Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 125121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“Where are we going?”
“I’ll let you walk as far as the arboretum, then you’ve got to put on the blindfold.”
“Once again, no.”
I wiggled my hips, molding to his side. “If you do, I’ll make you a video.”
“Where is it? You got one, or do I need to buy a dozen right now?”
I cracked up. “I’m not any sexier in video.”
“But you are replayable in video.” Wilder took his chance, wrapping his arm around me. “You spend far too much of your day in clothes.”
“Oooh, well, that’s something you can help me with.”
We set off, our flirting getting more outrageous along the way.
My chemistry with Wilder was a mystery—much like him. He did things I couldn’t believe, and said things I didn’t want to. Everything from his anti-government rants to the stockpile of weapons said insane doomsday prepper who’s already put the faces on the volleyballs that’ll keep him company those long years underground. What about that was my type?
Let’s see, the fact that he handles each of those weapons like they’re an extension of his cock. Watching Wilder take apart and reassemble a Glock in fifteen seconds was a kink I didn’t know I had. And the rants. Those should scare me off, but when he spoke, all I heard was his passion for the truth.
Then, because it had to be said, there was the big issue of his overwhelming, smirking hotness. You could crack a walnut on his chiseled jawline, and don’t get me started on his body. The man kept it tight.
I pulled out the blindfold within steps of the arboretum. Wilder looked askance at it despite his promise.
“You’re not a fan of giving up control.”
“Not to anyone.” Wilder gently took my hands, bringing the blindfold up to him. “Except you.”
Bubbles grew and popped in my chest. What did you do with guys who said things like that to you?
You never let them go.
His blindfold on, I led Wilder down a stone path.
It was a quiet night—broken only by singing cicadas. A cooling breeze caressed my barrier of clothes, seeking to slip beneath and chill my heated skin. This close to Wilder, nothing could do that.
“Careful.” I came around him and laced his fingers through mine. “There are steps. We’ll go slow.” I took him up one step at a time, marveling that I asked him to trust me, and he did.
Coming out onto the deck, I scurried behind him and tugged off the blindfold. “Surprise.” I cheesed as he swept the space. “What do you think?”
“A man tells you to win him over and you go all out.”
That I did. Regalia University, being the overpriced private university that it was, had state-of-the-art facilities for all the subjects taught there—including an observation tower for the natural sciences. Surrounding us were three-sixty views of the night sky and all of Regalia. It was so beautiful; you could almost believe this town was a wonderful place to live.
But I didn’t want to think about Regalia. Right then, I was high above the world and all its problems... with Wilder.
The glow of fairy lights shrouded us, illuminating the flecks of gray in Wilder’s eyes. Laid out on the wooden slats was a picnic blanket, pillows, and a basket full of Wilder’s favorite food—sesame noodles, honey chicken wings, spring rolls, and mugs of sweet, warm tea. In the middle of it all was my laptop and a small wrapped box.
“Dinner and a movie?” he asked.
“Yes, actually.” I checked the time. “Let’s get comfy. It’s about to start.”
Wilder reclined on the pillows, gaze sweeping the sky. “Not bad. Not bad at all, Sinclair. I couldn’t have topped this for our first date. I’ll have to step it up for our second.”
It made me ten kinds of intensely happy that he knew there’d be a second.
“You know that virus, or app, or hacker spy-craft thing you put on the guys’ computers that time we locked them in their rooms?” I turned on my laptop. “CrankDance17 was kind enough to accept a little dare from me. They will see that we get our show.”
I pulled up the video app. There was nothing to see but darkness. It was nearing midnight. He was still asleep.
“Do I get to find out what’s in here?” Wilder shook the box. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know we were doing presents. I would’ve gotten you something.”
“Wilder, you’ve given me so much. My revenge wouldn’t be possible without you. Each of you. You’ve gotten me this far and...” I shared his pillow, draping my arm over his waist while I rested my head on his chin. “...now I want to go farther with you.
“Under that wrapping paper is a box. In that box is your present,” I said. “To get to your present, you have to unlock the box with a four-digit keycode that is somewhere on my body.”