Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107376 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107376 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
His jaw drops, looking offended as he sits up and gapes at me in outrage. “You called an Uber?”
A laugh rumbles up my throat as my feet hit the hardwood floor. “You were sleeping,” I say, slipping my phone into the back pocket of my jeans and double-checking I have everything I came with. “I didn’t want to wake you.”
“Always wake me.”
“I’ll know better for next time.”
“Next time?” he questions, getting to his feet and capturing my arm before pulling me back against him, my chest colliding against his strong torso. “When exactly is that going to be? And don’t tell me after some other guy pisses you off.”
I grin, and he grabs my ass, hauling me into his arms. Instinctively, I lock my legs around his waist as he starts walking me back up the hallway. “If you’re going to fuck me like you did last night, then every night I have is yours.”
“Is that so?”
“Oh yeah.”
“I’m gonna hold you to that.”
“I hope you do.”
We make it to the door and he kisses me once before settling me back on my feet, and as he opens the door, a wave of hesitation washes through me. I’d give anything to stay here, to spend my day wrapped in his arms and letting him do all kinds of nasty things to me, but I’m also not that desperate girl who’s going to fall head over heels in love with some guy she only just met. Besides, what if he has skeletons in his closet that I’m not nearly ready to discover?
Smooch comes to the door to say goodbye and thoroughly assaults me with sloppy kisses. Once I’m finally able to break free, I hurry out the door, knowing without a doubt that I’m going to be late. Though it’s not like it matters. I’ll be the only one there, but I like to get everything done before the girls come in for their shift so I can help open the bar for the day.
Fridays and Saturdays are our wild nights. We open early and don’t close until four in the morning. That’s the crowd taking wet pussy shots and grinding on the dance floor until the lights come on. Sundays are a little more relaxed. We still get a lot of people through the door, but it’s a different crowd. Sunday bargoers are a little older than the wild-night crowd, a little more sophisticated. They’re drinking dry whiskey and martinis on date night and heading out way earlier.
Sundays are great. Sundays are chill, and that’s exactly what I need after an almost sleepless night.
I get back to my apartment in no time and dive straight into the shower, standing under the hot water for way too long. I wash my hair and scrub the night off me, and knowing I’m racing against the clock, I reluctantly get out before tightening my towel around my chest.
Within the space of twenty minutes, my hair is dried, and I’m finally ready to get my ass to work. When I glance at the time, I realize there’s just enough time to walk. A smile settles on my lips, and I grab my camera, phone, and keys before hightailing it out of here.
It’s a nice day. The sun is high above the rows of towering apartment buildings on either side of the street, and it warms my face as I walk. It’s only a few blocks before the boring apartments start to thin out, and I hit the heart of Onyx Heights. As I walk, I’m snapping pictures of everything around me.
When my phone buzzes from my pocket, I let my camera swing from the strap around my neck and pull it out. As I read over the text, I can’t help but laugh.
Unknown: You have no fucking idea how hard it’s been not to text you, but now that you caved and were the one to come running to me, I don’t see why I shouldn’t take full advantage of having your number.
A stupid grin stretches across my face, and I type out a response.
Lyra: Bold of you to assume I wasn’t just bored. Besides, you say that like I won’t block you for fun.
Maddox: Savage. Always savage.
Lyra: Don’t forget it.
Lyra: Don’t be smug just because I showed up knocking on your door looking unstable. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Maddox: Damn. How you wound me, woman.
God. Why am I getting all stupid for this man? My stomach is doing flips while the grin plastered across my face doesn’t budge.
Lyra: Whenever you need an ego check, remember, I’ll be right here to put you back in place.
Maddox: Counting on it.
I snort a laugh and tuck my phone back into my pocket, but it buzzes again, and I pull it right back out, eager to see whatever stupid comment he made. I’m already rolling my eyes before I’ve even opened the text, only the moment I do, that good mood shatters like glass.