Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 44342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
She blinks at me. “This is fun. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’m really enjoying myself.”
“Good, because I’m hoping to get a second date out of you.”
She chews the bite she just took, swallows, and sets her sandwich down. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“What made you ask me out?” She looks down at her hands. “I’m just curious because I’m nothing like the women you’ve dated.”
She holds up her hand before I can answer. “And I’m not putting myself down or trying to get you to compliment me. The truth is the truth, so I’m just wondering why me.”
Before I can say anything, she shakes her head. “Forget it. God, I sound pathetic. Ignore me.”
I set my sandwich down and move the food out of the way. Then I shift behind her and pull her back against my chest. My fingers move through her curls, and she melts into me. It takes everything I have not to kiss her, but I know this conversation matters. “When I first saw you, I wanted you.”
She lets out a breath, and I can hear the disbelief in it, so I continue. “I was sitting in that bar hard just from looking at you. Then we talked, and there was this pull between us.” I tighten my arms around her. “Tell me you felt it too.” She doesn’t answer, but she doesn’t have to. “I’ve never felt anything like it before. I’m not sure I could explain it if I tried, but I know I want you in my life. I wake up thinking about you. Hell, I step up to home plate about to swing and I’m thinking about you.”
She leans farther into me, so I continue. “I understand why you’re hesitant. Everything you know about me comes from gossip magazines and social media. But I’m asking you to get to know the real me.” I hold her tighter. “And if you do that and decide you’re not interested, I’ll leave you alone.”
Even as I say the words, I’m not sure they’re true. I don’t know how I could ever let her go and forget about her. It feels like she’s completely taken over my life.
Nicole turns in my arms until she’s facing me. She searches my eyes, looking for any sign that I’m lying. I don’t blink or look away. More than anything I need her to understand how real this is for me. “You mean that, don’t you?”
I nod. “Yes. This is important to me, Nicole. You’re important to me.”
She leans closer. “Okay.”
I pull back enough to see her face. “Okay? Okay, what?”
She shrugs. “Okay, I’ll get to know you.”
I wrap my arms around her and crush her to my chest. She circles her arms around me, and when her lips touch my neck, I go still. She kisses me once, twice, and then again. I groan, and I can feel her smile against my neck. She kisses her way up before nibbling my earlobe.
“You like that?” she whispers.
My whole body trembles, and there’s no hiding it. She gasps and leans back to look at me. “What was that?”
My voice is thick with desire. “I told you. I react this way to you.”
She smiles. “Just me?”
I cup her chin. “Just you.”
She sighs, and I kiss her. I roll her onto her back and hover over her. My knee presses into the ground between her thighs, and our bodies fit together as she holds on to me like she never wants to let go. My hands tangle in her hair. She moans and tilts her head, giving me better access to her mouth.
I’m not sure how long we stay like this, but it isn’t enough. Before I take it too far, I pull away and rest my forehead against hers. We’re both trying to catch our breath, and I’m not sure she realizes she’s still moving against me. She wants more. I want to give it to her, but not here and not like this.
I groan. “We should head back before I take advantage of you in the middle of a field.”
She laughs, and I reluctantly roll onto my back.
She turns toward me. “Are you okay?”
There’s no hiding the bulge in my jeans. “I will be. I just need a minute.”
I watch her as her gaze moves down my body and her eyes widen. “Wow. That looks painful.”
I reach down and adjust myself because she isn’t wrong. “I’ll survive.”
She sits up and starts packing the food into the backpack. Her cheeks are flaming, and I’m not sure if it’s from the makeout session or the sight of my erection. After a minute, I force myself up and help her.
We’re quiet as we feed the horses the apples we brought. After giving them a few more rubs, we climb back into the saddles and start toward the ranch. The closer we get, the quieter Nicole becomes.