Total pages in book: 213
Estimated words: 201920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1010(@200wpm)___ 808(@250wpm)___ 673(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 201920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1010(@200wpm)___ 808(@250wpm)___ 673(@300wpm)
No matter how much I wish that were the case.
Every day I’m waiting for Daniel to tell me he was wrong and it’s over. Or that he’s ready to go home and that I’m not welcome there. I like to think that my guard is up and that it won’t hurt when he does it. But each day that passes is another crack in that armor.
He fucks me like he owns me. He holds me at night so tight; like if he lets go, he’ll lose me forever.
And he kisses me like he’s dying for the air I breathe.
We don’t talk about the one thing that plagues me. About how we’re supposed to just ignore our past. He thinks we’ve said enough, but if that were the case, I would be able to sleep without the memories haunting me.
It’s hard to explain how I feel. I want to be happy and grateful. But it’s obvious I’m being naïve. This is too good and I know good things always come to an end.
“You want anything while I’m out?” Daniel asks, interrupting my thoughts as he steps out of the hall to the bedroom and strides toward me. It’s odd seeing him in my apartment still. I’m more used to his place, but tonight he’ll be gone for a while and I need the space.
The fresh smell of his body wash follows him into the room and I find myself humming in agreement although I didn’t quite hear him. He’s too distracting when he’s dressed like this. Black jeans and a crisp white button-up with one sleeve already rolled up while he works on rolling the other. Freshly shaven with his high cheekbones and strong jaw on display, it almost makes me wish he was always cleanly shaven. But that stubble …
Either way, he looks like a fucking sex god. He fucks like one too. My sex god.
“I might be out for a while, but I can bring back something for breakfast if it’s too late.”
I watch the muscles in his forearm as he rolls up his sleeve and as I do, the desire is slightly muted by his comment.
That’s another thing we don’t talk about. We don’t talk about what he does late at night. I was quiet whenever Tyler would leave to go do something early in the mornings or skip school because he had to do something for “work.”
But we aren’t children anymore, and what Daniel’s involved with isn’t a high school game.
“Is this stuff for … back home?” I’m careful with my words as he grabs his keys off the kitchen counter. The jangling is the only sound in the room.
Well, and the ever-present clicking of the clock.
“Back home? As in, the family business?”
My gaze is on the tile in the kitchen. Soft gray with dark gray grout. It’s nothing special, but I can’t bring myself to look at Daniel and meet his gaze that’s obviously on me, so I keep my eyes right where they are.
He works for his brother Carter. Dealing drugs and God knows what else.
He’ll leave one day. Soon. He keeps mentioning it. The one question I ask myself every time he leaves is simple. Do I stay? Or do I go with him?
“Yeah, that’s what I was asking.”
“You know better than that, Addison,” Daniel reprimands me and that’s what gets me to look at him.
“Better than to be careful about who and what I involve myself with?” My tone dares him to question that logic.
“You already made your choice, didn’t you?” The way he speaks to me simultaneously strikes a bit of fear in my heart and heats my blood with lust.
“There are lots of choices, Daniel.” I know in my mind he’s right. I’ve already decided I’d go with him. I don’t want to be alone again and I crave the feeling of family and acceptance I once had with the Cross brothers. But that was then, and this is now. I don’t know what it would be like to face them knowing I’m now with Daniel. It feels like a betrayal of the worst kind.
“Only one when it comes to me. Don’t forget that you’re the one who started this. You’re the one who came back to the bar. You’re the one who came to my house after you ended it. I don’t like being played with.”
“Funny, because you sure do like being the one doing the playing.”
My comment rewards me with a charming smirk on his lips.
“With you?” he questions as he stalks toward me and grips my chin between his fingers. “Always.”
My eyes close as he plants a kiss on my lips. Mine mold to his and my body melts. It’s over too soon and I find myself sitting up a little taller to prolong it just slightly.
Daniel keeps his grip on me and a crease forms on his forehead as he looks down at me with a question in his eyes.