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)
Every inch of his abs is defined. Every lean muscle is carved like he’s chiseled from marble.
Even the girl behind me teeters in her heels like his presence steals oxygen. Righting herself, she wiggles her toes in her heel, then bends over to adjust the ankle strap. “And there’s the worst offender.”
Huh?
Off my limited experience with the Cobalt boys, I wouldn’t have picked Beckett as the most arrogant. The most intense, definitely. Like right now. His yellow-green eyes are latched on her.
“And there’s the resident squatter,” Beckett says smoothly. “Or do you prefer the brat down the hall?” There is slight annoyance in the angles of his face. I’m guessing he does not like her.
She straightens up. “I prefer Joana Oliveira…from her.” She points to me. “From you—you can keep my name out of your mouth.”
“Then stop coming around to bother me, or I might start to think you enjoy being in my mouth.”
She begins to look at me, maybe to shut him out, but he’s compelling her attention too much. I get it. Cobalts seem to be proficient at catching and reeling. His hook is already in her.
“She’s a little young for you, don’t you think?” Joana asks him.
I stiffen, wishing I was actual wallpaper. There is an awkward beat, and I know I appear younger than my actual age, but come on.
Beckett frowns a little, then asks me, “How old are you?”
“Eighteen.”
“Right on the cutoff,” Joana raises her brows at him.
He glares. “She’s Ben’s friend,” he says, no coarseness in his silky tone. “And what are you still doing here?”
Annoying him, apparently. “Checking on the mattress on your back. The one you always lug around. Worn out and springy. Just concerned about the girls you’re breaking in on that old thing.”
“You still carrying one?” His voice is so sensual. “Or did you finally realize you’d prefer to be pounded from behind. By me.” Holy fuck.
I should not be standing between them right now.
She staggers on her heels again. “No.”
“No?” His gaze drips down her body.
“Hmmmm-no. In your dreams, Cobalt.” She nods to me. “Later, Ben’s friend.”
“Harriet Fisher,” I introduce.
She smiles at me, then walks backward toward the elevator and says, “My big brother is Charlie’s full-time bodyguard. Oscar Oliveira. And I’ve been staying, not squatting, at Oscar’s apartment.”
“Paid for by security,” Beckett tells me. “She’s squatting.”
Her smile spreads. “A girl’s gotta use her connections.”
I watch her go. She’s pretty badass.
Beckett stares at her all the way until she disappears into the elevator. Opening the door wider, he lets me inside the apartment. I see him subtly adjusting his junk over the towel, as if he’s trying to subdue a hard-on, and when he catches me staring, my face ignites.
He looks completely unaffected. Not angry, not remotely ashamed. Totally unbothered. It’s masculine big dick energy. He simply says, “Ben’s on the phone. He should be out soon.” He has a relaxed stride as he goes farther into the kitchen.
Beckett Cobalt is a mood.
He swipes a half-opened box of Lucky Charms off the marble counter just as Ben enters from a hallway.
“Hey, sorry,” Ben tells me, pocketing his phone in gray sweats. The action guides my eyes down toward his crotch. Lingering there because those pants reveal a fact I did not know. Ben is hung.
Oh my God, Harriet. I didn’t come here to torture my pent-up self. I came here for a place to crash—as in sleep.
He’s also shirtless. Staring at his cut biceps should be safer territory, but I just remember being held by him in the sanctuary of my car. The force of his caring embrace, and I ache to be wound up in Ben’s stronghold again.
Ben has a peeking smile, as if he can tell I’m attracted, but thankfully, he rolls over it to explain, “I was talking to MVU’s hockey coach. I’m trying out on Monday.”
I nod. “Glad you got off the seesaw, Friend.” I knew he’d been debating on trying out. I told him he can always reject the offer if he makes the team. And if they say no, then the choice is made for him anyway.
“Did you leave this out for her?” Beckett asks Ben, lifting the cereal. “Because I’m going to put it away if not.”
“No. Tom probably forgot to put it up.” Ben nods to me. “You hungry, Fisher?”
Beckett rattles the box of cereal.
“I’m good. I ate a ton of Twizzlers earlier.” I watch Beckett place the cereal in a very organized kitchen cabinet.
I ease at this normalcy and look around.
I’ve seen flashes of the apartment over video call. Being here is wildly different. I don’t know why I pictured Animal House with dirty hampers of laundry and empty beer bottles. This place is spotless and smells even better than the lobby.
So Joana was wrong. There is no foul stench. Just a really attractive musk-and-pine scent wafting off Ben. Especially as he nears.