Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
His arm’s right in the stream, getting soaked. Then, the rest of him as he steps into the shower and covers my lips with his.
It’s a hot, deep kiss that makes my knees weak. He steadies me, roping a strong hand around my hip, settling it there as he crushes my mouth. He’s unforgiving in his kiss. Merciless as he sucks on my bottom lip, then my tongue.
I taste the wine he drank earlier, then catch the faint scent of whatever cologne or aftershave he slapped on after his shower before game night.
The taste and the scent mingle deliciously.
A low rumble emanates from his chest as he kisses me harder. My belly swoops. Then, I say screw it too, grabbing his shirt collar and tugging him closer to me.
He seals his body to mine and kisses me under the scalding stream. I’m naked and he’s fully dressed. His polo shirt sticks to his strong chest, his jeans turn sopping wet, his hair is slick, and still, he doesn’t break the kiss for long, dizzying seconds.
When he does, his breathing is staggered, his eyes fiery. I push wet strands of hair off my face, catching my breath as he steps back and out of the shower, dripping water onto the floor.
“Guess I need a towel,” he deadpans.
This time I don’t smother my laugh.
A little later, I’m dried off, lotioned up, and dressed in sleep shorts and a comfy T-shirt.
I’m hungry too.
But also a little unsure. What happens next? Well, besides food. Do we pick positions for tomorrow? Does Gavin join us again? Was this a one-night-only foursome? Was this even technically a quartet?
Four people got off, girl. It was a foursome.
With a strange new burst of nerves, I pad down the hall, turn into the kitchen.
“Dude, that is not how you make an omelet. Stop, just stop. You’re hurting my eyes,” Gavin says to Hollis.
They’re both at the stove. Gavin has changed into gym shorts and a T-shirt. Hollis is shirtless and sporting basketball shorts.
“This is fine,” Hollis insists, pushing the eggs in the pan with a red spatula.
“The pan is too hot. Your omelet is going to be overcooked. It’ll be browned and burned and overdone.”
“I like well-cooked omelets,” Hollis fires back.
From the other side of the kitchen, Rhys scoffs as he washes blueberries in the sink. “No one likes well-cooked omelets.”
“You’re siding with Worthy?” Hollis asks, faux aggrieved.
“Yes, Bouchard. Because you, sir, are just plain wrong.”
“Facts,” Gavin says, then pushes Hollis aside to take over the pan.
Amused at the scene, I lean against the wall then play my ace. “I like well-cooked omelets,” I announce.
Gavin hisses. Rhys shudders.
Hollis just grins, smug and cocky as he gestures proudly to me. “See? There you go. Our guest prefers my omelets.”
Gavin lifts the spatula my way like he’s going to make a point. “We’re going to do a taste test then, Briar. My perfectly cooked fluffy omelet and his overcooked one. They’ll be ready in five.”
“Fair enough,” I say, then head to the couch to wait for them to serve me.
Feels fitting.
I settle in, pick up my phone to open the novel for Trina’s book club as they chat about tomorrow, mentioning they don’t have to do the obstacle course in the afternoon, and I pipe in that I only have yoga in the morning. Then I yawn as I swipe on my e-reader and return to the chapter where I left off. It’s a good story, but as the heroine debates the merits of banging her boss, my eyes flutter closed.
I rustle awake to the sun shining brightly through the window and Donut licking my face.
As I stretch, I glance down. There’s a blanket covering me, and I’m not on the couch anymore. I’m on my bed.
I fling off the covers, scoop up my dog and walk around the cottage, but it’s silent and I’m all alone.
43
A COUPLE OF ADDENDUMS
Hollis
I race up the steps, tapping the wooden railing on the porch, breathing out hard and victoriously.
“How’s that for a streak?” Spinning around, I hold my arms out wide. “But really, I don’t even need to gloat. It’s too easy beating you guys every single time.”
“And yet you gloated anyway,” Rhys remarks as he flies across the yard, joining me seconds later.
Gavin’s next, finishing the Saturday morning run, which turned into a race, naturally. A race I won, since I always do with them.
“It’s okay,” Gavin says dryly. “Men who need to gloat…”
I fold my arms across my chest. “Men who need to gloat…what? Have small feet?” I challenge. “You’ve seen my feet, and they’re as spectacular as the rest of me.”
“You think I was looking at you last night?” Gavin retorts as I tap in the code to unlock the door, excited to see Briar again.
“No, man. I just think my dick is impossible to miss,” I say as I swing open the door. Briar was still sound asleep in her bed when we woke, so we texted her that we were going out for a run and that the first guy back would get to kiss her.