Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 540(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 540(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
With that, Brock leaned in and kissed me senseless. My brain short-circuited as my back pressed against the cushions under the weight of his body. Our tongues collided, and I felt my panties getting wet. For the first time, I began to doubt whether we could get through this evening without having sex. And I was starting to feel a little chicken.
“I don’t take kissing you lightly,” he said as he came up for breath.
“What happened to your plan to not start anything?” I panted.
“My plans always change when it comes to you, Red.”
I straightened the wrinkles in my shirt. “Well, as much as I’d like to spend the night, I don’t think we should sleep together. It would complicate things.”
“Thank you for the formal clarification. Unfortunately, I agree.”
“I have no desire to go back to the wellness center, though. It’s too cozy and warm here.”
He shrugged. “So don’t. Sleep in my bed tonight. I’ll crash here on the couch. Then I’ll drive you back in the morning.”
While it was tempting, I shook my head. “I can’t do that.”
“Why not? You’ve slept in my bed before with me. Can’t get any more dangerous than that, and not a thing happened.”
He had a point. I could totally do this.
“If you want me to spend the night…then yeah, okay.” I smiled.
“I want to fuck you hard is what I want.” His eyes seared into mine. “But that won’t happen. Doesn’t mean I won’t dream about it.”
And now I felt tingly all over.
We snuggled together on the couch, and despite our plan for me to move to the bed, Oak had plans of his own. He rested his chin on my lap and fell asleep. His head was like a giant paperweight.
“Well, I can’t move now. I don’t want to wake him.”
“He’s exhausted from violating the cow I won you at the fair for three days straight.”
“He’s horny.”
“He’s not the only one around here lately.” Brock grinned mischievously. “And this would be the first time he’s slept out here in the living room in…I don’t know how long. He’s usually in the tub by now.” He chuckled. “You make him feel comfortable enough to risk being attacked by his own shadow.”
“If that’s my claim to fame, Hawkins, I’ll take it.”
Brock leaned his head against my shoulder. “He must sense what I sense.”
“What’s that?”
“That you’re nothing to be afraid of. You’re vulnerable and beautiful. And honest.”
“Well, I’m happy you feel that way.”
“I wish I didn’t. I wish you’d give me a reason not to be devastated that you’re leaving.”
Our eyes locked.
“Seriously, let me move him if you’d like to get up,” he finally said.
I shook my head. “I can think of far worse places to be stuck than on a comfy couch with a fire blazing. And believe it or not, I like how his face feels on my lap.”
Brock smirked. “I’ve got a face, too.”
“I guess I walked right into that one.”
“Trust me, though, if it was my face on your lap, neither of us would be sleeping.”
Rather than retreat to his bed, Brock grabbed a giant plaid blanket and draped it over us.
Oak never moved that night.
And neither did we.
CHAPTER 9
* * *
February
“You’ve got to be kidding me…” The following afternoon, I stared down at the invitation I’d just opened. “What balls.”
The date printed was almost exactly a month from now. Which also happened to be the date of a board meeting. Great. Just great. Nothing like being beat up twice in one day.
“February?” I looked up to find Morgan standing at my door. “I thought you said you had therapy at one today?”
“I do.”
She pointed to the clock on my wall. “It’s five after.”
“Shoot.” I shuffled the mail strewn all over my bed into a pile. “I guess I lost track of time.”
“Is that all fan mail? God, you get almost as much as I do.”
“Not quite. These are all bills and other work stuff. I had my assistant send me my mail so I could keep up with things.”
Her nose wrinkled. “Yuck.”
“Tell me about it.” I opened the nightstand and tucked the stack of envelopes inside. The wedding invitation was still on top of the pile as I slid the drawer closed. At the last second, I plucked it out. This should give me something to talk about today.
Morgan was still parked at my door. I wagged a finger at her as I passed. “No snooping. It’s just invoices and contracts.”
She held her hands up. “No worries. I don’t have any interest in bills.”
Trinity, my counselor, was already seated in her chair when I arrived at her office. I knocked lightly, though the door was open. “Sorry I’m late.”
She closed the notebook on her lap and smiled. “No worries. I was running a few minutes behind anyway, so it worked out well. Come on in, February.”