Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“What?” Her brows slide together. “In the bathroom? No.”
Excellent.
I shackle my fingers around her upper arm and force her into the cramped space before slamming the door shut behind us. Then, I twist the lock so she can’t make a quick escape.
Her eyes widen. “What are you doing?”
I force her spine against the tile before aligning my bigger body to her softer one. “What’s up with that guy?”
“Sawyer?”
We’re so close that her warm breath is able to feather across my lips. It’s nothing short of intoxicating. This girl has me all twisted up inside. “Yup. That would be the one.”
“Nothing.”
When her tongue darts out to moisten her lips, my gaze drops to the movement. Juliette has never been one to wear a lot of makeup. Today, her lips are stained pink. Unable to resist, I nip the plump flesh with sharp teeth. Her eyelids flutter as a whimper escapes from her.
Once I release the lower one, I growl, “You sure about that? It kind of seems like he was asking you out on a date.”
“He did,” she admits reluctantly. “I told him this semester was a little crazy and I’m bogged down with classes.”
Her response only fuels my jealousy and possessiveness.
I push further into her space until my thick erection can press against the softness of her lower abdomen. That’s all it takes for her pupils to dilate. The black circle swallows up the mahogany-colored flecks that dance around within their dark depths.
My hands tunnel through her hair to lock her in place. I want every bit of her attention focused on me.
At all times.
“Is that the only reason you’re not interested in getting together with him?”
Her chest rises and falls in quick succession. “Maybe.”
My lips drift over hers, never quite touching. It takes every ounce of self-control not to take her mouth. When it comes down to it, I’m torturing myself just as much as I’m tormenting her.
It’s only when her lips part and a groan of need breaks free that I finally give in to temptation. Our tongues tangle as she opens under the firm pressure I exert and the taste of her floods my senses. It has the power to dissolve all the jealousy festering inside me, eating me alive. It’s only when the beast within has been beaten back enough for rational thought to once again prevail that I pull away and lean my forehead against hers.
“Do you have plans after this?”
Her gaze stays locked on mine. “No.”
“Now you do.” Something within me settles at the notion that I’ll have her all to myself tonight.
“I suppose you’re going to keep it a secret?”
A slow smile curls the edges of my lips. “It wouldn’t be fun otherwise.”
Even though I don’t want to, I force myself to take a step in retreat to give us both a bit of breathing room before heading to the door and twisting the lock.
Just as I move into the hallway, my gaze slices to Juliette. She’s still pressed against the tiled wall. A dazed expression fills her eyes, and her hair is in slight disarray from my fingers tunneling through the thick strands.
I like it.
Like that I’m the one who mussed her up.
It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for years.
The temptation to eat up the distance between us and steal another kiss thrums through me. The need pulsing through my veins is almost too much to resist.
Here’s the problem—if I touch her again, it won’t end with a simple caress of my lips. It’ll go much further.
And I don’t want that.
Not here.
For now, this will have to be enough to satiate me.
“Oh, and Juliette?”
She blinks away the mental fog before her gaze locks on mine.
“Stay the fuck away from Sawyer.”
CHAPTER 23
JULIETTE
“Happy birthday, Mom! I really hope you enjoyed the party.”
She wraps her arms around me and tugs me close. “I did, baby. Thanks so much for helping your father plan this.”
With a shrug, I smile. “He did most of the legwork.”
“Well, I still appreciate it. Did I ever mention that when we were in college, your dad threw me a surprise party just like this? That’s when I realized I was falling for him.”
To hear Dad tell it, he’d crushed on her for a while, but she wouldn’t give him the time of day because he was a player.
Can you even imagine my dad being a womanizer?
It makes me laugh every time.
The man is such a smitten kitten when it comes to my mother.
My gaze reluctantly drifts to Ryder. As soon as our gazes collide, a shot of electricity zips through my veins and I force my attention away from him. Even though it’s tempting to pretend that what we have is more than just physical, I’ve never been one to lie to myself.
Ryder has zero interest in settling down or being exclusive.