Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
I take one last look at him laughing with my family and then sneak into the hall that leads to Gabby’s mudroom. I need some fresh air. I’m out their back door in a flash, leaning up against the back of the house. I take a deep breath, listening to the frogs croaking in a nearby pond. My gaze moves up to the stars above me. They’re shining like small sparkling diamonds against a silky black background. I close my eyes, allowing myself a moment to just be … I’m not sure how long I’ve been out here. It doesn’t feel that long, but when I hear Caleb’s sexy, gravelly voice.
“What are you doing out here, Isolde?”
I give a half-hearted smile. He’s called me Izzy all night. I’ve hated my name my whole life but hearing him call me Isolde when we’re alone makes me feel warm all over. This man is so much trouble. I’ve wanted this kind of connection my whole life. I just never imagined I’d get it, and I didn’t want it from someone attached to a club. My whole life is turned upside down when he’s around and, as good as it feels, it also scares the living hell out of me.
“I just needed a little time alone,” I answer.
“Are you upset I came?” he asks.
“No. Besides, you performed a minor miracle making Aunt Beth’s food taste good. She was so proud tonight,” I say with a smile, remembering my aunt’s face as everyone was asking for seconds.
“I think they were asking for more to make her feel good, more than I performed a miracle. I just made it passable,” he says, downplaying how he changed the entire dish.
“Modest, too. Beau never told me what a miracle worker you are.”
“Well, she doesn’t know me as much as you do.”
“We’ve barely spent time together,” I point out.
“Quality over quantity, but we talk every night, Isolde. It may just be over the phone and through texts, but we’ve been together a lot. Even you can’t deny that—no matter how much you’re dying to.”
“I told you, C. I’m not looking for a relationship. You obviously are,” I rebut. My heart squeezing painfully in my chest with the words.
“First, I’m off-limits because I’m a player with too many women, and now I’m off-limits because I’m looking for a relationship. Your brain must be exhausting, baby.”
“You have no idea,” I mutter, more to myself than to him.
“How about you quit worrying about shit and we just take this day by day? We had a plan for this weekend, and I swear, Isolde, if I have to chain you to the hotel bed, it’s still happening.”
“Chain me?” I laugh. “I’m not one of your club bunnies, Caleb. I’m not going to agree to every kink you have. As for spending the weekend in a hotel with you. It could still happen, or I could develop a very big … headache.”
“Oh, it’s going to happen. You try to back out and I’m going to spank your ass so red that you won’t be able to sit down for a week.”
“I think you already promised that,” I purr, a sweet shiver that is filled with memories from that particular discussion moves through me, settling inside of me. I can feel moisture gathering against my panties.
“Fuck,” C growls under his breath. The word is more vibration than verbal, and I feel it from my head to the tips of my toes.
Before I understand what is happening, he leans down, pushes his shoulder into my stomach, throwing me over his shoulder. “What are you doing?” I squeal. Seriously, I squeal. I’m not the type of girl to do that.
“I’m going to give you what we both want,” he practically growls.
“Let me down right this minute!” I hiss, trying to ignore the excitement that’s thrumming through me.
He moves us quickly around the house. I’m cursing him constantly in a hoarse whisper. At the same time, I’m trying to wage a war on my body. I’m ridiculously turned on right now, and that’s the last thing I need or want. I have to keep my head on straight when it comes to Caleb. I hear the sound of a door opening. I try to look around, but the only true view I have is of Caleb’s ass—which is a fucking fantastic view, but not one my overly hormone-charged body needs at this moment.
I hear a door slam behind us, and the area around us is plunged into total darkness. I hear his hand slapping against something solid. He does it a couple of times and then finally light floods out from above us. He helps me slide down his body and stand on my own two feet. It’s something I’m grateful for, but I’d like it better if he didn’t keep his firm hold on my hip—not allowing me to escape. I know at once we’re in Gabby and King’s garage. There’s a couple of old, worn leather recliners where we’re standing, and then out from that is a table and a contraption that I can’t begin to either truly describe or understand. I look down at my feet and we’re standing on what at first looks like astroturf. As I continue to take in the area, I notice it’s like an outdoor carpet. I blink. I know this had to be here before Gabby and King moved in. Gabby would totally paint the concrete some type of color rather than have the carpet. I just keep staring down at it, though. I find myself wondering if King wanted it out here. It’s possible, after all it only goes about ten feet wide and ends with black and gray stained cement where currently King’s truck and Gabby’s SUV are parked.