Total pages in book: 204
Estimated words: 193115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 966(@200wpm)___ 772(@250wpm)___ 644(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 193115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 966(@200wpm)___ 772(@250wpm)___ 644(@300wpm)
“I’m going to get lost in you.” Already am. My hand falls down her back until I’m grasping the back of her thigh, and with one gentle tug, she obliges my demand and lifts her leg, cradling my hip. I want her wrapped entirely around me . . . forever.
We stare at each other, and I try to bat away the ridiculous notion that she’s been sent to save me. “There’s something here.” I have to say it, and even though it wasn’t a question, I need confirmation because I feel like I’m going fucking insane. “I’m not imagining it,” I say, and again I’m begging for an answer.
She’s quiet for a few moments, but then she draws breath, and I hold mine, waiting, praying she says what I need to hear. “There’s something,” she whispers as she watches me.
The relief is inconceivable, the need to kiss her overwhelming. Except this time, it won’t be hard. It won’t be greedy. It’ll be a different kiss. A slow, soft, meaningful kiss. I claim her mouth, gently swirling my tongue. It’s heaven. Pure, unmistakable heaven, and heaven is not a place where I ever thought I’d find myself. It’s a million miles away from the hell that is my life, and for that reason alone, I want to tape my mouth to hers. The need coursing through me isn’t letting up, it’s multiplying by the second, each look, every word, all the touches, only deepening everything. As I predicted, I’m lost.
But found.
I will never doubt my instinct again.
But then I hear something, and I find my relaxed form tightening.
Oh fuck, no.
Please, no.
The sound has me kissing Ava more aggressively, my groin involuntarily pushing into her, and I really don’t mean to. “Oh, Jesus.” I don’t let her lips free. “Don’t ruin this.”
I hear her again. Sarah. Damn that fucking woman. What the fuck is she doing here? Forget about her. Ignore her. I’m not letting anything stop this—nothing.
I feel Ava’s nails digging into my shoulders, and I moan. Fuck, that feels good, but I know I’m freaking her out with my sudden urgency to devour her. I let her leg go, grab her hips so she can’t move, and tear my lips from hers, gasping for air. Her head drops. “The door’s locked.” It’s not locked—fuck, I should have locked it—but I’m trying my hardest to reassure her. My damn hardest.
This doesn’t end yet. This never ends.
I take her jaw and pull her face up. “Please,” I beg.
Beg. I’m fucking begging. And if necessary, I will get on my fucking knees.
She shakes her head, and I fail in my attempts to stop hardening my hold, shaking her slightly, desperate to keep her with me.
“Don’t run,” I order harshly, my heart now pounding with panic. Do. Not. Run.
“I can’t do this,” she whispers, and my hands fall away from her, a severe, unstoppable growl of frustration erupting.
“Jesse?” Sarah’s shriek makes my blood begin to boil, and I watch in a daze of horror and complete fucked-up devastation as Ava dips and gathers her clothes before running into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.
My eyes drop and dart across the floor, my head in my hands. I can hear Sarah calling me in the distance, but I’m in a total stupor. Gutted. Hurt. Furious. My eyes land on Ava’s lace bra. I scoop it up and stuff it in the top drawer of the cabinet, just as Sarah bowls in. I swing around, fighting to regain my composure and hold back my anger. “What are you doing here?” I ask quietly.
“I got a call from a member who needed some attention. I’ll sort your apartment tomorrow.”
“Fine,” I reply, willing her to fuck the hell off, trying not to be hostile and failing miserably.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” I glare at her, and I can see she’s desperate to know what the fuck’s gotten into me. I motion to my bathroom. “I’m busy, Sarah.”
Her eyes drift across to the door, where I suspect Ava is beyond having a full-blown meltdown, full of regret. But why? And why the fuck did Sarah have to interrupt and give Ava that time to backpedal?
“Oh, I see.” Sarah smiles. She thinks I’ve got one of the ladies of The Manor in there. Good. “See you later.” She closes the door, and my head goes straight back into my hands.
Fuck.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
My body heavy, I drag my feet to the bathroom. I can turn this around. Talk to her. Ask her what’s going through her mind. Reassure her. Get her back to where we both want to be. I feel my body reheating with that unfathomable rage.
Because of Sarah.
Fucking hell, Ward, keep your cool. Approach carefully.
I swallow and knock on the door. “Ava?” My voice is gruff, sounding a bit impatient. So, not surprisingly, she doesn’t answer. I close my eyes and try to reset, try to find some calm.