Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
“You see?” he whispers, his gray eyes searching my face. “You get it now?”
I nod. Although the lessons I’m learning aren’t the ones he intends—like that he’s ruining me for other guys. And that sexy, accidental DMs are my new favorite thing.
He reaches up and tugs on one of the ropes, freeing one hand. Then, still breathing hard, he frees the other one. “Can’t have you losing circulation,” he says, gathering my wrists and kissing one before the other. “Now, where was I?”
I don’t answer, but he doesn’t need me to. He drops down onto his elbows, between my legs. He whispers against my slicked skin as he pleasures me. Yes. Honey. Fuck. So beautiful.
It doesn’t take long until I’m gripping his hair and moaning his name. Pleasure drowns me, and I don’t ever want to come up for air.
Chapter 31
Not a Stupid Person (Usually)
Eric
Afterward, I fetch a damp washcloth from the bathroom and clean up the mess I made on Darcy. Then I pull the comforter over both of us and lie back, feeling spent and happy.
She doesn’t say much. But one of her hands finds my arm, and her fingers trace lazy circles on my skin.
My whole ruse—teaching Darcy a lesson—was just a lie, though. I’m the one who’s getting schooled this weekend. Every time she touches me, I practically lose my mind. I like her so much. Where has she been all my life?
I roll toward her and stick my nose in her hair. She smells like coconuts and sunshine. My heart rate slows down, and I relax as completely as I have in weeks. And I drowse like a cat in the sun.
“Eric,” she whispers eventually.
“Hmm?”
“The rehearsal is in a half hour.”
“Fuck.”
Her laugh is low and soft. “I don’t need you to go, but Maribel might.”
“I know,” I say, opening my eyes. “I’m not letting her down. I signed up for this.”
“As did I,” Darcy adds. “A whole weekend of family togetherness. What was I thinking?”
Rolling onto my back, I take her hand and massage the palm with my thumb. “Given the choice, I wouldn’t leave this room. Maybe ever.”
“Me neither,” she says. “Tessa is going to be very mad at me, I’m sure. Nobody can hold a grudge like she can. You know what bothers me most?”
I think it over. “That your father told Tessa we went out to lunch instead of to the hospital?”
She sits up. “You heard that, huh?”
“Yeah.” I press myself into a sitting position and admire the pink-cheeked, post-sex look on Darcy’s face. “I want to be sympathetic to your father’s troubles, but he makes it damn hard.”
“He does. But…” She hikes the sheet up over her breasts and frowns. “I let Tessa get to me today. She asked me a question—why did I even come to this wedding?”
“Did you have a choice?” I point out.
“Well, yes,” she says grumpily. “I could just distance myself from all of them. Why do I keep coming back for more? It’s kind of pathetic. I’m not a stupid person. Usually.”
“Baby.” The term of endearment has her glancing over at me. “There’s not one pathetic thing about you. Wanting your family to love you is not a weakness. That’s their job.”
She looks away again. “Then how come they’re so bad at it? I’ve always been, like, a second-tier family member. I’m annoyed with myself for getting repeatedly sucked into their drama.”
“So let’s not. If anyone gives us any crap tonight, we’ll just bail and watch a movie.”
“Or…” She gives me a flash of a smile. “At the first sign of trouble, we’ll steal a bottle of wine from the bar, put on our bathing suits, and find the hot tub.”
Trust Darcy to turn the fun up a notch. “You have the best ideas.”
“I know! Now, get ready for that rehearsal.” Her smile brightens, and she makes a shooing motion. “I’m going to need the bathroom all to myself while you’re gone. I desperately need a shower.”
“Uh-huh.” I lean in and kiss her neck. “And I’m feeling smug about that.”
“You should be.” She runs a gratuitous hand down my chest, which makes getting off this bed even harder.
But I do it anyway. “I’ll text you with an update from the rehearsal, so you can arrive just in time for cocktails. There’s no reason for you to sit around and watch people practice walking down the aisle.”
“I love this plan.” She gives me a happy smile, and I force myself to walk away.
Chapter 32
How Am I Supposed to Behave?
Darcy
Eric leaves, and I tidy up the bedroom, which means plucking a two-hundred-dollar tie off the pillow and gently smoothing the silk.
I can’t quite get over all the things we’ve done together. The ottoman. The necktie. The satin ropes around my wrists.
His gray eyes at close range, staring into mine as he comes.