Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 76934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“Liam can be a little too much of a person at times.”
“I was a really moody teen too. He doesn’t bother me. His eyebrow piercing looks infected, by the way. You should do something about that.”
“He got that done without permission.”
“What fun would it have been if he had permission?” I shot back. “Come on. Let the kid rebel. At least it was just a piercing, not a tattoo. It’ll close up if he grows out of it.”
“I’m more pissed at whoever did it without parental permission.”
“I don’t think he had it done by anyone.”
“What do you mean?”
“That eyebrow ring is cheap silver-plated nickel. No self-respecting body piercer would use that. He probably heated up a pin and did it to himself.”
“Speaking from experience?”
“My father wouldn’t let me get my ears pierced. I did them myself.”
“Your ears aren’t pierced.”
“Nope. Because I did them so lopsided that I had to let them close up.” I’d never admit to this part, but it had also been so painful that I’d nearly passed out. And ever since then, the idea of getting them re-pierced made my stomach twist and my vision swirl.
“Can I ask why your sister seems upset that there’s a lot about you that she doesn’t know?”
“I think some of that is more guilt than anything. Back when she’d been married to her abusive ex, she hadn’t been able to see me or my mom. Not that it was her fault. But she missed a lot, and I think she still feels like maybe I don’t tell her everything because we had that distance in my late teens.”
“Is it?”
“No. I mean, maybe in an unintentional way. I went through a lot of difficult shit when she wasn’t around, so I wasn’t used to telling her everything. Then, well, she was getting married and making babies while I was opening the pawnshop. We were in different places, so I probably didn’t share as much as I should have.”
“And she would have worried.”
“So much worry,” I agreed. “When she found out Leo took me to the shooting range, she showed up with a newborn in her arms and demanded I explain why I was looking to learn to shoot right at that moment.”
“We’ve seen how that turned out.”
“It’s a safety thing. I work alone. And while I pay for protection, there’s no guarantee that one of you will reach me in time.”
“That’s fair. Are you really going to read this book?” Chris asked as he held open the door to a little indie bookstore.
“Yeah. I haven’t read something since the alien book for book club. And I finished that like two days after it was picked out.”
“Ah, yes. The… nub,” he said, making me turn and realize just how close he was standing. He towered over me to the left, and a row of shelves was in front of me, making me feel a little trapped. In an intriguing kind of way.
“Don’t knock the nub. The nub was very useful.”
“I bet it was.” His smile was teasing, but there was a heat in his gaze as he leaned down slightly.
For one thrilling second, I wondered if maybe he was going to kiss me. But he reached past me, his arm close to grazing me but not close enough. I was almost pathetic enough to lean in so his forearm ran across my breasts.
Yep.
That was the level of wanton I had become.
And I was choosing not to wonder why it wasn’t the hot delivery guy I found myself fantasizing about in bed at night. Or the guy at the grocery store who flirted with me over an end cap full of discount bread. It wasn’t even the damn alien with the nub.
Nope.
It was Christopher’s hand I imagined gliding down my belly, pressing between my thighs, working me with that perfect precision that came from experience.
Nothing about Christopher made me think he was the kind of guy who couldn’t find the clit, or made the mistake of switching up pace or pressure when you were right on the cusp.
No, this was the kind of man who watched you with those intense eyes of his, who could read your body language, who could tell what you needed without having to ask.
God, I needed to get laid.
Before I could rub my tit against him like some kind of animal in heat, his arm moved back.
And there was the book we were there looking for.
Christopher opened his mouth to say something when he looked at my face. Whatever he found there made him pause.
The moment stuttered, paused.
My heart followed suit.
I watched as his gaze dipped from my eyes to my mouth, lingering for just long enough that I knew what his mind was on.
Did I take the chance to wet my lips?
Yes, yes, I did.
Christopher’s breath caught.
His lids closed for a beat.