Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 134725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
“Okay,” I whispered, eyeing his lip movement.
He moved away and was touching a screen on the wall outside the orange drapes.
“Drink this juice when it comes up,” he ordered, gesturing to what looked like a ¾ height black fridge with two side-by-side doors. “which will be in a moment. It’ll reverse most of the effects of the wine and it’s very healthy.” He touched the screen some more, and my eyes stayed on his mouth. “I’ve ordered some food as well. Please eat, drink, and then rest. I’ll be back as fast as I can be, and we can talk. Get acquainted. Is that all right?”
“Okay.”
“I’ll be back as quickly as possible,” he repeated, steel resolve in his voice.
He evidently did not want to leave. I didn’t want him to go, either.
He grabbed my hand and squeezed it and then leaned over and put his lips to my cheekbone. “I can’t wait to get to know you better.”
My eyes went wide, my nipples tingled once again, and the little hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
“Really looking forward to it, Tanya,” he added, giving my hand another squeeze. His mouth was still against my cheek and his fingers went into the length of my hair and he tugged a little, drawing my eyes to his. My eyes moved from his to his mouth and my lips parted. We were frozen like that for a second.
God, he smelled good.
“Much to talk about,” he repeated, and his cheeks dimpled.
I licked my lips, getting lost in his gaze. His eyes dropped to my mouth and then rose to meet my eyes again and then his mouth was instantly on mine. And wow.
I whimpered as both his hands thrust into my hair. In a heartbeat, he was somehow on top of me, pinning me to the pretty bedspread. His knee went between my legs and parted my thighs a little.
Whoa. My hands were holding his humongous, powerful shoulders while he continued to kiss me hungrily. His teeth tugged on my lower lip playfully and his nose then went behind my ear as he inhaled me. He pulled back.
“I hope it’s okay that I did that.”
I blinked and swallowed. “Um. Yeah.”
“I’ll hurry back.”
The intensity in his voice and on his face made the air around me kind of crackle with energy. If a look alone could seduce, I was pretty sure I would let myself get bedded. I was pretty sure I suddenly believed a look alone could seduce me. Who was afraid of sex? Suddenly, not this shy virgin librarian who was on another planet looking at seven feet of male perfection.
A machine behind the drapes chimed. He backed off me and got to his feet.
At the loss of his body heat, I was suddenly very aware of the fact that my dress hem was hiked dangerously high, so I quickly pulled it down and sat up. He smiled and his gaze was filled with heat.
“Whoa,” I breathed, before catching myself.
He chuckled.
I felt blush stain my face and neck, even my ears, as I sat and blinked a couple times, willing my galloping heart to slow down a bit.
“Be back.” He turned to leave. “Drink that,” he pointed at the black cabinet as he moved past it.
I rose and quickly moved to the black box. Smoked glass doors were open. On one side of a partition sat a large goblet of deep purple juice. On the other side was an ivory-colored charcuterie board. It was filled with pretty things. Little rolls of meat. Tiny fluffed things that looked like little meringue dollops with glitter on top. Multicolored crackers shaped like stars. Little bowls with whipped fluffy dips in different colors. Little lace-patterned things the size of potato chips but with the translucence and red edges of radishes. A fanned-out array of sliced fruits or vegetables perhaps. At the corner sat squares of chocolate. It all smelled lovely. My belly agreed with a loud rumble.
He left, saying, “There’s a communications screen over the bed. If you need me, press the call symbol. It’s blue. I’ll calibrate it on my way out to direct you to my phone.”
“Oh. Okay.” I was standing there with swollen lips and messy hair.
Maybe he was right. I was feeling this wine.
“I’ll be as fast as possible. If it weren’t an emergency…”
“It’s okay, Zane. It hurts when it happens. If people’s earpieces are malfunctioning, of course you have to go. Do what you need to do,” I encouraged. But my face was hot. So were other parts of me.
He stared intently.
I smiled.
His eyes swept over me again. “You have a beautiful smile, Tanya. Ollie and I decided we would very much like to make you smile a whole lot.”
My smile slipped as he backed out. The rounded door clicked shut as he left, and I blew out a breath.