Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
She poked her head in. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure this is to justify the huge price tag on this adventure. Everyone who was mad about having to stay in a bunkhouse will get over it when they see their new accommodations.” Allegra moved over to flop on the bed, sending up a shower of rose petals.
Carter snorted. “How do you know what the price tag was? You didn’t even know we were coming.”
“Duh, I have a phone. I looked.” As if the bratty tone wasn’t enough, she stuck her tongue out at him.
“Someone seems to be getting too big for their britches and since we have privacy now … I could take them right down for you,” he said, sweeping her with an unamused look. It was at odds with what he was really feeling, and keeping the grin off his face was a struggle.
“Oh, um, sorry, Daddy.” She sat up, rose petals stuck in her hair at odd angles. “After a week, if I’m getting spanked, I’d rather it was a fun one. And also, with sex please.” Her smile was wide and hopeful.
“After dinner.” His tone suggested she skip the argument.
She sighed. “Okay, well what are we going to do for the next hour then?”
“I don’t know about you, but I smell like horse. I’m going to take advantage of this fancy-ass shower.” Her mouth opened immediately, but he held up a hand. “You are not going to join me, as fun as that would be, because if you did … we wouldn’t be leaving the cabin tonight.”
The sound that came out of her mouth wasn’t quite human. He couldn’t help laughing as she fell back into the petals again.
“I know, I’m awful. Consider it a very long edging session,” he suggested.
That morning they’d packed their things and left them on their bunks, as directed. At some point it had all been moved over to the private cabins, and now he dug through his bag for a clean T-shirt. “I won’t be long.”
It was a lie, but not an intentional one. It took a few minutes to figure out the complicated shower, and then once he had it going, it felt too good to get out. He, or at least his body, was regretting the earlier acrobatics. “I’m getting old,” he muttered, as he turned so that one of the angled sprays pounded his lower back directly on a sore spot.
Carter stayed there until the water started to cool, and then he finally forced himself to get out. He wrapped a towel around his waist on his way back to the bedroom. His wife was asleep, surrounded by rose petals and snoring softly. For a moment, he just watched her.
It was tempting to crawl into bed, just to lie next to her as they both slept. Over the past week they’d both been focused on the sex they weren’t allowed to have, but it occurred to him now, that the separation had taken more from them. He ached to hold her in his arms.
But his growling stomach was a reminder that it was almost dinner time. He shook her leg. “Allegra, time to get up.”
She cracked one eye sleepily. “Why?”
“Because I’m starving and it’s almost dinner,” he reminded her.
She yawned and stretched without sitting up, watching him as he pulled on fresh clothes. “You sure we can’t just order room service and stay in tonight? I’d be fine with that.”
Carter laughed. “Sweetheart, there’s zero chance of you getting room service around here.”
The look she gave him would have peeled paint. “Ugh, fine,” she said, pushing herself up. “Let me clean up a little and then I’ll be ready.
While she was in the bathroom, Carter unpacked and put their clothes away. The dinner bell rang before she was done and he knocked on the door. “Ally…”
“I know I heard it.” A second later she yanked the door open. She’d taken the time to brush her hair out and apply a little makeup. The messy ponytail she’d worn all week for work was gone. “Ready! How do I look?” She gave him a sultry look, running her tongue over her bottom lip so that the lipstick glistened.
“You look gorgeous.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard before letting her go. “But we’re late and I’m starving.” Despite the delay, they weren’t even close to the last to walk in, and a few couples didn’t show up at all.
The dining room had been rearranged. The one long table was gone and now the room was filled with two-person tables. The lights had been dimmed, and each table had a glass bowl with a candle in the center. Dinner was served with small romantic touches, and it was clear that they were entering a new phase of the experience.
Once everyone was seated and the plates had been served, Ma and Pa stood up at their table and waited until everyone noticed and gave them their attention. They made a little speech about how well everyone had done in the first week. Then they talked a little about some of the partner-building activities they’d all participated in, while Carter eyed his food and wondered whether he could go ahead and start eating.