Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“Dinner’s ready!”
Skylar pulled back, startled, her eyes wide and panicked.
“Don’t,” I pleaded.
She scrambled off my lap and ran down the hall. The slam of her door echoed in the house.
I dropped my head into my hands.
What had I just done?
I slunk into the kitchen, silent. Sean glared at me. “What did you do?”
I shook my head.
“What. Did. You. Do.”
“I kissed her.”
He slammed down the plate he was holding. “She’s not one of your one-night stands, Cian.”
“I know that.”
“What is she?”
I looked at him, bewildered. That was the million-dollar question.
“She’s more.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“I don’t know, Sean. I just don’t know.”
“You’d better fucking figure it out. This is a dangerous game you’re playing.”
We were nose to nose, neither of us willing to give an inch. Skylar walked into the room, stopping when she saw us.
“Wow, testosterone overload in here. Break it up, boys.”
I stepped back and eyed her warily. She looked calm. Normal. Her hair was now swept up in a ponytail, and her face glowed, her skin slightly damp from being washed. She sniffed the air delicately. “Do I smell steak?”
Sean threw me one last glance and then smiled at her. “Yep.”
“Excellent. I need to get fueled up.”
“Oh?” he chuckled.
“I have to prove to this fuckwit I can take him in backgammon after dinner,” she teased as she walked past me, checking me with her hip.
“If you’re going to eat the checkers, I’m not playing with you,” I retorted, grateful she’d made the atmosphere lighter.
“Sean said he had jujubes. We can use red and black. I hate the black ones.”
I sat down with my plate and shot her a look. “So I get the red.”
She nodded.
Relieved she wasn’t acting strangely, I smiled. “Okay, you’re on.”
“Cian, may I have a drink of water?” Skylar asked as she studied the board.
We were tied—two games each—and this was the tiebreaker. She had actually behaved and was a good opponent. I hadn’t tried to talk to her or be affectionate with her. I let her set the tone and discovered she was in a teasing mood, calling me out often and talking trash, which made me laugh.
We were alone. After dinner, Sean had shoveled more snow then went to his room. I was pretty sure he had a call set up with Julia on his untraceable cell, and he was, no doubt, complaining to her about my behavior.
I grabbed a glass and filled it, placing it beside her. She took a sip silently. I hunched back over the board, already knowing my next move—the last one—and I would be the victor. I frowned. Something had changed. I looked again, then mentally counted the checkers. My move was missing.
“Skylar,” I growled softly.
“Hmmm?”
“Why am I two checkers short?”
She blinked at me innocently. “Are you?”
“I thought these were safe to use. You don’t like them.”
She grinned, a sly, sexy smile that lit up her face. “I don’t like the black ones.” Leaning over, she nipped another checker from the board, popping it in her mouth. “Red are my favorite.”
I glared at her. “I win.”
She stood. “If you say so.”
I caught her wrist and pulled her down to my lap. “I win, Skylar. Say it.”
Her voice was husky. “You forfeited.”
I bit back my smile. “I won. I had one last move, and you ate it.”
“Can you prove it?”
I wrapped my hands around her face and pulled her down, crashing my mouth to hers. She gasped, and I slid my tongue in, tasting the sweetness I knew I’d find. Her hands flew to my wrists, but instead of pulling me away, she held on tight, a low moan trembling in her throat. I pressed harder, dipping deeper, the kiss exploding in heat. I commanded her mouth, my tongue insistent and unyielding. I kissed her until I had to stop. I drew back, panting.
“Yes.”
“Yes, what?”
“Yes, I proved it. You taste like cherry—” I stroked her warm cheek “—and Skylar,” I added quietly. “It’s an incredible combination.”
Her eyes widened, and I dropped another soft kiss on her mouth. “Skylar,” I whispered. “Kitten…”
She pulled back, standing up and taking a step back. “I have to go to bed.” She took another step away from me. “Alone.”
I ran a hand through my hair in frustration, even though I knew she was right. I nodded at her.
She hesitated, and before I could react, her lips were on mine again, and this time, she was kissing me. Her mouth was sweet, hot, and addictive. The feel of her tongue against mine was erotic, and I groaned, attempting to pull her close. She backed away, looking sad.
Then she turned and fled.
Again.
Somehow, the soft click of her door seemed louder than the slam earlier.
My head fell to my chest.
I was so fucked.
Chapter 8
Cian
I didn’t sleep well, tossing and turning all night. All I could think of was Skylar. How it felt to hold her, to kiss her. I tried to make sense of these strange feelings she brought out in me, but I couldn’t. More than once, I opened my laptop and checked on her. Her light was on all night, and she seemed as restless as I was, sitting up in bed, staring blankly, or sitting in the chair with a book she didn’t seem to be reading. I was tempted to go in and talk to her, but I wasn’t sure what I could say.