Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
What about personal needs? He was an amazing son, father, and brother, but he was still a man. I glanced over at his handsome profile, then let my gaze wander down his chest to the apex of his thighs. Memories from last night flooded my mind, and the flutter from my stomach moved between my legs.
I wanted him in my bed again tonight, but more than that, I wanted to do something for him that made him feel like the center of the universe. Like only his needs mattered.
He could have delivered that table this morning and had the rest of the day to spend in his workshop, doing what he loved. This was his first full day without the kids. Instead, he spent most of the day hauling me to Chicago just because he didn’t want me to face my ex alone. And he’d stood up for me too. He would have taken a punch for me if Neil hadn’t taken such a ridiculously slow and obvious swing.
I felt like he’d put me first. Besides my mom, had anyone else ever done that?
He hooked his left hand over his right shoulder and kneaded the muscle.
“Is that still bothering you?” I asked. “Here, let me.” Shifting sideways on the seat, I reached over and began to massage his neck and shoulder. “God, you’re so tight. We need to stretch you out.”
“That sounds really fucking painful. I’m picturing a rack.”
I giggled. “No torture devices. We’ll do some yoga together.”
“No. Fucking. Way.”
“Why not? The kids love it.”
“The kids have seven-year-old bodies. And besides, there’s no way I could concentrate on stretching while you do those yoga poses. I almost lost my mind the first morning I saw you out in the backyard.”
“Oh yeah? Were you watching me?” I asked coyly.
“I couldn’t look away—I felt like the world’s biggest pervert.”
“It was just a few yoga poses.”
“Not in my mind, it wasn’t.”
“Okay, then how about a real massage?”
“No, thanks. I don’t like other people’s hands all over my body.”
“I meant from me, silly.” I leaned closer to whisper in his ear. “Complete with happy ending.”
He groaned. “You’re making my pants tight.”
“I can take care of that right now, if you want.” I moved my hand to his crotch and stroked him through the denim. “With my hand, or with my mouth.”
“Jesus Christ. You have to stop that or I won’t be able to drive. And I’ll have a hell of a time explaining to the state trooper behind us why I’m all over the road.”
“That’s fine. You can save it all up for me until we get home.” I leaned close again, tugging at his earlobe with my teeth. “I’ll be very thirsty by then.”
His jaw clenched. “Fuck.”
“And Austin—we should probably stop and get some more condoms. A giant box of them.”
Despite the state trooper behind us, he pushed a little harder on the gas.
We didn’t get home until almost eleven. As we pulled into the driveway, Austin said he wanted to call the kids really quick.
“That’s fine,” I said. “I’d like to take a shower anyway.”
“I’m going to grab one too. I’ll leave the back door open. Come over when you’re ready?”
“You want me to come to the house?” I asked, surprised.
“Is that okay?”
“Yes, I just . . .” I struggled to explain why it felt like a big deal. “The house is like your family space. I don’t want to intrude on it.”
He cocked his head. “Veronica, for the past six hours, all I’ve done is think about all the ways I’m going to intrude on your body. For fuck’s sake, you can spend the night in my room.”
I laughed. “Okay, I’ll be over in a few.”
Up in my apartment, I jumped in the shower, delighting in the butterflies in my belly. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt them. When I got out, I rubbed my vanilla body lotion all over my skin, remembering how Austin had liked the way it smelled on me. Feeling naughty, I skipped panties, but tugged the white T-shirt over my head and pulled out my ponytail, fluffing my hair. Pulse racing, I hurried down the stairs and across the yard.
As promised, the back door was open. The kitchen was dark and silent, and I locked the door behind me before heading upstairs.
In Austin’s bedroom, one lamp was on, and the bathroom door was closed. On the nightstand was the jumbo box of condoms we’d purchased on the way home, and just seeing it made my core muscles clench. I inhaled—the room smelled like him. Manly but clean, like a new leather belt.
Behind me, the bathroom door opened, and I turned around. “Hi,” I said, my heart beating like crazy, as if I hadn’t just seen him fifteen minutes ago.
Plus, he was naked.
My breaths turned to pants as he came toward me, hair wet and messy, skin damp and slightly flushed, eyes dark and hungry. My gaze traveled over his broad chest, down his rippling abs, to the thick, heavy cock between his thighs.