Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 141556 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 708(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141556 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 708(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)
“What? No.” She takes a step toward him. There’s a mixture of concern and fear in her eyes. What the hell is going on between them? “I’m here for Saint’s party. I didn’t even know you were coming.”
“Sure you didn’t.” His laugh is bitter rage if it were a sound. “Y’all are one big happy family now. Must be nice. Knowing who you are. Where you come from.”
“Kade—” Sawyer starts, but Kade cuts him off.
“I don’t need a damn lecture. I’m fine. I didn’t come to cause trouble, only to wish the birthday girl well.” Even as he speaks his gaze remains on Allie, like she’s the only person in the room. I can’t tell if he wants to strangle her, or kiss her to death.
Everyone can feel it. The rage barely contained under Kade’s skin.
“Happy Birthday, Saint.” Kade turns his attention to me. I’ve made it closer to the pair of them now, no doubt showing all my confusion on my face. I don’t miss the forced smile on his lips. The way he looks like he’s uncomfortable in his own skin.
“Thank you, and it’s nice to see you.” I try to smile in return.
“Same. I’ve got some shit to do so I’ll be on my way.”
“You just got here,” Levi mumbles.
“You sure you can’t stay for a piece of cake?” Calder asks, his eyebrow raised.
“Nah. I’ve never been one for sweets. Thanks for the offer though.” He turns toward the door, and then pauses. He looks back at Allie over his shoulder, then shakes his head and walks out slamming the door behind him.
Everyone exchanges glances, but no one knows what to say.
Allie’s staring at the closed door, her face pale, and hands trembling.
What the hell is going on?
Soon enough conversations pick back up, but there’s not missing the way her gaze keeps drifting back to that door. How she wraps her arms around herself like she’s cold. Something’s happening between them. Something complicated and dangerous. As much as I’ve come to accept Kade as my brother-in-law, he’s the last person I would trust to be with my best friend.
I suppose that’s a problem for another day.
I take a couple of plates into the kitchen and set them in the sink. On my way back out into the living room, Calder finds me. He’s got a mischievous smirk on his face that promises all kinds of trouble. With his hand on the small of my back he leads me into the pantry.
“What are you—”
He cuts me off with a kiss, pressing me back against shelves lined with canned goods and dry pasta. The door clicks shut behind us, muffling the sounds of the party.
“Calder,” I whisper against his mouth. “Everyone’s right outside.”
“I know.” His hands slide down my sides, and hook into the waistband of my jeans. “And I’m not even the least bit sorry. You look so fucking beautiful. I couldn’t help myself.”
“We can’t. Not with—”
“Shh.” He drops to his knees in front of me, and my breath catches. “You can be quiet, can’t you sweet girl?”
I rest my hands on his shoulders, and I’m torn between pushing him away and pulling him closer. “We shouldn’t.”
“Probably not.” He unbuttons my jeans and slides them down just enough. “But you’re going to let me because you want it as bad as I do. Don’t you?”
Dammit. There’s no point in denying it.
“Tell me, sweet girl.”
“Yes,” I whisper.
“Yes, what?”
“Yes, I want you to eat me out.”
“Of course you do.” He grins, and pulls my panties aside. The first touch of his tongue makes my knees buckle.
“God,” I gasp, my fingers tangling in his dark hair.
He holds me steady with one hand on my hip and the other on my thigh. The position is awkward, cramped in this small space, but he works me with devastating precision.
I bite down on my fist to muffle the sounds trying to escape. The party continues just beyond the door. Voices and laughter. My father’s quiet conversation with Elena. Allie’s bright energy. And here I am, pressed against pantry shelves while Calder Bishop devours me like a starving man.
It’s wrong. It’s reckless. It’s so perfectly us that I almost want to laugh.
Sensing that I need more, he adds two fingers, and the combination makes stars burst behind my eyelids. I pull at his hair, trying to anchor myself to reality, but he just groans against me and doubles his efforts.
“Calder,” I breathe. “I can’t—I’m going to—”
He pulls back just enough to murmur, “Fuck yes, come for me, sweet girl.”
That’s all it takes. The orgasm crashes into me hard, and I have to press my hand over my mouth to keep from crying out. He works me through it, gentling his touch as the waves subside, until I’m left trembling and breathless against the shelves.
Slowly, he rises from his knees and helps me pull my jeans back up with steady hands. My legs feel like water. My face is flushed, my hair mussed. Anyone with eyes will know exactly what we were doing.