Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 97767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Her skin is impossibly slippery under my palms.
I smirk, sliding my hands down her sides, tracing the curve of her waist, before stepping back. “Turn around.”
She obeys, wet hair clinging to her back, a dark, gleaming waterfall that I can’t help but reach for. I gather it up in one hand and drape it over her shoulder, exposing the elegant line of her spine.
Lathering my hands—this time with shampoo—I work the gel into her hair, fingers threading through the thick strands as I massage her scalp.
She sighs, leaning slightly into my touch.
Closes her eyes.
“This is nice,” she says softly, voice almost drowned out by the rhythm of the water.
“Yeah,” I agree, my voice low. “It is.”
She shifts slightly, glancing at me over her shoulder, her lips curling into a small, content smile.
“Your turn,” she says suddenly, turning to face me, her hands now reaching for the same bottle of body wash. “Don’t move.”
Her hands find my chest, gliding over the hard planes with deliberate precision. Her touch is firm but teasing, and when her fingers skim down to my stomach, she bites her lip, suppressing a grin.
“I could lick these abs.” Her hands dip lower as her palms smooth over my skin, over my stomach.
I lift my arms. “Be my guest.”
Flattery will get you everywhere.
And everything.
Her hands slide lower, and my breath catches. She’s thorough, taking her time with each stroke, each movement of her hands a tantalizing mix of playful and seductive.
“Careful,” I warn, my voice rough.
Dick tingling.
Blood rushing.
We just had sex, but I watch as my cock stiffens again.
Watch as Austin drops to her knees…
25
austin
“You look like a woman in love.”
Dolly is at the end of my couch, stroking Gio as he sits on her lap, lounging like a tiny emperor on his throne.
“Do I?” I ask, sinking into the cushions and tucking my feet under me.
“Yes. You’re glowing.”
Am I?
I press my hands to my face and smile, but the second I feel how warm my cheeks are, I drop them, trying to downplay it. “I think it’s just the lighting in here.”
“Or maybe you’ve had too much wine.”
That can’t be it because I haven’t had any. I glance down at the wine glass sitting on the coffee table in front of me, the deep red liquid untouched.
None of it has passed my lips.
“I love the two of you together.” My best friend goes on. “It’s so fucking great seeing you happy—it’s about damn time.”
A warmth spreads through my chest, replacing the slight embarrassment with a feeling I can’t quite name. “Thanks, D. That means a lot.”
She sighs dramatically, leaning her head back against the couch. “Men suck.”
And just like that, the moment is over. I laugh, shaking my head at her ability to switch gears so quickly. “Not all men suck.”
“Most men suck,” she amends, lifting her head to glare at me.
“Gio is clearly an exception. But the rest of them? Bottom of the barrel.”
I tilt my head, considering her words. She’s not wrong—Dolly has had her fair share of disastrous dates and flaky guys.
“You know,” I say slowly, “I seriously have to introduce you to Nova. The pair of you are basically the same person. Single, looking, and totally over dating apps.”
Her eyes light up. “The sister, Nova?”
“Yep. She’s hilarious, and honestly, you’d love her. She’s not afraid to call people out on their bullshit, and she’s got this infectious energy. Plus, she’s a great drinking buddy.”
I make a mental note to text Nova later. The idea of introducing the two of them feels like one of those things that could either be brilliant or an absolute disaster—there’s no in-between.
Not that I want Dolly to replace me with Gio’s sister, but the more the merrier—and I haven’t been giving her as much of my time since he and I started dating. And sleeping together. And all the things…
“Speaking of modern dating,” Dolly continues, her tone turning more serious, “how’s it going with Gio? I mean, really going. Any red flags I should be concerned about?”
I shake my head. “No red flags. Honestly, it’s kind of surreal how easy it feels with him. Like, I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it hasn’t.”
“Good.” She nods, her expression softening again. “You deserve someone who makes it easy. Relationships shouldn’t feel like a constant uphill battle.”
“I think I might actually be in love with him,” I blurt out before I can stop myself.
Dolly freezes, her hand hovering mid-scratch on Gio’s back. “Holy shit, Austin. Say that again.”
“I said I think I might be in love with him.” I repeat it slower this time, the weight of the words settling over me. “Is that crazy? It feels crazy.”
“No, it’s not crazy,” she says quickly, her eyes wide. “It’s amazing.”
I pick at the blanket folded across my lap and fail to meet Dolly’s eyes.