Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 138522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
I don’t know if I should laugh or shout. He’s adorable, and yet somehow quite controlling. He likes control. I saw that last night and while I said no more controlling men, there’s something about the way Gabe goes about it. I grab the toothbrush, open a drawer and find it tidy and organized, with toothpaste right in the center. Tidy and organized is also about control.
I brush my teeth and then my hair with his brush. I use his moisturizer, which is actually a good brand. After, I hunt down my phone and check for messages that I don’t have and with it in hand, I head downstairs, following the scent of coffee down the steel steps with leather-covered handrails. I enter the open living room connected to the kitchen to find the incredible ocean view to my left can’t hold my attention. Not with the incredibly hot, shirtless man behind the island flipping pancakes.
I stop walking, holding onto the rail next to the final step, and just drink in the view that is all Gabe and no one else. He’s right, so very right, that he’s the only man present. In fact, I’m not sure I even remember my ex’s name right this minute. I’m not sure that I remember my name right now.
He looks up and catches my stare, the connection between us downright electric. Every muscle in my body tenses and heats. He settles a pancake on a plate and turns off the stove, pressing his hands on the counter to look at me. “Good morning.”
“Good morning,” I say and my voice trembles with schoolgirl-like nerves that scream of how affected I am by this man. How incapable of playing it cool with this man I am, but I’m not sure I really want to play it cool. I kissed him in a hallway outside a bathroom and started this spontaneous, sexy fun, which now more than ever, feels right with Gabe.
“I hope you’re as hungry as I am right now,” he adds, his stare raking over my puckered nipples underneath his thin white T-shirt before it lifts to mine again. “Come here.” It’s a low, rough command, and a few days ago I would have sworn I wouldn’t take another order from a man in my personal life, but I’m back to Gabe. It’s all about Gabe. It’s about what he makes me feel. It’s about the way he commands, and my nipples tighten, and my sex aches.
I start walking, crossing to join him, but when I could round the island to stand next to him, I don’t. I stop on the opposite side of the counter and set my phone down to press my hands to the hard surface. He leans in a little closer. “I like you like this.”
“How is that?” I ask.
“Natural. No make-up. In my apartment and naked except for my T-shirt that I’m already mentally taking off of you.”
“Then how will you feed me?” I dare, his sexy playfulness catching fire in me.
“Sweetheart, you can eat pancakes while I eat you and I’ll be a happy man.”
My cheeks heat, laughter bubbling from my lips. “Did you really just say that?”
“And meant it,” he assures me, wiggling a brow at me. “Come over here and find out.”
“Are you naked right now?”
He laughs. “No. You don’t make pancakes with the family jewels on display. That’s dangerous.”
We both laugh now and it fades into a combustible heat. “I’m coming over this counter to get you if you don’t get your sweet ass around it right now.”
My cellphone rings and he’s the one who glances at it and then me. “Your mother,” he says, reading the caller ID. “Take it so you won’t worry. Then we’ll eat pancakes.” He pauses for effect and adds, “Eventually.”
So I won’t worry? How does he know this about me already? “Thank you,” I mouth and then grab my phone and answer. “Morning, mom.”
“I have a problem. Oh God, I have a huge problem. It’s really—it’s bad and—” Dogs yap in the background. “I need help.”
“What’s wrong? What’s happening?”
Gabe sets the pan he’s picked up back down and meets my stare, concern in his eyes as my mother says, “We broke two pipes. The place is flooding. I have to get the dogs out. I have volunteers coming in, but I don’t even know where to take the dogs. The cages are flooding. It’s horrible. It’s so bad.”
“Oh no. Oh God.” I press my hand to my forehead. “I’ll be right there. I’ll—we’ll figure it out.” I disconnect and look at Gabe. “I have to go.” I dart toward the stairs to find my clothes and by the time I make it to the stairs, Gabe has my arm and is turning me to face him.
“What happened?”
“My ex just happened. Two pipes broke at the shelter. It’s flooding the cages. We have to evacuate. He did this to get us off the property. I know he did. He’s ruining us the way he’ll ruin you if you let him. That’s what I’ve been telling you.”