Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
No hesitation. “I’m sure.”
Pearl looked around the booth and when Beth shrugged and smiled, she turned to me and grinned. “Pucker up, honey.”
With a huge smile, I leaned forward and waited. Pearl framed my face with her hands and touched her lips to mine. The kiss was tame and gentle, and just as Pearl pulled back, she lightly pecked my lips again.
Contemplating what had just happened, I pulled back, and stated a heartfelt, “I actually enjoyed that.”
Pearl let out the breath I didn’t know she was holding. “Well, thank fuck for that.” She tossed back a shot and I laughed at how momentarily stressed she looked.
That was when Beth choked on a laugh and pointed across the way. As soon as I looked, I wished I hadn’t.
Lee, Noah, Connor, and Hell stood watching us, and from their matching expressions of shock, I was more than certain they had seen what had happened. For a split second, I wasn’t sure how to act. For a single moment, I was worried. And just as quickly as it came, it went.
I wasn’t ashamed of the kiss. It was lovely.
When they approached, I was smiling hard, and the second they were in hearing distance, I announced, “I kissed Pearl and it was lovely.”
The Vixens wild laughter followed.
Noah blinked at me before looking at The Vixens. “What have you done to her?”
Sliding out of the booth, I stood tall and presented myself. “I’m wearing a dress too.”
Hell’s appreciative gaze glanced my whole self and he bit his knuckle. “Damn, Emmy. You look hot.”
“I’mma be honest. I didn’t even know you had a figure, kid.” Lee openly ogled me, and I couldn’t help but hear the awe in his voice. A second passed, and he looked disturbed. “Not something I really wanted to know, truthfully.”
Drunker than I thought, I told them, “I don’t like my curves. They’re—” I bunched my nose in distaste. “—indecent.”
The Vixens exploded into another bout of laughter.
Noah looked down at me wearing an expression I’d never seen him wear. “You look beautiful.” His tone was sincere. “But then, you always do.”
I smiled up at him lovingly. In this moment, I felt beautiful.
Again, something I’d never felt before.
Surprisingly, Connor simply stood back and watched me with a small smile etched on his face. I detected something veiled in his expression.
Pride, maybe?
As usual, I pretended not to care what Connor thought, when in reality that tiny, hidden smile made my entire night.
Chapter Eleven
Every Rose Has Its Thorn.
Emmy
Seriously, I loved these men, every one of them, but they were killing me.
Walking over to the fridge, I opened it, took out a carton of orange juice and poured three glasses. I took one over to Lee and placed two pills on the counter. He groaned and I placed a hand on his shoulder. “Take them.”
When Noah walked past, I handed him a glass and asked, “Have you spoken to Micah?”
He shook his head. My brows arched, I put a hand on my hip and stated firmly, “You need to call him.”
Noah sipped the juice. “I will. Later.”
I took the third glass of orange juice over to Hell and placed it in front of him. As I did this, I responded to Noah, “You’ll do it now. I’m sick of him calling me to get to you.”
Lee glowered down at the pills. “I don’t want to.”
Silently praying to the rock gods, I sighed inwardly and went over to him. “You have to, sweetie. That throat infection isn’t going to go away on its own. Besides, you only have two days left of the course.”
It was then that Hell farted. Loudly.
Lord help me.
It took a moment for the smell to reach me. I gagged. “Oh my God, Hell. I don’t even have the words.”
Hell groaned from the sofa. “My stomach hurts.”
Immediately, I went over to him, but I did it plugging my nose. My voice came out nasal. “Are you feeling okay?” I put a hand to his forehead and he moaned. “Oh no.” I clicked my tongue. “You’re clammy.” Still blocking my poor, delicate nose, I told him, “I’ll pick something up for you, okay?”
He mumbled into the couch cushion.
Connor burst out of his room, looking sleep rough, and I went to pour him a glass of juice. “Morning.”
He grunted, taking the glass and chugged the whole thing in a second flat. The loudest belch ever heard followed then dogs howling in the distance.
Boys were gross.
“Emmy, baby.” Connor sidled up beside me. “I have a problem.”
This had my attention. I was all ears. “What’s up?”
Connor took a piece of my hair and played with it. “There’s a girl in my room.”
“Okay?” I wasn’t following.
He gently pushed the stray hair behind my ear and made a face. “I don’t want said girl in my room.” He huffed out a breath then slowly ran his fingertips down my arm. “Not anymore.”