Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
I have to bite the inside of my lip to keep myself from laughing. “Okay. I’ll allow it,” I reply, doing my best impression of royalty.
He chuckles and hops off the bike, offering me his hand. I don’t hesitate. I take it, and the moment I feel his rough calluses against my palm, my stomach tightens, and I feel myself starting to blush again. He holds my hand as we cross the parking lot and walk up the stairs, then holds the door for me like he did last night.
“Such a gentleman,” I tease, trying not to let it show just how much his moves are working on me.
“I may not look like one”—Slate shrugs with a chuckle—“but looks can be deceiving.”
Without shame, I eye him up and down and do my best impression of a guy’s face when he thinks a girl is hot. “I sure hope not.”
Slate bursts out laughing as I step past him and enter the diner. It’s cozy and retro, like something out of the '50s, and filled with the smells of hamburgers, fried food, and coffee. A few people sit at the counter, and a jaded-looking waitress barely gives us a glance before gesturing to the booths.
“Any open one is fine, dears.”
Slate leads me to one in the back and slides in first. I really want to sit beside him and show the whole diner that I am here with him, but it’s probably too soon to do that, so I just take the seat across from him. As we settle in, I’m suddenly aware of just how nice this feels.
It’s not some fancy restaurant, but it’s romantic.
I feel like Slate and I are already boyfriend and girlfriend.
I’m blushing again and quickly hide my face behind a menu. There aren’t that many items to choose from, but I don’t want him to see that I’m actually nervous around him, so I just keep holding it there, hiding from him.
“You gonna pretend you’re reading the whole time we’re here?” he asks, calling my bluff.
I peek at him over the top of the laminated sheet. “I’m deciding.”
He smiles and leans back, slips out of his jacket to expose his muscled arms ready to tear out of his T-shirt. He’s so confident, so at ease. Talk about being an alpha male. “Let me guess,” he says. “Vanilla milkshake with extra whipped cream and a cherry, French fries and…” his eyes narrow as though studying me. “Nope, that’s it.”
My jaw drops. “What the hell–?”
“It’s just a skill I have, Ivy.” He smiles, plucking the menu from my hands and placing it back in its basket. “I can read people. Know exactly what it is they want.”
A slow, prickling warmth spreads through me, tickling my entire body with a thrilling touch. “Stop it,” I tell him. “No one can read someone that well.”
Slate shrugs and raises his eyebrows in response. “I can.”
If any other guy behaved like this, it would annoy me. But when Slate does it, it’s exciting, almost in a dangerous way. Like he’s reading my mind and knows just what I’m thinking.
And if that’s the case, I’m in big trouble…
“Yeah?” I lean forward, challenging him with my eyes. “So what else do I want? You forgot something.”
Slate holds my gaze, heating the moment with his eyes. I can’t help but wonder if he’s all bulged up under the table like he was back at my dad’s shop.
“You sure you want me to answer that, Ivy?” he asks. I draw a deep breath and run my tongue across my lower lip.
Do I? I’m inviting him into my world now.
Something I should not be doing.
“Yes,” I finally reply. “Yes, I do.”
“Okay, then,” Slate says, leaning closer, so close I’m having a hard time keeping my eyes off his lips. I’ve never been kissed before, but I’m wondering what his feels like. What his naked body would feel like against mine. I’ve never had thoughts like this before in my life, but now I’m losing myself in them.
Keeping his voice low, he says, “You want me to take you out back, pull your pants down to your ankles, and take your virginity against the wall of this diner.”
I freeze.
Who is this guy? David Blaine? Seriously, is he some kind of magician or something?
There’s no use in trying to hide it now. I’m blushing like crazy. Red like a tomato. And Slate is smirking, which means he sees it, but more than that, he knows what he just said was right.
“How did you know I was a virgin–?”
“Know what you want yet?” the jaded-waitress barks, stepping up beside the table. She looks like she’s just worked a double and was called back for another shift.
I nearly jump out of my seat, but Slate isn’t bothered at all. He smiles charmingly and orders for the both of us as I take deep breaths and try to get my heart rate under control. Once she’s out of hearing range, I open my mouth to speak but realize I have no idea what I want to say.