you can just—”
My words are interrupted by a couple of kids rushing to get inside, along with someone who’s most likely their mother. I give her a nod and step back to make room for them. Piper does the same, and we’re both pressed to the back. Before the door closes, a big, burly guy carrying a box hurries and positions himself beside the kids, just in front of Piper.
See, Piper is a small thing. She’s 5’4 at most and only looks taller because of her sky-high heels. Without them, she probably only comes up to my chest. The guy in front of her is almost three times her size, and when he instinctively steps back to avoid the playful kids, he almost ends up crushing Piper’s toes.
I’ve always been the protective kind, but with Piper, it’s magnified a hundred times.
My hand shoots out, arm crossing over her body as I lightly pull her to me. She gets it in an instant, and while she steps to my side, I move in front of her, and we switch places.
I’m now behind the big guy, and the kids are in front of Piper. One of them holds a baseball-shaped balloon and swings it, so my arm once again automatically reaches out to protect Piper, draping across her tiny frame.
The boy’s mother scolds him, and he behaves. When he does, I try to pull my arm back, but Piper’s fingers curl around my bicep.
I inhale sharply, heat rushing up my arms and heading straight to my groin. Time slows or stops completely, I don’t know anymore. But it doesn’t feel like we’re in a closed space with our neighbors. It’s as if it’s just me and Piper and the breaths we’re both holding.
When she lets out a stuttering breath and digs her nails into my skin, it becomes increasingly impossible to bring myself under control. My whole body thrums with need—raw, primal hunger to have her. I take a peek at her, and she keeps her eyes in front of her, not even glancing at me or her hand on me or my arm on her.
It’s not even just that because she tugs on my arm and my elbow rests on her tits—soft and so squeezable. I can’t move. I can’t even fucking breathe. I’m not even sure my brain still functions properly.
I’m pretty sure this happens in just a span of seconds, but it’s almost like an eternity. It’s as if Piper and I are playing a weird game of who gets to snap first.
It’s just her hand on my arm, my arm across her body, and my elbow on her tits. And yet I’m about to come in my pants like a fucking schoolboy.
A dull chime resonates throughout the elevator, and I realize we’re on our floor.
Whatever spell is on us breaks, and Piper turns her body sideways to hurry out. The moment I step out of the elevator, she’s already making a mad dash to her apartment, fumbling with her keys and refusing to look at me.
Huh. Piper usually does things with grace and poise, even if it’s something as simple as carrying a bag of groceries or getting out of the taxi. Right now, though, she looks like someone trying to escape a serial killer on her heels.
Damn.
Maybe I’m starting to grow on her. Maybe… maybe it’s not so hopeless now.
2
PIPER
What was that? What the hell was I doing? What was I thinking?
I try to shove the memory from my mind, but I can’t.
God, what’s up with me lately? I hate to admit it, but Parker royally messes with my head. I hate it. I hate him. I hate that he lives next door. I hate that there’s not a day when we don’t see each other.
It’s one thing for me to stand so close to him, but me pulling him closer and basically pressing my breasts to his arm? Unfathomable. Unforgivable. Downright shameful.