Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 79462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
I grit my teeth, a mixture of frustration and desire churning in my gut.
I can't believe my brother has the audacity to question my motives.
Iris isn't just some random fuck, she's a friend.
And yeah, I'll admit I'm attracted to her.
But my primary focus is her safety, not getting in her pants.
Well, that's not entirely true.
My dick twitches at the thought, and I adjust myself through my jeans.
I'm a grown man, not a fucking teenager.
I can handle this situation, and Iris, with maturity and respect.
"Yeah, yeah, I hear you, bro," I grumble.
"Alright, cool. Call me when she's settled and we'll set something up. Sounds like we need to have a conversation anyway."
"You got it. See ya later, man."
"Later."
I end the call and slip the phone back into my pocket.
A conversation.
Shit.
That's gonna be fun.
I make my way back downstairs and order the Thai food. When it arrives, I set the bags of steaming takeout on the kitchen counter.
"Dinner's here!" I call up the stairs. There's a muffled reply, and a few minutes later, Iris appears.
She's changed into a pair of shorts and a tank top, and her hair is pulled up into a messy bun. She looks good enough to eat, and I have to remind myself that this is a casual hangout, not a date. I'm her best friend's dad, for fuck's sake. Just because my daughter isn't here doesn't mean I get to fuck Iris senseless against the wall.
"Smells amazing," she says, grinning as she walks into the kitchen.
"Help yourself," I reply, gesturing to the spread.
We serve up plates of Pad Thai, spring rolls, and fried rice and settle on the couch with our food.
I flip on the TV, scrolling through Netflix until we settle on a light-hearted comedy. As we eat, our bodies lean closer together, our hands brushing. Each innocent touch sends a jolt of electricity through me. When our plates are empty, I set them aside and turn to face her.
"So," I say, taking a deep breath. "I feel for you, Iris, but I don't think it's appropriate for you to live here with me... alone."
Her eyes widen in shock, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink. "Oh. Of course. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to overstep."
"No, no, that's not what I mean," I rush to reassure her. "I just don't want people talking about you. Your reputation, and mine, could be on the line. And I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea about us."
"The wrong idea?" she repeats, her brows knitting together.
"Yeah. Look, Iris, I want you to feel safe and comfortable here, and if people start talkin' about us, they'll assume there's more going on between us than there actually is."
Her gaze flickers down, and I can see the wheels turning in her mind. "Right," she murmurs. "Of course. Sorry, I didn't mean to make things weird."
"It's not weird," I say quickly. "But I want you to understand where I'm comin' from. I have a lot to lose, and you have a reputation to rebuild. So, what I'm suggesting is that we find you a place close by, and maybe Ax can help out, too. And when you're ready, you can move in. What do you think?"
"Okay," she replies, a hint of relief in her voice. "That sounds fair."
"Good."
"I'm really sorry, Viper," she says, a sheepish smile tugging at her lips. "I didn't mean to complicate your life."
"Don't sweat it," I say, returning her smile. "I'm glad you're here."
I can't deny that I'm disappointed.
I wanted her, and not just for the night.
But I need to be a gentleman and keep it in my pants.
There will be plenty of time to seduce her, once we've got a safe place for her.
"I'm glad you're here, too," she says.
She looks like she wants to say something else, but then she leans forward and brushes her lips against mine.
My heart stops.
"Iris," I say, pulling back slightly. "I can't. Not yet."
She frowns, her brow furrowing.
"Why not?"
"Because..." I take a deep breath. "If I kiss you, and things go further, you might regret it. You just went through a nasty breakup, and the last thing I want is for you to wake up and hate me."
"Viper, I could never hate you," she says, a sad smile playing on her lips. "And if I'm being honest, I need this. I need you. Maybe it's just a rebound fling, and maybe not. But if you can't get past the fact that you're my best friend's dad, and the age difference, then it's okay. We don't have to take it any further. But if you're worried about me, don't. I know what I want, and what I'm capable of handling. And I trust you, Viper."
Her words resonate in my mind. She's right. This is just a bit of fun, a way to help her heal from the trauma of her recent breakup. And if she's willing to put her trust in me, then I'm not going to let her down.