Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 68177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“Have a good trip.” I turn to walk away as anger creeps up my spine.
“Dakota.” He takes hold of my bicep, stopping me, and I look at him over my shoulder. “We’ll talk.” He skims his finger along my cheek, and I soak in the feeling of his touch then force myself to shrug off his hold. I head inside, feeling the heat of his gaze as I go to the elevator, but I don’t turn to confirm he’s watching me. When the doors open, I step inside then rest back against the wall and wait for them to shut.
Just as they’re about to close, they are pried back open and Braxton appears with his chest heaving. I stare at him with wide eyes, unsure what to do or say as he stares back. When he steps toward me, my breath freezes in my lungs, and then before I can prepare, his body and mouth crash into mine. I react without thinking, sliding my fingers into his hair, and he groans. I whimper against his tongue when he lifts me off my feet and holds me against the wall, his hips locking me in place.
Even as my mind screams at me to push him away, I pull him closer, and his tongue flicks against mine while his hands on my ass urge me on. His scent and touch intoxicate me as desire surges between us like a wildfire burning out of control. Just when I’m about ready to beg him to take me to bed, he drags his mouth from mine and carefully lowers me to my feet. Panting now for a completely different reason, I blink my eyes open.
“I really fucking wish I didn’t have to go.” He captures my face between his palms, and mixed emotions go to war in my chest as he searches my gaze with a tender look.
“Th…” I drop my gaze and focus on his chin, unable to look him in the eye, and rest my hands against his chest. “That shouldn’t have happened.”
“It will inevitably happen between us again and again, Dakota.”
Is he right? Probably. He seems to be my kryptonite. “You’re a liar.”
“I had a reason to lie.” He smooths his thumb across my cheek.
“So you said, but then again, you didn’t have a reason not to tell me that you live in the same building as me.”
“That’s a little more complicated.” Now what the hell does that mean? “When I get back, I’ll explain everything.”
“Sure,” I agree, hoping he’ll let me go so I can remind myself why I’m mad at him—something that isn’t easy with his hands holding me like he doesn’t want to let go.
He smiles down at me like he knows exactly what I’m thinking. “I know where you live and where you work, Dakota.”
“Why does that sound like a threat, Braxton?”
He brushes his lips across mine. “Because it is.” He steps back, taking his warmth with him, then just as quickly as he appeared, he’s gone and the doors close, leaving me alone once more. When the elevator buzzes, I quickly press the button for my floor then lean back against the wall, lifting my fingers to my lips that are still tingling. I don’t know how to feel, but I do know Braxton was right. If we are around each other, what happened will inevitably happened again, and part of me wants it to.
Lord, I’m so screwed.
________________
I glance down at my phone to check the time and get even more annoyed than I already am when I see Jamie’s fifteen minutes late to meet me, even though he’s the one who told me what time he’d be here. I look into the diner and debate going in to get a table then jump and scream when arms wrap around me from behind and I’m lifted off the ground.
“It’s just me.” Jamie laughs, dropping me to my feet.
I spin around and smack him on the arm. “You scared me.”
“I kinda gathered that by the way you screamed.” He chuckles as he wraps his arm around my shoulders and uses his free hand to open the door. “Are you ready to eat?”
“I was ready to eat fifteen minutes ago.” I glare up at him.
“Sorry about that. I had company who didn’t want to leave.”
My nose scrunches. “Thank goodness I don’t have to deal with your—” I lift my fingers, making quotations. “—company anymore.”
“Oh come on, admit it. You miss me,” he says as we slide into an open booth across from each other.
“You, yes. Your company? Not so much.”
He grins then his expression turns serious. “Are you settling in all right?”
I let out a long breath then admit, “It’s taking me time to get used to living on my own.” I unwrap my silverware from my napkin then smile. “But I like my place and my job so far.”