Series: Cobalt Empire Series by Krista Ritchie
Total pages in book: 234
Estimated words: 226965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1135(@200wpm)___ 908(@250wpm)___ 757(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 226965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1135(@200wpm)___ 908(@250wpm)___ 757(@300wpm)
“I don’t mind,” I confirm. “I’m just processing. I thought we agreed the Wednesday Night Dinner strategy wouldn’t work.” We know this is the one night most of his brothers vacate the apartment, but if Ben called in sick or made an excuse about needing to miss dinner, it’d just trigger their concern and make them rush back here to check on him.
“That was before I had Beckett to reinforce my alibi.”
“Which is?”
“I’m studying for a Marine Biology exam.” He waves a hand toward me. “My study partner just showed up though, so I might get distracted. But who can really blame me?” His eyes drink me in, and a flush ascends my neck.
I can’t hide my smile. “So this is official? It’s real?”
“Fisher, I did not just light fifty candles for fun.”
I take a step forward and stop. “Um…can I use the bathroom real quick?” I motion toward the one down Eliot and Tom’s hallway.
“Yeah.” He nods, and I try not to run.
When I shut the door, I go into full-on freak-out mode. I sniff my pits. Fine. But they surely don’t smell like pine and mint. I pull at the waistband of my plaid pants and check which underwear I have on today. OhmyGod. I’m wearing my ugly undies. The ones I wear the day before wash. They were once white. Now they’re a shade of orangish pink.
I remember there’s a hole in the crotch from over-washing them.
I should have thrown them out five hundred years ago!
Leaning into the sink, I tap my forehead lightly on the marble. Idiot. What do I do? Remove them? I didn’t bring my tote bag in here, so where would I even throw them? I could wrap them up in a wad of toilet paper and bury them in the little trash bin by the sink.
But what happens when Ben realizes I’m going commando underneath my pants. Isn’t that weirder than wearing old underwear?
My pulse races as I bring my palm up to my mouth and exhale. I can’t tell if my breath stinks. Maybe I should use some toothpaste. I’m sweating. I try to waft my shirt. That’s probably causing me to smell.
Why do I even care?
I haven’t thought too hard about “preparing” for sex with Ben before. I certainly never gave a shit with past hookups. But this is so far from meaningless sex. And now that I’m smack dab in the moment of it, all I want to do is make sure it’s right. Perfect.
There’s a soft tap on the door. “Harriet?” Ben asks. “You okay in there? Do you need anything?”
This is stupid. I shouldn’t be freaking out. It’s Ben. He’s put his fingers inside of me already. This shouldn’t be any different.
Still, my heart hammers in heavy thumps as I open the door. Ben has an elbow propped on the frame, filling the space in a casual confidence that is way too hot for this room.
I’m going to sweat.
His concern fills his blue eyes as he stares down at me. “What’s wrong?”
“I didn’t prepare for this,” I tell him. Honesty just pours out of me because he makes me feel comfortable enough to release the truth.
Realization washes over his face. “Do you…need to prepare?” His gaze does a full body examination, and I’m too turned on to even think clearly.
I just say, “I wore the wrong underwear.”
His lips lift into an amused smile. “What about them is wrong?” He’s staring at my crotch like he has X-ray vision.
Why is that so attractive? Why am I glowering? “They have holes,” I admit. “I was contemplating ditching them in the trash so you wouldn’t see them.”
His brows rise. “Holes in your panties sound convenient for tonight, Fisher.”
My lips part in arousal. “As enticing as that does sound, I’m really not looking forward to being fucked in the ugliest panties I own.”
He nods once. “Then take them off.”
His eyes don’t leave mine, and the way he says those words like they’re such a simple request quickens my breath in a heady need.
“Now?” I ask.
He nods again. “We have the entire apartment,” he reminds me. “Take off your ugly panties, Friend.”
I lick my dried lips. He’s going to watch me do this? That turns me on even more. Still filling the doorway, he watches me as I unbutton my red plaid pants.
Slowly, I shimmy them down, hooking my thumbs in my panties to lower them with my pants. It’s one movement, then I’m standing in nothing but my cropped tee and a pair of socks.
Ben doesn’t glance at my bare pussy. His eyes are on mine. “Better?” he asks.
I squeeze my legs together, wetness building between them. “Problem solved.”
“Good.” He crosses the threshold and grabs me by the ass, lifting me up around his waist so swiftly and effortlessly. Spreading my legs around him is different this time now that my lower half is nude and he’s shirtless. Can he feel how wet I am? My whole body thrums when his large palm slides against the back of my neck, his fingers threading my hair, and he cups my head in a protective, assertive grip. Then his mouth plants on mine in a scorching, ravenous kiss.