Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
He breaks away, slipping the straps over my shoulders and letting the dress pool at my feet. His gorgeous eyes smolder as they roam over my black lace lingerie.
“So fucking beautiful.” His thick voice is like gravel.
He presses another quick kiss to my collarbone before lowering and kissing a trail down my breastbone. He sucks each lace-covered nipple into his mouth and continues downward until he’s kneeling in front of me.
His hands slip below the material, gently raising my foot to undo the clasp of the sandal, repeating on the other side. When he lifts his face to mine, I almost drop to him. The flaming hunger that watches me sends a spark through my veins.
“Get into your pajamas, Jewls, before I lose the little grip I’m holding on to.”
I stare down at him, fighting the same urge. “Give me your shirt.”
A flash of approval crosses his features. He unbuttons the shirt, hands it over, and stands. I back away to the bathroom and hear him order, “Leave the hair,” as the door shuts.
With the distance between us, I gain a little focus. My mind races with the possibilities of what happened to him all those years ago to make tonight such a mess. Whatever it is revealed a hatred like I’ve never seen. I slip off my lingerie and into his shirt, quickly washing my face, and skipping my normal nightly ritual.
He’s in bed, propped against the headboard with the sheets up to his waist. My mouth waters to climb up his body and cover every line and swirl of his tattoos with my mouth.
“If you keep looking at me like that, this talk will never happen.”
“I can’t help it. Look at you.”
There’s a flicker under the sheet and he blows out a deep breath. “Julianna, my dick is about to explode from wanting you all night. Don’t tempt me.”
“Fine.” I crawl to the other side, sitting to face him. “This better?”
“Not even remotely, but I have a lifetime of learning to control myself around you.”
At that, my heart soars, hammering so hard it threatens to burst out of my chest.
“Major Lucas Powers, you can not say things like that—laying here naked and beyond hot—and make me want to jump you when we have serious things to discuss.”
His lips twist and eyes dance as he reaches up to cup my cheek. “If you want to jump me when this is done, I’m all yours.”
I want to fling myself at him, but we’re already distracted enough.
“Right, so, Darla Strauss.” He winces at her name, then drops his eyes to the sheet. “Well, that did it. Her name and my hard-on is gone.”
I choke to cover my giggle and take his hand from my cheek. “Go on.”
“JaKoby Wallace was my best friend growing up. We were as tight as brothers. Met Darla my junior year. We dated for six months before she gave me her virginity. Somehow, we became the ‘it couple’ at school and she loved owning the title. Koby wasn’t a fan of Darla, and she knew it. She didn’t get the attention from him she thought she deserved. I didn’t put them together often because it was always strained and ended up in an argument over who I cared about more.”
“I’m seeing the signs of manipulation here.”
“That doesn’t scratch the surface. She became relentless about trying to come between us and used sex as her tool of choice. I wasn’t exactly blind to her tactic, but I was a seventeen-year-old boy getting laid regularly and guaranteed blow-jobs whenever I wanted. The woman worshipped my dick and knew how to use it to her advantage.”
A sour taste fills my mouth, and I hold up my palm. “You can skim over these details if you ever want a blow job again.” We didn’t actually get to that part yet in our sexual trysts, but I’m assuming he’d hate to lose the option.
“I’m not trying to turn you off, but it’s important, you know. Because I was young and getting it frequently without having to work for it, she convinced me we were in love. Koby warned me she was getting in my head, but I blew it off. He was getting laid frequently, almost as much as me. So, when we weren’t fucking our girls, we were still tight. The first and only time Darla gave me an ultimatum to choose between them, she didn’t like my choice. She did what she always did and dropped to her knees as an apology. My friendship with him never came up again.”
“Seriously, no more about another woman on your cock,” I warn.
His coy grin makes me want to kick him off the bed.
“Koby and I planned to join the Corps together. Our families were supportive. I thought Darla was on board, but at the end of our senior year, she was hospitalized.”