Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 104403 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104403 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Her laugh ran over his bare skin, making goose bumps rise. “Nah, think I’ll hold off the booze. Not much of an early morning drinker. And I’ve already had three cups of coffee. Better not have any more unless you want me to vibrate out of here.” She sat, bouncing a little as though testing the comfort of his couch. “Um, take your time. I can wait while you get dressed or whatever.”
So, she found his half-naked state distracting, did she? He raised an eyebrow.
“Or not. It’s your house. Of course. You can do whatever you’d like.” Beth let out a tense laugh, then rolled her eyes. “Oh my God, I’m rambling. Sorry. I just… I kinda didn’t expect to see you again so soon after last night.”
Her cheeks turned pink.
“And then this morning happened and…”
“And Copper found out we fucked around last night?”
Her eyes nearly fell from their sockets. “What? No! No, no, no. God no. I’m pretty sure I would have had to knock him over the head with a frying pan to beat him here if that were the case.”
He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t relieved as hell. “So then what’s all this about?”
Beth cleared her throat and angled so she could see him where he sat on the opposite end of the couch. “I told him about Jason. The whole story about Jason.”
“Ahh. And now, Pres knows I kept it from him.”
Biting her lower lip, she nodded. “I’m so sorry, Saint. I made sure he knew I basically forced you to go along with my plan.”
“You didn’t need to do that, Beth. I made my choice, and I stand by it. Copper was always going to find out, and my actions were always going to bite my ass. But I don’t regret it.”
She groaned. “Saint…”
“No, babe, stop feeling guilty. You must feel better now that it’s out there.”
She thought about it for a second, then nodded. “I do, for the most part. Still have to talk to my mom about it, but Copper and I had a good chat. It helped.”
“I’m glad. I’m also relieved as fuck he didn’t find out about last night.”
“Ha. Yeah.” Her weak laugh sounded through the quiet room right before his attention went back to his bare chest. He could feel her gaze like a caress, tracing all the tattoos he’d collected over the years. As he sat there under her intense perusal, growing harder by the second, he could only think one thing.
Why the fuck didn’t I put a shirt on while I had the chance?
***
THE MAN WAS sexier than any one man had the right to be, and he wasn’t even trying. He didn’t have to do a damn thing but sit there shirtless for her body to react. Like last night, her nipples tightened to stiff peaks, and the lace of her bra was suddenly unbearable against the sensitive tips. Heat pooled low in her belly, and she had to fight the urge to press her thighs together as her pussy clenched around nothing, remembering the talented way his fingers had filled her. Her palms tingled with curiosity over the way his smooth, warm skin would feel as she ran them all over his body. Even breathing became difficult. She had to fight to keep her inhales and exhales steady instead of panting over the sight of his naked chest.
Beth had obviously been turned on before. She’d slept with a handful of men over the years, some of them great experiences, some mediocre, and in the last year, quite dreadful, but she’d never experienced this soul-rattling level of raw desire. The longing felt more like an unrelenting prickle expanding beneath her skin. The kind that couldn’t be ignored without going mad. If he didn’t touch her to appease that itch, she’d go out of her mind with need.
Which meant she might end up in a padded room because nothing could happen. They could not cross that line again, not after her conversation with Copper this morning. Saint’s involvement with her already jeopardized his standing in the club. They could not make it worse.
And yet, the need persisted. Hell, it grew with every second in his presence.
She blew out a slow breath as she fought to come up with something to break the awkward silence. “I like your ink.”
Great, Beth, point out how you’re staring at his delectable chest.
He glanced down at his torso. “Thanks. Izzy did ninety percent of it.” As he spoke, he rubbed a hand over the muscular plane of his chest where multiple tattoos resided. The temperature in his house spiked at least fifteen degrees.
“And the last ten?”
His expression could only be described as a half smirk, half cringe. “My buddy did them from his garage when we were eighteen and high.”
She snickered as she winced. “Ah, back when you were making really good choices.”