Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 33979 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33979 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
Then I grab my lip gloss, slide it on, and open the door, only to come face to face with Toren.
“Jesus,” his voice whispers across my skin, a lot like my dress does, and now I’m even happier that I decided on it. It doesn’t demand attention—it invites it. And it clearly does something to the man standing in front of me with a look of desire flashing in his eyes while they devour me from head to toe. “You’re beautiful, cherry. I’m not sure I want to share you with the outside world tonight.” The tips of his fingers slide along my collarbone. My head tips, liking his words and his actions.
“You’re not so bad yourself, Toren. And as much as I’d love to stay in tonight, we do have to talk shop.” I somehow manage to get my head on straight instead of saying yes, please or begging him to pull the strings at my back that will have my dress dropping to my feet, and he can have a different type of meal.
“Always busting my balls, woman. Food, work, and then we’re shelving the rest of it for another time.” His work-roughened hand slides down my arm until he’s lacing our fingers together. “Anything else you need?” His tone of voice is testing the waters to see what I’ll say or whether I’ll take the bait.
“Just my purse.” I look to where Toren was sitting not long ago, remembering how settled he seemed. And already know what material I’ll be using when I’m alone in my room later tonight. “Thanks, I’ll just do a quick change of my purse.” He lets my hand go, and I instantly feel the loss. I do the transfer of things—wallet, phone, and keycard, along with my lip gloss are all the essentials I need.
“Ready?” he asks.
“I am. Thank you for waiting for me.” He opens the door for me, and I’m sure the inn keepers have taken notice that I’ve gone from coming and going by myself to a plus one, which means word is going to get around town. Hopefully, Toren doesn’t mind, especially since he’s kept everything under wraps thus far.
“Cherry, it’s only fair. You waited for me, and I made you wait a hell of a lot longer.” I’d look down at my phone if it weren’t tucked away and my other hand weren’t wrapped in his.
“I’m not so sure about that. I did, after all, have to come back out and clean up my mess.” We take the stairs, and it doesn’t go unnoticed by me the way Toren fills out a pair of jeans. The dark wash denim paired with a black button-down shirt and cuffs rolled to show off his muscular forearms. The man is hot, and he carries himself in a way that doesn’t make him come off arrogant, a nice change of pace to the usual type of men I’m around.
“It doesn’t matter. Would have waited longer, Indy.” We bypass the front desk. Thankfully, it’s empty.
“Oh, so you like delayed gratification,” I say with a teasing tone.
“Depends.” He shrugs his shoulder, we make it out of the door, and since the restaurant is around the corner, we bypass his truck and take a small stroll through town to get there.
“On?” Toren pulls me into a deserted alley, away from other people coming and going, and I’m caught staring into his eyes as I wait for a response.
“We going there, because I’m not holding back with you, cherry.” We’ve yet to talk about him potentially doing the gallery, but right now, that couldn’t be further from my mind.
“I don’t want you to hold back, Toren.” My hands slide up his chest, my palms meeting firm, solid muscle.
“Delayed in the sense of you naked and in my bed, I’ll take my sweet time. The pleasure will be worth the wait, no doubt about it. Everything else, patience is not my strong suit. That answer your question?” My thighs quiver, my nipples throb with need, and it’s all because of Toren.
“It does.” I hesitate for a moment before tacking on, “For now.” From there, we continue our journey, and as we reach the restaurant, my stomach starts to growl, reminding me that I missed a meal between now and breakfast.
8
Toren
“Here are your drinks. Your appetizers will be out shortly. Is there anything else I can get you?” the waiter asks us after delivering a beer for me and a lemon drop for Indy. I look at the woman sitting across from me to see if she needs anything. She gives me a quick shake of her head as she picks up the glass. Indy’s tongue slides along the rim, gathering the sugar, making my nostrils flare and my dick perk up.
“We’re good, thanks.” I need a drink of my own to keep my damn hands to myself.