Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
That said, right now I feel like I’m living in some alternate reality. A universe where I’m beautiful and the man I want most in the world can’t resist me. I laugh at my own thoughts.
“What’s so funny, Buttons?”
I look up at the hot man in my kitchen frying hamburgers and sigh. God. “I was thinking it’s a good thing you are good at baseball because you don’t look that comfortable in the kitchen,” I invent with a smile.
“Oh, woman of little faith. Wait until you taste this masterpiece.”
I giggle. “I can hardly wait.”
I’m not lying either. After having my body starving for more of his touch, and kissing me until neither of us had breath, he slid me back into the passenger seat, buckled me in and drove to the store. Ryder went in solo, telling me to sit tight. Then, he picked up what he needed and drove us home. When we got here, he gave me a quick kiss and told me to sit tight. I was too dazed to question what he was doing. After undoing my seatbelt and helping me out of his truck, he held my hand all the way inside. I’m totally in an alternate universe.
Ryder looks up at me and winks. God, he really is too beautiful. It’s no wonder that I can’t keep my defenses in place around him. I lick my lips as I watch him put the burgers together. I told him already what to put on mine. I offered to help but he told me to keep my feet up and brought me a sweet tea. So, I did what he told me to do. Mostly, I am tired of fighting his pull. So, I’m just going with the flow.
“Do you need a refill?” he asks, as he comes over juggling two plates and his beer.
“I’m good.”
“On that we can agree.”
I roll my eyes, earning me a sweet look as he sets my plate down on the bar in front of me. He slips into the seat beside me, turning so that his knee presses against my thigh. I try to ignore the shiver that runs through me. I mostly fail.
“What?” I ask when he stares.
“I’m waiting to see how you like my burger.” I stifle my laughter because he looks like a little kid waiting for praise. I grab it in my hand, silently vowing to tell him I love it even if it tastes like burnt charcoal. “I really do better on a grill. When you come to Dallas, I’ll grill you a steak that rivals anything Robo’s serves.”
He’s talking as I take a bite and it tastes great, but with his words the food goes down the wrong way and I get strangled. I cough as I put the burger down.
“Shit!” he hisses. “Are you okay?” his arm goes around me, his hand spreading out against my back. He massages me, bending toward me, and looking concerned.
“I’m fine,” I wheeze.
“Did I put too much seasoning on it?” he asks, obviously worried.
“No, it was good. I could taste onion…”
“French onion soup mix. Makes the burger juicer,” he mumbles. “Maybe I mixed it too strong…”
“No, I liked the burger. I got strangled because you were talking about me coming to see you.”
“Huh?”
“You shocked me.”
“Why would that shock you? I told you last night, Buttons. I want you. You and I are going to spend a lot of time together going forward.”
“Do I get a say in this?” I ask, close to panic.
“Of course, you do.”
“Then—”
“But if you try to tell me that you don’t want me, I’m not going to believe you.”
“Ryder,” I exhale.
“And if you force me to, I’ll use whatever is at my disposal to make you admit you want me as much as I want you.”
“I think it’s pretty evident that I want you.” My admission makes him smile and look cocky as hell. “But just because I might want you—”
“You do want me,” he corrects.
I let out an annoyed breath. “Just because I want you—”
“Fuck,” he groans and shocks me by taking my mouth in an urgent kiss.
I groan as his tongue thrusts inside my mouth. I don’t think of denying him—I don’t think I could at this point. He seeks my own out and tangles around it, taking complete control and ravaging my mouth. His hands go in my hair, fisting and pulling on it to angle me exactly how he wants me.
The wave of hunger that moves through me is so powerful that I feel like I’m going to float away. I reach out to hold onto Ryder, needing him to be my anchor. My hands flatten out on his chest, before curling into his shirt. He pulls back to look at me. He has one hand under my shirt. His touch feels rough against my skin. His calloused thumb brushes back and forth and I bite my lip to keep from moaning. He holds eye contact with me as his finger reaches up to rub against the silk cup of my bra, teasing the nipple. My entire body trembles in reaction as I look at the man—the only man—I’ve ever wanted.