Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 154037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 770(@200wpm)___ 616(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 770(@200wpm)___ 616(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
But it was times like these when I thought…
I blinked to stop the stupid train of thought. I was moving beyond that. Beyond him. It was time. I just had to figure out exactly what direction I was going to go.
I turned back around and finished unlocking the door, and I pushed it open to the darkness radiating from inside. I stepped through before I shifted to look at him from over my shoulder.
“Here I am. All safe and sound.”
“Only way I want you.” There was a softness to his voice when he said it.
“Goodnight, Otto. Thanks for giving me a ride home.”
He wore that easy, casual grin, though I swore there was a storm brewing in the depths of his blue, blue eyes. “It’s my pleasure, darlin’. I’ll see you soon.”
I paused, unable to let him go before I whispered, “Be safe.”
My chest clutched when he reached out and hooked his pinky with mine. He swung it between us, his voice low when he murmured, “Promise.”
It felt like a full minute passed before he released me and rocked back on the heels of his boots as he shoved big, tatted hands into the pockets of his jeans. He remained planted, just wearing that grin, until I shut the door and locked it between us.
With the separation, I breathed out a strained breath and attempted to pull all the frayed edges he always left me with back together. To stitch myself up and mend the pieces he always left undone.
When I heard his motorcycle kick over, I crossed the foyer to the curved staircase that led to the second floor. I kept my footsteps quieted as I went. The landing was dark when I hit the top, and I crept to my bedroom that was down the hall on the left.
I slipped inside, closed the door, and moved across my room as I wound the strap of my bag off my shoulder and tossed it onto my bed. I peeled myself out of the heels that I had to admit were kind of ridiculous but in the best way, then slinked out of my skirt and corset before I pulled on a tank top and sleep shorts.
I stole back out into the bathroom that was next to Nolan’s room, brushed my teeth and washed my face, then padded back into my room and crawled into bed.
The second I climbed under the covers, my phone buzzed from my purse. I grinned when I saw who it was from, the nickname I’d given him long ago saved in my phone.
Burly Bear
You all snug and tucked in?
Talk about ridiculous.
I wavered, unsure if I should answer him directly or taunt him a little. Taunting him seemed the prudent way to go.
Me
Wouldn’t you like to know…
Burly Bear
Exactly why I’m texting…because I want to know.
I bit down on my bottom lip as my fingers flew across the screen.
Me
I sent out a booty call, and I’m currently waiting for one of those bikers to crawl through my window.
If only I had the courage to make that happen, but the last thing I wanted was for Otto to think I didn’t possess it. For him to know that I’d never recovered.
It took him two minutes before he finally responded.
Burly Bear
Don’t make me turn this bike around.
I hesitated, knowing I was doing nothing but poking the bear, but loving the power a little too much.
Me
Why? You want to watch?
Okay, maybe I had taken the inappropriateness too far. Maybe the margaritas I’d been slinging back at Kane’s had gone to my head. Maybe I was playing with fire. Because I might not have been able to hear his voice, but I knew the words he shot back were rabid.
Burly Bear
Don’t push me, Raven. You don’t want to see what it looks like when I come unhinged. Think it’s best if you keep your conquests to yourself. Don’t want to think of you with another man, and I sure as fuck don’t want to watch you with one.
I reread it four times.
Another man.
Another man.
Maybe I was looking too much into the phrasing. Conjuring that hope I needed to stamp out.
A seed of guilt sprouted. I shouldn’t toy with him like this. Lead him to believe something that wasn’t true. But I couldn’t bring myself to confess to him what it really meant. How I was stuck, and I wasn’t sure I would ever get out of the quicksand that forever dragged me under.
Still, I tapped out a reply, hoping to assuage some of what I’d done.
Me
I’m only playing with you, Otto.
Burly Bear
Go to sleep, Raven, before I turn this bike around, anyway.
There was the tease. A promise that I was off the hook. Besides, I doubted that Otto would ever truly be angry with me.
A heavy sigh pilfered from my lips.
I knew I had to end all of this if I was ever truly going to get over him. Just stop it. Stop the teasing and the playing and the pathetic eagerness to always be in his space. That endeavor wasn’t looking too great when another text blipped through and a rush of anticipation stampeded through my body.