Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 107673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Beau shook his head, giving me a side-eye that clearly stated I was way off base. “Not like that. I became my dad’s bitch. He broke me down until I was nothin’ more than his yes guy. I’m ashamed of how easy it was for him. Then he died and I celebrated his death.”
His pointed glare locked on mine with no sign of sorrow or regret. It also wasn’t an empty stare of a man devoid of emotion. An ocean of turmoil churned in that amber stare.
“Good. I hope it was an awful death.”
For the first time tonight, Beau’s fingers tightened around mine. A hint of a faint smile quirked at the corners of his mouth. “I’m not sure it could get worse.”
“I think we should go to my place and talk. It’ll be more comfortable while we hash all this out,” I suggested quietly.
“I’m already deeper in than I wanted to be,” Beau answered, but he continued to stare at me, seemingly soaking me in. He lifted our joined hands as the tip of his thumb brushed down my cheek. I leaned into the caress, memorizing the touch, surprised when he used the finger to lift my chin. He was there close to me, descending until his lips pressed against mine.
The kiss began as a sweet searching exploration. At his urging, I opened, his tongue sliding inside. Quickly, desperation fused the kiss into a swirl of tongue and teeth. I allowed Beau the control, letting him guide us.
He released my hand to curve around my shoulders. He drew me closer to him. Oh yeah, my love wanted me. My arm tightened around him as my fingers moved through his lengthy strands. I loved the feel of his silky hair against my hand. I was finally home, again.
All the feels hit in a breathtaking kiss. My tummy tingled when he devoured me as if his life depended on our intimacy—mine apparently did too. A callused palm cupped my cheek and jaw. The teasing pad of his thumb stroked across my jawline, back and forth, while that wicked tongue delved deeper inside my mouth. Of course I followed his lead, matching him touch for touch as I absorbed the best kiss of my life.
Dash’s lips on mine were a beautifully enchanting thing. Everything wrong in my life melted away as I rediscovered the bond that held us timelessly in place. Dash’s soft, full lips and sweet tongue caressed against mine, giving me the chance to create the rhythm of our kiss. I didn’t hold back. I couldn’t. My life’s love was here in my arms, doing his best to wipe away the past.
The loneliness I lived with began to seep away at the realization that someone truly wanted me. My inner self-disgust vibrated quietly in the background but having Dash in my arms staved off its distraction. What he brought forward was a star-spangled banner style fireworks show exploding through my head. My body heated with desire.
Dash’s palm slipped past my open jacket to rest close to my heart, his deft fingertips stretching to caress my hard nipple. The simple touch set off a cascade of tingles rippling over me. Eventually, the need to breathe won, and I pulled away. His lips followed before his mesmerizing face filled my view. Both of his hands were now in my hair, one gently stroking another unruly lock off my face. The other weaving through the longish length.
“Let’s go home,” Dash said reverently. Every syllable was laced with the implication that it was now my home too.
“I’m not ready to go the distance,” I murmured, drinking him in. I was shit to do anything more than lay my palm on his shaven cheek. Dash grinned his gorgeous smile as my thumb traced his full bottom lip.
“Keep touching me like this at home.” He began to scoot from the circle of my arms, and I didn’t want to let him go. The further he went, the tauter our invisible connection became. My loneliness reared, creeping in around the fringes.
If I had smartness coded in my DNA, I’d reject whatever he offered. I’d be firm in the understanding that he didn’t want me, not really.
Turned out I was neither smart nor firm. Of course, a relationship was out of the question, but I had no choice but to follow his lead. However, I promised the scared guy within me this wouldn’t last much longer. Scott needed his truck, and I needed to begin my life.
I started the engine. The truck rumbled loudly to life. “Where do I go?”
“Take a right when you exit the parking lot, then take the central southbound on-ramp. My exit’s the third one down.” He swiveled in the seat to face me as he fastened his seatbelt in place. “You should know, today was the best day for me. I’m grateful you came. When I won the mock trial this afternoon, you were the only person I wanted to tell, but I was losing hope that you’d come back.”