Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 110721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
She closed her eyes and blew out a breath. She owed him. “You’re right.”
“Usually am.”
She ignored that. “I realize you’re looking out for my best interests. I tracked you down to thank you for getting involved at the Shoppes at Susquehanna, but I need to thank you again for opening your home to not only me, but my son. For caring enough to be worried about our safety.”
“We’re both benefittin’ here. Ain’t all one-sided, Taryn.” His head tipped to the side as he studied her. “Can think of somethin’ else that can mutually benefit us both.”
“What?” He was talking about sex, wasn’t he?
She startled when he surged to his feet, spun, grabbed her wrist, and yanked her from her seat. When her mouth opened to ask him what he was doing, he took it.
He took her mouth without warning. Without asking.
Simply claimed it like it was his.
Holy shit.
She should be clawing his eyes out, not digging her nails into his shirt and clinging to him.
She should be shoving him away, not pulling him closer.
She should be biting his tongue, not allowing it to tangle so damn skillfully with hers.
She should be cursing at the gall of his actions, not groaning in encouragement.
What was wrong with her? Was it shock? Or awe?
He would not be her next bad decision. He. Would. Not.
She couldn’t afford any more bad decisions. They had already cost her enough.
When he deepened the kiss and continued to plunder her mouth, her body whispered, “What’s one more mistake?” and melted against him.
While his hands were fisted in the hair on both sides of her head, keeping her right where he wanted her, it wasn’t necessary. She wasn’t going anywhere. It would be impossible even if she tried, since she had not one functional bone left in her body. Not freaking one. They had all disintegrated into liquid. He was what was holding her up.
His strong hands, his hard chest, his hard…everything.
His words whispered across her lips. “Wanna make another deal with you.”
“I know where this is going.” She needed to resist.
“Want my bed back.”
Oh, was that it? No deal needed. “I can take the couch.”
“With you in it.”
Her brain glitched, causing her to blink up at him while rubbing her face where his thick beard had tickled and scratched her skin. Maybe she imagined that last part. Maybe it was wishful thinking on her part.
Wait. No. That was not what she wanted!
“Did I…did you…”
It would be stupid to get involved with him—sexually or otherwise—beyond their initial deal.
He dipped his head down and locked gazes with her. “You heard what I said. Gonna assume by your reaction to that kiss, you ain’t totally against that deal.”
Any euphoria still lingering from that toe-curling kiss was now completely gone and her spine had returned. “And you’d be wrong. That wouldn’t be smart on my part. I need to do better for Wren. Sharing a bed with you just down the hall from our kids wouldn’t be showing them a good example.”
She needed to pull away, put space between him, but his grip on her hair kept her close.
Stone snorted. “Think Sunny don’t know about sex?”
“You explained the birds and the bees to her already?” She was only ten!
His eyebrows pinched together. “Birds and bees? Fuck no. Her whole life she’s been around people with no problem showin’ their whole ass. Includin’ her mother.”
“You, too?”
“And me. She knows sex is a part of life. Don’t mean she’s allowed to have it ’til she’s thirty, but she ain’t dumb about it. No reason to keep her in the dark ‘bout somethin’ that’s parta human nature.”
She pushed a hand against his chest. “Can you release me?”
“I can, but we ain’t fuckin’ done here.” His dark eyes traced every line of her face before dropping to her chest.
When one side of his mouth pulled up, she knew exactly why.
Once again, her body betrayed her. It tried to convince her that giving him what he wanted wouldn’t be a bad thing. Her brain was screaming otherwise.
Her ex-husband not only broke her heart but tried to break her.
She had no doubt the man offering himself up to her was far, far more dangerous than Vic.
Taking care of his daughter was one thing. “Taking care” of Sunny’s father was quite another.
“Ain’t gotta be a big thing. Could simply be a mutual scratchin’ of itches.”
“If you have an itch, I’d suggest going to a doctor. It could be a contagious rash and you wouldn’t want it to spread.”
“I need to prove to you how much you want me?”
“No. I can simply tell you if you need to hear it.” She was afraid if he kissed her again she’d self-combust.
“You lie a lot?”
He released her hair but before she had a chance to put space between them so she could think straight, he planted his hands on her ass and pulled her even closer. She swore the heat from his palms would leave scorch marks behind.