Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 58623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
“Nope. I figured out the bus schedule though.” I grinned at him as he shut the door behind me.
“Good for you. But I could have given you a ride.”
“I know.” And I did. Knowing that Joe could have helped had strangely made me braver about doing it on my own. A sort of safety net. “I didn’t want to bother you. And it was a chance to get more familiar with the buses.”
“Okay.” He led me past the entryway into a living room that seemed very Joe. I was immediately calmed by its big, chunky leather furniture, huge TV, and wall of family photos. “But I’ll run you home if you stay past the last bus.”
“I don’t know, Joe. Am I staying late?” I looped my arms around his neck. Being flirty and affectionate with him kept getting easier and more natural, and I didn’t need to wait for an order to give him a soft kiss hello.
Growling low, he met me more than halfway, turning my greeting into a sexy promise, complete with shoving a hand down the back of my jeans.
“You listened.” His pleased rumble was worth all my indecision. “Very nice.”
“Wanna see?” I waggled my eyebrows at him.
“Not with my dad on the way.” He laughed, but I didn’t.
A bead of sweat ran down my back. Please don’t let me fuck this up, I quickly prayed, none too sure the universe was listening.
Chapter Thirteen
Joe
“Put me to work,” Levi demanded as I showed him to the kitchen in the back of the house. He was extra-bouncy, obviously in a good mood but with an uptick to his usual nervous energy. The kiss had settled him somewhat, but he’d tensed again at the mention of my dad.
“Oh, I’ve got work for you.” I swept my gaze up and down his body before dropping another fast kiss on his mouth, hoping that might help him simmer down. To me, this wasn’t a huge deal. I liked cooking for friends, and Levi wasn’t the first friend-with-benefits whom I’d had around my folks.
But maybe it was a bigger thing to Levi because he was still frowning even after the kiss. “I thought you said no fooling around.”
“Never promised not to flirt with you,” I tossed back, still trying to keep it light and fun. I moved toward the fridge, away from the temptation to keep kissing Levi until he relaxed back into playful Levi. “And all afternoon I’ve been thinking about your underwear and what I want to do to you later. Only fair to share my misery.”
“I like that.” He gave a sly smile. There was a flash of my brat, and I had to smile back at him.
“You like me miserable?” Laughing, I started pulling items from the fridge.
“I like that you thought about me.” Levi grabbed an onion and pepper from me and set them on the counter, but not before juggling them.
“Show off. I think about you a lot.” I’d thought about Levi all damn week. Every text. Every call. Every visit into Bold Brew. And lots of time in between too. I’d even been back on Kinkbook, not trolling for hookups, but doing research.
I still wasn’t sure whether I could be the sort of Daddy Dom someone like Levi craved, but I at least wanted to better understand the dynamic. And get ideas. Lots and lots of ideas, none of which we had time for right then. And we also probably didn’t have time for me being vaguely emo and admitting to pining for him, but Levi’s eyes sparkled at my admission.
“Good. Me too.” He wriggled happily as I handed him the lettuce. “And not only when I’m naked, Daddy.”
“Brat.” I gave him a swift swat on the ass without any real sting behind it. Still loved the way it made him yelp. And we both knew that Levi was far too sweet to be an actual brat, but the teasing nickname seemed to make him more playful, and I was all about capitalizing on that vibe. “Let’s make salad.”
“Is that code—”
“For getting vegetables into you? Yes, yes it is.” Chuckling, I grabbed a cutting board from its rack.
I’d spent most of my renovation energy in the kitchen and the adjoining deck, installing more functional items that could stand up to abuse. Big stainless-steel sink, commercial-grade appliances, sturdy, dark cabinets, lots of easy-to-wipe tile. Despite the house’s original, modest fifties footprint, I usually considered it more than enough space for my needs. However, with Levi right there, the kitchen seemed way smaller, making me hyperaware of not bumping him. But also warmer, the energy of another person to talk with. “Now, salad is relatively easy, but I’m going to show you my mom’s secret dressing.”
“Secret, huh? Gonna need me to sign a nondisclosure agreement or something?”
“Or something.” I couldn’t resist giving him another fast kiss before I put a skillet on the stove. “Here. Rinse the peppers and other vegetables off.”