Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
“I need to finish writing a paper,” I say, setting my jaw. “Then I have to research child abuse law and make notes so I can write another paper. Then I need to study for exams.” I take a breath. “And after I’ve done all that, I was going to wax my legs. Satisfied?”
He furrows his brow. “Why do you wax your legs when the only guy who sees them comes to town twice a year?”
“Sometimes three times,” I snap. “And I don’t need to justify my leg-waxing routines to you. So get dressed and go do some movie star things, like, I don’t know, golfing or staring at your reflection in store windows.”
His answering laughter sounds like honeyed sandpaper. “Is that what you think movie stars do?”
“I don’t care what you do,” I growl, starting to grow annoyed. “I just want you to go away. My schoolwork requires silence.”
“So I’ll be quiet.” He shrugs and directs his attention back to the sports highlight reel on TV.
It takes all my willpower not to pull my own hair out by the roots. What does he want from me? Obviously not sex, considering he hasn’t touched me since last night.
“You’re seriously not going to leave?” My voice is a cross between a squeak and a groan, with another growl thrown in for good measure.
His blue eyes never leave the screen. “Nope.”
“But…I…you…” I groan irritably. “Just keep the volume down!”
Spinning on my heel, I storm into my bedroom and curse myself for not being strong enough to physically throw him out. As I get dressed, I hear him chuckling from the other room.
13
Ben
Because I’ve taken a vow of silence, I spend most of the afternoon fighting back laughter and watching TV with the volume off and the captions on. In the dining room, Maggie sits at the table, typing away on her laptop and stopping every now and then to rustle through the pages of a textbook the size of an encyclopedia.
She’s been working for hours, her eyes glued to the monitor, her fingers on the keyboard. And the way she keeps biting her bottom lip in concentration makes me want to walk over there and capture that pouty lip with my teeth.
I’m not really sure why I’m forcing my presence on her, especially after last night. If any other woman had grumbled that much about the idea of fucking me, I would’ve just said goodbye and moved on. So why am I still here?
I don’t know if pursuing a woman who views sex as a complication is even worth the hassle. I mean, I have nothing against playing hard to get, but in Maggie’s case, it goes beyond a coy little game. Under normal circumstances, I’d pass on the challenge and focus my energy on a woman who actually wants to be around me, but there’s nothing normal about this situation. Or about Maggie.
Since I’ve met her, I’ve barely thought about the scandal hanging over my head, or the fact that reporters are camped outside my home. Thanks to this infuriating woman, I’ve managed to think about something other than my own troubles, and I kind of want to hang on to that liberating feeling for a while longer.
“You should take a break.” I speak before I can help it, hoping Maggie won’t reprimand me for breaking my oath of silence.
“I just have to write my conclusion,” she says without turning around. She taps a few keys with her fingers. “Give me a sec.”
I try to tell myself I’m not thinking of my own needs as I rise from the couch and walk toward her. Instead, I focus on the fact that Maggie has been working for five hours straight without so much as a bathroom break.
Standing behind her, I place my hands on her shoulders and start rubbing the knot between her shoulder blades. She flinches for a second and then leans into my massaging fingers, sighing softly.
“See, you need a break,” I chide. “You’re so stiff.”
And boy, do I know what stiff feels like. Although the material of her long-sleeved shirt is woven from thick cotton, I can feel the heat of her skin underneath my fingertips. From there, my mind plays a torturous game of What other parts of her body are hot? Her breasts? Her thighs? Her—
“I can feel your boner poking against my back, by the way.” The chair’s backrest leaves a gap between her lower back and shoulders, and she wiggles her tailbone against my growing erection.
“So?” I drawl.
“So it’s not appropriate.”
I roll my eyes, wondering what she’d say if she knew I wasn’t wearing anything under my jeans. Tomorrow I’ll need to buy some new clothes, but until then I’m going commando.
Actually, she probably wouldn’t even blink if she knew that. Why would she? This chick is neither easily affected nor impressed.