Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“Your move, Kincaid.” My palms are sweating and I think my heart might explode from how hard it’s pounding inside my chest. Not because I’ve never been naked with a man before, but because I know this is going to change the path we’re on. We’ve been following along this fine line between faking and real, and this is going to blur that line beyond measure.
I’m okay with that.
I’ve thought about that first night I stayed here more times than I can count. I wanted this then, but I was too afraid to ask for it. With each passing day that Merrick is a part of my life, my confidence grows. He’s showing me that I am worth the time and attention of any man, but especially him since he gives me so much of both.
He’s still. So still, in fact, I’m not even sure he’s breathing. I wait to see what he’s going to do. It seems like hours before he finally speaks.
“I’ll hold you, Court, but nothing else. Not tonight.”
“Okay.”
He releases his hold on me and moves around. The next thing I know, I hear a flopping noise as his clothes hit the floor. “Come here, baby.”
I waste no time going to him, moving in close so that my bare breasts are pressed against his chest. I tuck my head under his chin as his arms wrap around me tightly. I can feel his hard cock pressing into my stomach, but we both ignore it. He said only this, and I’m not willing to push him and lose this. Because this—this is a feeling unlike anything I’ve ever known.
I’ve had sex, not great sex, but I’ve done the deed. It’s always quick, sweaty, and nothing like this. I’ve never had this calm feeling wash over me. Calm, intertwined with safety in the arms of a man who I know without a doubt would protect me. Hell, he sleeps closest to the door for a hypothetical break-in.
“I could get addicted to this.”
“Being naked?” he teases.
“Being naked with you.”
He inhales deeply at my confession.
“Why does this feel more intimate than sex?” I voice my thoughts.
“Because it is. This is more of an emotional connection. Being fully exposed for the sake of feeling someone close to you is not the same as getting close to get off.”
“This is better,” I state confidently. At least from my experience.
“Then the men of your past have been doing it wrong.” His voice is thick and does nothing to mask that he’s struggling to not take this further too.
I laugh, my body, and my boobs shaking with laughter. His cock twitches and it takes everything inside me to continue to pretend like the evidence of what this is doing to him isn’t really there.
I squirm because, damn, I’m turned on.
“Ignore it.”
“I’m trying because I promised you this was all, but it’s harder—I mean, more difficult than I thought.” I giggle. I yelp when he smacks my ass lightly. “Hey!”
“Go to sleep, baby.”
“I can’t sleep.”
“You can.” He holds me a little tighter and runs his hand up and down my spine gently. I can feel my eyes grow heavy as I start to drift off from his comforting touch.
“Merrick?”
“Yeah?”
“I know you think that I’ll regret this in the light of day, but I promise you, I won’t.”
“Good.”
“I’ll never forget this night as long as I live.”
“That makes two of us, Court. Now, get some rest. I’ll be right here when you wake up.”
I know he’s awake. I can feel his breath hitting the back of my neck and feel the rise and fall of his chest. I’m sure he knows that I’m awake, too, as I’m sure he’s already guessed, but I’m not ready to break this connection. That is, until my belly growls, and we both laugh.
“Good morning.”
I turn my head toward him. “Morning.”
He presses his lips to my bare shoulder. “Feeling okay?”
“Perfect.”
“No regrets?”
“Not a single one.” I mean it. Sure, I’m a little embarrassed that I basically threw myself at him, stripping out of my clothes, and demanding he do the same, but all in all, I’m just happy to be here with him, with his arms wrapped around me, and nothing between us.
“How about we get dressed and I make you some breakfast?”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that.”
“Let me take care of you.” His words are softly spoken, but there’s an emotion behind them that I can’t name.
“Okay.”
“I like it when you say okay. Good things happen.” He kisses my shoulder once more before sliding out from under the covers. I give him privacy to dress, even though my naked body was pressed to his for over half the night. We didn’t actually look, so I feel as if it’s the right thing to do. “Come out to the kitchen when you’re ready. Help yourself to whatever you need.”