Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
“Thank you,” I say, my arm finding Mira’s waist again. I pick up our two bags with my other hand. “Have a good night, Janice.”
“You too. And congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Adler.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Adler,” I whisper as we walk away. “That’s not something I ever thought I’d hear someone say to me.”
Mira looks over her shoulder. “You never thought you’d get married?”
I shrug. More like I never thought you’d ever marry me.
We take the elevator up, and given I expect Mira to step away from me, I’m surprised that she doesn’t. She might just be chilly and appreciate my body warmth next to her. But that little bloom of hope hasn’t quite been squashed. It still has a few petals fluttering through my stomach.
Once inside the room, Mira sighs as if the air has been waiting for a chance to break free.
“This is nice,” she says, shrugging off my jacket and placing it on a barstool. The stool faces a small kitchenette. “Look! Champagne.”
“I could use a drink.”
“Same.” She laughs, trying to take a bag from my hand. “Gimme.”
I snort, gently shrugging her off and carrying both into the bedroom. “My wife doesn’t carry bags.”
“Ooh. That’s a perk I didn’t expect.”
“I bet that you’ll find lots of perks you didn’t expect,” I say, grinning.
She leans against the door, stunning despite the truck ride. “What other things do I have to look forward to?”
“I’d say you’ll never get your own gas again, but I’m not sure that’s something new.”
“Hey!” She shoves me as I walk by her. “I get my own gas, thank you very much.”
“You don’t anymore.” I loosen my tie before removing it completely. “Do you want to go ahead and order food?”
She slides off her heels, wincing as her feet hit the carpet. “That and I want to get out of this dress.”
I’d love to help you with that. Her eyes flick to mine as soon as the words slip past her lips and it takes every bit of restraint that I have left to pretend I don’t see the heat in them. To pretend it doesn’t exist in mine.
If this were a random Thursday, and despite my attempts otherwise, we ran into each other in town and exchanged this look, there’d be a good chance we’d end up fucking before the night was over. But that only happens once every year or two, and it’s been far too long since we last attempted to satisfy my craving for her.
But this isn’t a random Thursday, and the rules aren’t the same. The guidelines she gave me explicitly said no sex. So, no sex is what she will get.
Even if it kills me. And it might.
“Go on and get situated,” I say, moving around the bar so she doesn’t see the outline of my cock in my pants. “I’ll order something. Do you want a menu? There’s probably one around here somewhere.”
Her cheeks turn a sexy shade of pink as she pivots to the bedroom. “No. Just get me something.”
“All right.”
I watch her ass move beneath the silk, and how the fabric gathers at the small of her back. It does nothing for the ache in my balls. Still, I watch her until she disappears around the corner of the bedroom.
“Fuck,” I hiss, finding the phone to order room service. I make the call without looking at the menu. “Hi, I’d like to order room service, please.”
“Good evening, Mr. Adler,” a voice greets me. “What may we have the pleasure of preparing for you tonight?”
“Two burgers. One with everything, and one with pickles and onions.”
“Great. Are fries okay? And what can we bring you to drink?”
I look up at the doorway to find Mira coming toward me. “Fries are great, and two Cokes, please.”
“We’ll be up shortly.”
“Thank you.” I place the receiver into the cradle. “You okay?”
Mira winces, turning her back to me. “I can’t unzip myself.”
Oh, hell.
I move behind her, placing one hand on her hip and the other on the end of the zipper sitting between her shoulder blades. She turns her head to watch me out of the corner of her eye, and I drag the zipper slowly down her back with my knuckles skimming her skin in its wake.
This is torture. Evil, really.
Every inch of exposed skin feels like a test of my self-control. My breaths come quick and shallow as she shivers against my touch on her bare skin.
“Thanks,” she whispers once I drop the zipper.
“Anytime.”
I think she smiles, but I’m not sure.
“What were you thinking?” I mutter to myself once she’s gone again. “This is a Brooks-level mistake. How are you going to sleep in the same room with her and not touch her?” I groan. “Fuck.”
It was hard enough, pun intended, watching her walk down the aisle toward me. Nothing prepared me for that visual, and it’s etched into my mind for eternity.