Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 106(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 106(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
Holy. Shit.
It’s not a polite, see-you-later peck, either. It’s deep and hungry and hot enough to fry my last two brain cells. My body lights up, every nerve ending screaming for more. I fist my hands in his shirt and just melt into him, because how could I not? The kiss is all tongue and teeth and pure, raw need.
Down by my feet, Salty does zoomies around our legs, barking like the world’s most enthusiastic chaperone.
Jay doesn’t give a single fuck. He crowds me up against the door, lips glued to mine, and kisses me until I forget my own name. The Frenchie’s growls turn to whimpers, and Jay finally pulls back and lays his forehead against mine. “I’m going to take Salty down for his walk, then I’ll grab us breakfast at Gobble Me Up,” he whispers against my lips. “Why don’t you shower and meet me back at my place in thirty minutes?”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” I tell him and step into my apartment.
The second the door shuts, I throw my back against it and sag, clutching my chest like I’ve just survived a natural disaster. My heart is thundering. My lips are swollen. My entire body is still trembling from that kiss. I can smell Jay on my skin, masculine and sharp and holy-hell addictive.
I practically power-walk across my shoebox apartment, peeling off my jeans and sweater as I go, like I can outrun the sleep still clinging to my skin. I nearly stumble over my own feet, but I make it to the shower and crank the water to scalding. I step under the steamy water and let it burn away the last of my drowsiness. I stand there as the spray pounds against my shoulders, clearing the rest of the cobwebs from my mind.
When I step out, I wrap a towel around myself and catch sight of my reflection. Oof. I have a lot of work to do. I wrangle my wild hair into a bun, then yank on my battered A&M hoodie and a pair of black leggings. I slick on Chapstick, trying to pretend the flush in my cheeks is just from the shower. Then I grab my purse and keys and head out the door.
The second I step into the hallway, I have to stop and lean back against the wall just to catch my breath. My heart’s still doing backflips remembering Jay’s kiss.
Somehow, I make it down the hall and up to the sixth floor. I take a deep breath and knock on Jay’s door. My hand is literally shaking. I have never in my life been this nervous.
CHAPTER SIX
JAY
After walking Salty, I stop at the Gobble Me Up pick-up window and grab my order. There's a blueberry scone, a cinnamon roll, and two little paper cups with lids labeled "Salty" in the carryout bag from Gobble Me Up. Salty knows what the bag means, and the little shit plants his ass on the sidewalk and stares at me. Rolling my eyes, I grab one of the cups and pull the lid off before kneeling next to my spoiled ass dog. He slowly licks at the whipped cream like we have all the time in the world. Once he finishes up, I throw the empty cup away and drag my little dictator through the lobby. We hit the elevator, and I press the button for my floor.
All I can think about is Nadia. The way she looked last night with her hair down and wild. The way her body melted into mine when she finally relaxed. The way it felt to wake up with her curled against me, soft and warm, like she belonged there. And finally, the way it felt to kiss her to within an inch of her life this morning.
I fucking need her so bad my heart physically aches.
While I set out our breakfast, Salty paces the front hall, waiting for Nadia. My heart pounds in my chest when there’s a light knock on the door.
I open it to find Nadia standing there, her blonde hair still damp from her shower, pulled up in a messy bun that makes her look incredibly young. She's drowning in an oversized A&M hoodie that slips off one shoulder, paired with black leggings that hug her curves. She's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Goddamn. I have to close my eyes and count backward from ten so I don’t throw her little ass over my shoulder and drag her straight to my bedroom.
Salty chooses that moment to launch himself at her feet. She crouches down, scoops him up, and the little gremlin licks her chin while she grins down at him.
"Stop making a play for my girl," I say, only half joking.
She glances up, her arms full of squirmy Frenchie. "He’s hard to resist.”