Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 74956 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74956 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
“But I will,” he promises, squeezing my fingers. “I’m so damned hard for you, Rem. Fair warning, I might not last long the first time.”
Before I can reply, I’m cut off by Barb’s manic barking, echoing down the hall long before Stone opens the door. As we step inside, a blur of rhinestones and elation rockets toward us, toenails clacking on the hardwood.
Stone gathers his tiny dog to his chest with one big hand, cooing as Barb licks his chin, literally trembling with happiness to have her daddy home. “Who’s the prettiest pup in Portland?” he asks. “Baby girl, you’re beautiful today. Show Remy your outfit.”
Barb yips as she squirms in his grip to face me, her sequined pink tutu quivering below her rhinestone-studded tank top.
I bite my lip and fight a smile, knowing Barb hates it when you laugh at her fashion. “Wow, Barbie girl,” I coo, doing my best to sound impressed. “Looking good today, sweets. Love the ballerina meets biker vibe.”
Barb grins, her small tongue lolling out as she graciously accepts the compliment, which she both expects and deserves.
“She’s in her punk phase, and I’m not sad about it,” Stone says, setting her down. “Don’t be jealous, but she also has a tiny black biker hat that she wears when we go out for walks.”
“Ugh, I’m so jealous.” I crouch down to scratch her ears. “That sounds fantastic, Barb. You’ll have to show me.” I cast a meaningful—and heated—glance up at Stone. “Later…”
“So much later,” he agrees, his voice rough again.
I stand, moving into his arms, but Barb lets out a sharp bark before trotting over to her food bowl by Stone’s massive TV.
She turns, shooting a bug-eyed look his way.
“She needs fancy hipster puppy supper. One sec.” He gives my ass a quick squeeze before jogging into the kitchen to grab the dog food from the fridge. He’s back in a flash, praising Barb for being such a sweet, patient girl as he fills her bowl.
I watch him, my chest going warm and soft. This is the problem with Stone—the way he loves his fussy, adorably bratty little dog, the joy he finds in simple, silly things. The way he looks at me, like I’m something rare and precious instead of just another tightly wound, overachieving former “gifted kid” on the verge of burnout.
I warn myself not to lean into the softness. I can’t afford to be soft.
Not now, not yet…
Not until I reach the finish line.
He fills Barb’s bowl, then straightens, catching my stare.
He crosses the room in two big steps, wrapping an arm around my waist. “Everything good?”
I nod, my throat dry as I lie, “Yeah. Just ready for you.”
His gaze searches mine for a beat before he whispers, “Me, too.” He kisses me slowly this time, sweetly, and my traitorous heart lurches.
We stumble across the open living room to the bedroom, hands everywhere, mouths fused. Stone kicks the door shut behind us, already ripping my sweatshirt over my head. He makes quick work of my sports bra, too, biting his lip as he bares my breasts.
“Yep, still gorgeous. Still fucking perfect,” he breathes, palming me in his hands. His thumbs brush my nipples, and I arch into him with a gasp.
“Less talking,” I demand, yanking his sweater over his head. My hands roam his chest, tracing the familiar planes of muscle, the scattered freckles I’ve memorized with my tongue.
He lets out an encouraging moan as he maneuvers us closer to the bed. The backs of my knees hit the mattress and I fall, pulling him with me. His weight settles between my thighs, perfect and heavy, as his mouth finds mine again.
“Tell me what you want,” he murmurs, rolling his hips in a way that makes me see stars.
“You know what I want.”
“Say it anyway.” His teeth graze my jaw. “I love hearing you ask for it, Rem. Hearing you beg for me to fuck you, take you, please you…”
I drag my nails down his back, feeling him shudder. “I want your mouth on me. Then, I want you inside me. So deep inside me, I can’t—” I break off as his hand slides between us, cupping me through my leggings.
“How deep?” His voice is rough, hungry. “Tell me.”
“Every inch,” I breathe. “Every single one.”
He delivers another bruising kiss as he tears at our remaining clothes. When we’re finally skin to skin, his cock hard against my thigh, I wrap my legs around his hips and flip us over.
Stone lands on his back with a huff that turns into a swiftly indrawn breath as I take him in my hand. “Thought you wanted my mouth first.”
I stroke his pulsing length slowly, deliberately, savoring the way his abs clench and a vein in his neck begins to flutter. “Changed my mind,” I whisper. “I don’t think I can wait. I need you inside me.”