Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76559 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76559 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
“Yeah?” I called out.
No answer, so I opened the door. The petite woman blinked and stuttered when she spoke. “I have dessert, wine and clothing for you, sir.”
“Thanks,” I told the woman gruffly and grabbed the bags while she rolled the tray of food inside the room.
Her face lit up when I handed her a tip. “Oh, thank you sir. Call me if you need anything. Good night.”
I nodded and engaged both locks behind her before looking inside the bags. Kat had thought of everything.
When she emerged from the bathroom, skin pale and slightly pink from the hot water, a towel doing absolutely nothing to hide the delicious curves she hid behind her businesswoman armor, I was speechless. This was more intimate than I’d ever seen her, and at that moment, I wanted her more than I ever had.
“Did I hear someone knock?”
“You did,” I nodded. “They brought the whole damn store, including some pajamas for me.”
They were pajamas if you considered silk shorts suitable sleeping attire.
“Perfect!” She went to the bags I set on the floor, completely oblivious to the effect she had on me wearing nothing but a towel. Kat bent and rifled through the bags, giving me a long look at her endless bare legs.
Even the gap between her thighs was just barely visible, and I had to look away before I did something stupid, like strip that towel from her and lick every fucking inch of her body.
She grabbed a few things and slipped back into the bathroom.
I took advantage of the moment of privacy to put on the silk shorts, no shirt. Part of me wanted to believe it was a deliberate mistake so she could look at me, but I knew better. Whatever flirting had taken place over the past few weeks was harmless. Meaningless.
Still, that didn’t mean I couldn’t taunt her a little. Tease her.
But when she stepped out of the bathroom this time, smelling like vanilla and wearing a shockingly innocent red and white nightgown that did nothing to hide the round shape of her perfect tits, or the outline of hard, braless nipples, it took all of my willpower not to tear it off and show her exactly how much I wanted her.
But I couldn’t. My job was to protect her, not to fuck her. Not to claim her. Not to make her mine.
“You’re staring again,” she said, her voice tense and annoyed.
“I’m a man, Kat, not a fucking saint.”
She looked down at her nightgown, completely fucking oblivious to the inner turmoil she was causing, and then up at me.
“Are you saying that you like this nightgown on me, Terry?”
“Don’t play with me, Kat.”
The smile she wore in that moment was devious, and she gave an innocent shrug. “Who’s playing? I’m just your best friend’s sister, no big deal. Right?”
“Right,” I growled and reached for a pillow to cover the erection that threatened to embarrass me, or worse.
“No. Big. Deal.”
Hurt flashed in her eyes, but it was there so quickly, I was sure I imagined it. Instead of torturing myself, I went to the mini bar and grabbed four small bottles of Jameson. “Whiskey?”
“Sure, I could use a stiff drink.” Her words were careful, deliberate. Teasing.
“Kat,” I growled.
“Terry,” she growled back with a mischievous smile. “What’s the big deal? You don’t want a rich bitch or the Ashby Princess, right? Just think of me as nothing more than your sister or a cousin.”
“You’re not my fucking sister,” I growled and tossed two of the small bottles on the bed. Angry. Horny. Frustrated.
“I know that. I was beginning to wonder if you did.”
She flashed a sweet, innocent smile that might have worked on someone who didn’t know her so well. All that smile did to me was make me want to kiss her until the real Kat showed up.
I tossed a pillow at her and she laughed.
“I’m taking the side closest to the door.”
It didn’t matter that she was dressed in next to nothing or that we’d be sharing a bed. My job was to keep Kat safe and I would do it, not just because Jasper trusted me to keep her safe, but because I would rather die a thousand fucking times than see Kat hurt.
“Fine by me. But fair warning, I’m a cuddler.”
Kat tossed her head back, dark hair cascading down her back, and let out a low husky laugh. Amused but also aroused.
“It’s true. Ask Madison. Why do you think she jumped at the chance to move into the big house?”
She was a cuddler. Why did that sound like both a threat and a promise? “I don’t cuddle.”
She laughed again. “You’ve been warned.” Kat reached for the second small bottle, twisted the cap and lifted it in the air.
“To resisting temptation.”
We touched glasses and I swallowed the whiskey down in one gulp, wishing for something stronger because it was going to be a long fucking night.