Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 37733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
I nod. “It’s going to happen one day.”
“I’d love to read your work.”
“You don’t have to say that to be polite.”
“I’m not,” he replies and gestures to the room around us. “As you can see, I’m a reader.”
It’s true. He’s got built-in bookshelves as well as light oak bookcases, all of them stuffed with books of every genre. He’s a man after my own heart. It’s not often that you’ll find me without my nose in a book.
“Then I’ll have to give you something to read,” I say.
“I’d like that.”
It’s weird. In the year we were together, Ben never once asked to read my work. In fact, nobody I’ve ever been with has shown the slightest interest in what I write. Having Ethan expressing his genuine interest not only makes me happy, but it makes my heart swell until it’s two sizes too big for my chest. I know I’m supposed to be tempering my feelings and keep them reined in given that this is a temporary thing, but the more time I spend with Ethan, the more difficult I’m finding that task.
“How about some dessert?” he asks.
“You made dessert?”
“I did indeed. I used those world-class YouTube skills to make something sweet.”
“I love dessert,” I say. “Lead the way.”
He smiles as he takes my hand and helps me to my feet. Still holding hands, we walk into the kitchen together, and it hits me then just how complicated this is going to be.
10
ETHAN
“How are you doing?” I ask.
“Better,” she replies with a laugh.
After dessert and far too many glasses of the port that paired with the flourless chocolate cake I made, I decide that she’s had too much to drink to drive home. I can drive her home but I like the idea of waking up beside her, so I convince her to stay the night. I know it’s not smart to get too attached to her, but Elodie makes it really difficult to keep my feelings in check. The more I learn about her, the more I want to know. The more I’m with her, the more I want to be with her. She’s about as addictive as any drug I’ve ever prescribed.
And it’s not just about the sex, although that is utterly fantastic. For being so young and so innocent, she has a side to her that caters to all my filthy fantasies and exposes me to desires I never knew I had. Until Elodie, I never had somebody call me Daddy before. It’s probably just because it’s her, but hearing it come out of her mouth turned me on like nothing ever has. That juxtaposition of something so filthy coming out of the mouth of somebody so sweet and demure flipped a switch inside of me.
Beyond all that, though, I’ve got a deep connection with Elodie. It’s something I haven’t had with anybody before. It’s exhilarating, but at the same time, it’s disconcerting as fuck.
“Thank you,” she says. “I was not expecting to wake up to such a wonderful breakfast.”
“Biscuits and gravy isn’t all that wonderful, but it is effective,” I tell her. “The grease helps soak up all the alcohol. Best hangover cure I know.”
“I didn’t think I drank that much last night.”
“Port packs a punch. I tried to warn you.”
She grins. “You did. It was just so good. And with that amazing cake you made? I seriously could not get enough.”
“So, what do you have planned for the day?”
“I need to get back to Mam,” she says. “I figure I’ll give Mrs. Lund a break.”
“Yeah, she’s going to need it after that wild night those two had.”
Her laughter fills the air. It’s such a beautiful sound that I want to somehow bottle it so I can hear it whenever I need something to make my day brighter.
“Speaking of Mam, I should probably get going,” she says.
I get to my feet and take her by the hand, and when our eyes meet, a mischievous gleam crosses her face.
“You’re going to make me late, aren’t you?” she asks.
“That’s the plan.”
I lead her to the bathroom and turn on the shower then quickly slip her out of the borrowed robe she’s wearing. Morning sunlight streams in through the windows, making her skin glow as if with its own inner light, and I take a moment to admire the curves and swells of her body. She giggles and moves to cover herself, so I push her hands away, relishing the sight of her lean, lithe body. Her cheeks flush and she looks embarrassed to have me admiring her the way I am, but she’s like a living work of art.
“You’re absolutely exquisite,” I say.
“Stop.”
“It’s true.”
As clouds of steam billow out of the walk-in shower, I take her hand and pull her in with me. I wrap my body around hers as the water rains down over us and we lean into a passionate kiss. Tongues swirling around one another, I slide my hands over Elodie’s slick, supple body and my cock starts stiffening.