Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
“You’re different,” Slade said, lifting our joined hands. “What changed?”
“I don’t know, really, but it’s easier that you know, and you weren’t judgy about it,” I said, truthfully. Maybe relief was a better way to describe it. Everything inside me felt like I belonged right here, at least for right now. Maybe this relationship was the new beginning to propelled me into more. It didn’t feel overwhelming like it had twenty-four hours ago.
“You don’t have animals to feed?” Slade said, softly, carefully. No accusation in his tone.
“I do, they just aren’t mine,” I said, rolling my head his direction. “I volunteer. I’d like to have an animal refuge. They shot Wildflower while I was unconscious. I’d’ve done my best to rehab her, keep her safe until the end of her life.”
Slade’s hand squeezed mine.
“What about Natalie?” The question was asked so vaguely, that I wasn’t sure what he wanted to know. I answered the only way I knew how. To just talk about her.
“I met Natalie in first grade. She declared that we’d be married someday. That was just how she was. I couldn’t ask for a better friend. Her family was abusive—best way to say it. She knew I was gay and never uttered a single word to anyone.”
“Not even Lori?” Slade asked, his gaze moving to mine.
“Why do you say it like that?” I asked.
“Max told me that Lori thinks you’re gay. Did Natalie drop that clue?”
What a way to put two and two together. I’d never heard anyone say anything like that where I was concerned.
“Don’t answer that. I feel you becoming defensive.”
“You think you know me?” I popped off because I didn’t want that revelation about my identity to be true.
Slade’s grin was immediate, and he rose to be better able to look down at me. The teasing glint in his expression only gave me a few seconds to adjust my position enough to let him come down on top of me. “I think I’m learning about you.”
At least on my end, it was a playful attempt to wrestle until I was better on the sofa.
“I know you,” I said, my head resting on the soft cushion, staring up at Slade who did his best to lie half on me without falling off the couch. His gaze never left mine. “Local boy who made it big. You mentioned your mom had breast cancer and you found this place through that other famous dude that lives somewhere around here,” I said.
“You did pay attention,” Slade said, caressing his free hand up the side of my face until his fingers pushed that unruly lock of hair off my forehead. “The friend’s Austin Grainger. He wants me to come see his place and talk.”
“He makes movies too?”
“Yeah. He owns a production company. It’s done well,” Slade said, lifting enough to place a kiss on my lips. “You should come with me…”
“No.” His strong hand covered my mouth before I said anymore.
“It’s a secluded farm, NDA’s are required, no one will see you, and we can go as friends.” As he spoke, he began shaking his head yes, urging me to go. “It’s in a couple of weeks, enough time to schedule help at work…”
“We’ll see, but get off me,” I teased. “We don’t fit on this love seat.”
“I like being close to you,” he said and leaned in to press a kiss on my lips again. “Wanna go to bed?”
“I didn’t ever ask you. You sure you aren’t tired of havin’ me here every single night?” No words were necessary with the extreme look of aggravation on Slade’s face as he pushed to his feet, bringing me up with him.
“I’ve had a perfect week. You’re charming and gor—”
“Literally no one has ever called me charmin’ before.”
“Well, they’ve missed the best part of you,” Slade said, holding on to my hand as he started around the sofa to the bedroom.
“Another thing about you? You’re regularly full of shit.” We both laughed at the abrupt way I used in the takedown. “You say you’re hardcore, but all I see is a romantic. I haven’t been around one before,” I said, walking a pace or two behind Slade. He wore vintage Levi’s that encased his ass into a thing of beauty. My cock plumped as I tucked my lips between my teeth.
“I’ll give you part of that. I like spending time with you. I’m sickeningly sweet on you. It’s not normal for me,” Slade said. At the doorway of his bedroom, he stopped, urging me inside the room before him. “I’m going to shut everything down. You go to bed. I’ll let you sleep.”
My brows knitted together. “I’m good to go if you want me.”
Slade took a step backward. “I’m trying to prove to myself that I can go without sex every day. I like other things about you. If we’re going to have an actual relationship, I need you to get inside the bed and fall asleep before I get back here.”