Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 112884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
I’m expecting her to jump up to her feet and run away, but instead she scoots closer, our hips touching as she slides her hand in between my elbow and my arm, letting it dangle in between my legs, until she can slide her fingers through mine. “Thank you for sharing that with me,” she says softly, “and for listening to my secrets without judgment.”
“I said I would let you make the next move. I would wait for you to be ready.” I pull her face close to my shoulder. “But fuck it, I dare you to kiss me.”
She leans in her face, her other hand coming up to cup my jaw as she whispers, “Okay,” right before her lips are on mine. I close my eyes when her tongue slides into my mouth and my own hand reaches across and cups her cheek. The kiss is soft and perfect; she lets my mouth go with a soft kiss.
“Stay with me tonight?” I ask her with a plea.
“You’re still my boss,” she reminds me, this time trying to hide her smile.
“Fine, you’re fired,” I tell her and she laughs, “until Monday. Actually, how about you are fired every night until the morning at eight? Then Friday from five until Monday at eight a.m.”
“Wow.” She drops her hand from my face and gets up. “And to think I was just going to say I don’t care anymore. I’m tired of holding back.”
“That works even better,” I say, getting up. “Now will you stay with me tonight?” I’m one second away from dragging her into the house over my shoulder. “I would never do anything to hurt you or mess up my chance with you. I’ve been waiting a long fucking time for you to come into my life.” I look at her. “I would also never jeopardize your position with the foundation if things didn’t go like I wanted it to. I would become a silent partner and only work through Kylie. You never have to worry because I will never take anything out on you or use you as a pawn in a game.”
“I don’t know.” She turns in my arms. “What are we going to do?” She bites her lower lip, as she places her hands on my chest.
“Well, the first thing that’s going to happen is we are going inside.” I push her hair over her shoulder. “Then I’m going to take you to my bedroom.”
“Yes, I like where this is going.”
“Should I just show you?” I lean down and kiss her lips, her chest melting into mine. My hand grips her hip before going to grab her ass. “I have another secret,” I say when I let go of her lips. “This might be a really big one and you might be upset.”
“Okay.” She looks at me waiting.
“I dared you to wear my jersey tonight so you covered that amazing body of yours and I’d be the only one able to see it when I took it off you later.” She throws her head back and lets out a big laugh.
“I have a secret also,” she announces and I see her eyes are dancing in the moonlight. “The two girls who wanted your number…” She mentions the two girls who were trying with everything to get my attention, and I made sure I didn’t even stop anywhere near them. “Well, they saw you hit the glass with the stick, and when we left and I went to buy your jersey, I gave them a smirk and a shrug and might have mouthed, ‘Better luck next time.’”
“You didn’t?” I shake my head.
“Okay, I didn’t mouth ‘Better luck next time’ but I thought it,” she retracts. I pick her up and carry her into the house, her legs crossing behind me. “It served them right.”
“Baby,” I say softly as I lock the door behind me, “you have to know I only have eyes for you.” I turn off the light in the kitchen and head toward my bedroom. “The minute I ran into you at the baby shower I was done or so I thought. I knew I was for sure done when I skated onto the ice and saw you,” I admit to her. “Even after I vowed to stay away from you yesterday.” She gasps. “I know, but it was so hard to be with you and not be able to touch you or to kiss you.”
“I have a secret,” she murmurs, dislodging herself from me when we get into my room. The strips of lights are all on softly along the wall with my bed, and the other wall with my curtains. Her hands cross over in front of her as she pulls my jersey over her head, leaving her in a black T-shirt and her jeans. “I wanted you to kiss me yesterday.” She then pulls the T-shirt from her pants, repeating the same action with the jersey. “I was sad when you left and you didn’t try.”