Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
“No, I think a bedtime is a good idea for you every night.”
“That seems unfair,” she grumbled. “What is my bedtime?”
“Ten.”
“Ten?” She gasped so dramatically that she nearly fell off the counter.
He picked her up and carried her out of the bathroom. Then he headed toward the stairs.
“I thought that was quite generous. I could make it earlier if you like.”
“No, no, ten is fine,” she said hastily.
At her door, he hesitated. “Is it all right if I enter your bedroom?”
They were really doing this, huh?
Was he planning on staying the night?
“Yes. But I need to tell you that if you’re wanting sex I don’t think I can tonight because I’m not ready and . . . and . . . I’m not really that experienced.”
Chapter Twenty-One
I’m not really experienced.
For a moment he wasn’t certain that he’d heard her correctly.
“What do you mean, not experienced?”
She flinched. Shit.
“Fuck. Let me . . .” He carried her into her bedroom and sat on the chair in the corner of the room. Then he arranged her so she was facing him on his lap.
“Um.” She squirmed on his lap. “I’ve only had sex once when I was eighteen and it wasn’t very good. I don’t really know what I’m doing. Is that a problem? I get it if it is. If you were expecting someone experienced, well, I’m not it. Sure, I’ve read some books and stuff. But I guess that’s no replacement for the real thing. For the humpity-humpities. For the banging of uglies. For the carrot going into the hole. For the—”
He placed his hand over her mouth.
“Ohthankgod,” she mumbled.
He took his hand away.
“I thought you were going to let me keep talking,” she said with a sigh of relief.
“Listen to me.” He cupped her face between his hands. Probably so he could stop her from talking again if he needed to.
Smart man.
“I’m listening.”
“I don’t care if you have experience or not. But I want to make sure you’re all right with us having sex if that’s where things go.”
“I’m attracted to you. I want you. So yes, I am. Because I know you will look after me.”
“Always,” he murmured, leaning forward to kiss her lightly as his hands dropped to her hips.
The kiss deepened, his tongue sliding between her lips to play with hers. To tease. She wrapped her hand around the back of his neck, driving her hips forward in an attempt to find some sort of friction.
More.
She wanted more.
“Easy, baby,” he murmured. “We’re not doing anything tonight.”
“Why not?” she grumbled.
“Because I want to know that you’re really sure. Which means taking at least tonight and tomorrow to make certain of this. Then we’ll move forward.”
She pouted, but his face just grew stern.
“For now, you need to know the rules. And we have to talk about your limits.”
Oh. Yeah.
Yikes.
“Why don’t you get ready for bed and I’ll check on Wyatt and close up the house.”
Casey chewed her lip. “Will you tell him? About us?”
“No,” he said sharply.
She veered away from him.
“Sorry.” He ran his hand over his face. “He’s just a kid and I don’t want him to get confused about why you’re here. He might think you’re going to stay or that I’m trying to take you from him or something like that.”
Or that she was trying to replace his mama. Casey nodded. “I think that’s smart.”
“You do?” he asked, sounding surprised. “I thought that might have offended you.”
Casey shook her head. “I don’t want to upset Wyatt. He’s my friend. I don’t want him to think I’m trying to replace Elise.”
Jeb looked relieved as he nodded. Then he set her on her feet. “Be back in a moment.”
For a long while she just stood there. Then she realized that she had to move. She rushed into the attached bathroom to get ready.
When she finished she headed back into the bedroom and climbed onto the large bed.
This room was so cozy and sweet with the quilted bedspread in cheerful green, red, and cream. The big, overstuffed velvet armchair in blue.
And a green-and-cream-colored rug on the floor. It should have been too much together. Yet it all kind of worked.
Should she get Mr. Pickles out? She kept him in the closet during the day. Not that she thought anyone would come in here and see him. And even if they did, they probably wouldn’t say anything.
Feeling nervous, she reached into the nightstand and grabbed a lollipop. A hit of sugar always made her feel better.
She popped a strawberry-flavored one into her mouth and let out a small sigh of pleasure.
“What do you think you are doing?” Jeb demanded as he walked into the room.
Casey jumped in surprise, then drew it out of her mouth. “Nothing. Why?”
“Do you think it’s a good idea to have sugar before bed? After you’ve brushed your teeth?”