Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 74968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
“I’m sure.” His expression turned stern again as he pointed a thick index finger at me. “Don’t you go thinkin’ I’m sweeter than I am.”
“I won’t.” I grinned because I knew better than most how sweet he truly could be. “And I’ll be around later.”
“Suppose I can leave a light on.”
“You do that.” I managed to mimic his bored tone, although my body was anything but disinterested, nerves humming from anticipation and the thrill of victory at finally earning another repeat.
Chapter Nineteen
Grayson
Adler finally wore me down. I wasn’t sure if it was the food coma, the sheer number of people, or Adler’s competence in managing the holiday that did it, but I’d issued the invite for him to stop by, knowing full well where we were headed. Maybe it was the presence of both a green bean and a sweet potato casserole. Maybe it was Adler’s vulnerability talking about his family. He wanted so badly to be seen, and I couldn’t seem to look away, despite my best efforts. I sure as hell wasn’t his or anyone else’s forever, but if attention and praise were what he craved, I was only too happy to serve up a heaping helping tonight.
Adler was still visiting with Maverick and the other guests when I made it back to my place and let the dogs out. The dogs had settled into a routine with me by now. While Rory had typical puppy energy, she hadn’t had an accident in weeks, and the dogs were long finished with their antibiotics. Jude had them scheduled for spaying in early December. He’d offered to comp the surgery, but I’d waved the notion off. The longer they stayed, the more I couldn’t see parting with one or both. Supposed they were mine now, not that I was going to go admitting that to Adler.
After the dogs were back inside, I took a fast shower, another admission that Adler wasn’t coming over for the dogs or the game show. Adler, however, took his sweet time showing up, so I flipped on the latest episode and tried not to get impatient. Finally, his knock sounded at my door, and the dogs predictably lost their minds at his arrival. I hit pause on the show before letting Adler in.
“Hey. Brought you some leftover apple pie.” He pulled off his knit beanie to reveal damp hair and tossed that and his coat on my couch before setting what looked to be half a pie on my small dining table. He’d changed from the dress shirt and silver pants he’d worn to the dinner into jeans and yet another band T-shirt. Stooping to pet the dogs, he shifted his voice to the singsong that always got their tails wagging. “Who’s hungry?”
“Already put the chow down,” I said before he could go check the bowls. “Rotated the water too.”
“I see.” As he slipped off his boots, he offered me a heated once-over. “Seeing as how you handled the dogs yourself and started Jeopardy without me, what precisely were you inviting me over for?”
“This.” I pulled him toward me for a possessive kiss. First one since I’d kissed him in such a fevered rush, and the first one where I felt in control enough to slow down and enjoy a slow tease. I traced his lips with the tip of my tongue until he made an impatient noise and clutched my shoulders. I noticed more this time as well, like the subtle tremor racing through his slim torso and the eager way he sucked on my tongue while also letting me lead. Outside, a late November cold snap raged, but inside my trailer, Adler radiated summer sunshine with every kiss.
I held him close as the dogs danced around us, eventually giving up and heading to other parts of the trailer. I couldn’t get enough of having Adler in my arms after weeks of wanting, kissing him until he sagged against me, grinning up at me as he caught his breath.
“That’ll do.” He did a passable imitation of my voice before motioning behind us at my TV. “Are we watching your show, or are we fucking?”
He glanced meaningfully toward my bedroom.
“Both.” I stalked over to my chair. He’d given me plenty of time to plot what I wanted, and I’d already stashed the lube, condoms, and a towel near my recliner. I’d only bothered with faded jeans so soft they might as well be flannel after my shower, and I let them drop right in front of my chair. I sat back before motioning at him. “Go on and strip.”
Adler being Adler, he didn’t simply peel off his clothes. Instead, he gave a shimmy with a sly grin, lifting and lowering his shirt and toying with the button on his jeans. I let him have his fun dancing to music only he could hear, but I could only take so much teasing.