Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
She narrowed her gaze, her sensual lips pursed in thought. “So you really have that rule?”
“I did. But not any longer. Because I found you again. You’re the only woman with whom I could ever envision having more. Even after that first night.” He touched his forehead to hers. “I came back the next day, remember?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Now ask me why no one ever got past three dates.” He breathed in the lingering scent of her vanilla-based perfume and his cock got hard.
“Why?” she asked.
He raised his head and brought his hand up, cupping her jaw. “Because none of them were you,” he said. Then he lowered his lips and captured hers.
Her mouth was warm and welcoming and he drank her in, kissing her, licking at her lips, his tongue tangling with hers. More. He wanted more. And by the way her hands slid into his hair, holding his head in place, he could tell she did too.
“Mommy! I’m stuck!” Leah screamed from upstairs.
He broke their connection. “Little cockblocker,” he said, laughing.
Aurora grinned. “I should go help her.”
He took her hand. “Tell me I can stay tonight,” he said, as she moved to go up the stairs.
Her gaze met his and the seconds ticked away in silence. He waited while she obviously thought things through. “You can stay,” she said at last.
“Mommy!”
He shook his head and grinned. “We forgot the presents in the car. I’ll grab them while you go rescue her.”
An hour later, thanks to his little negotiator, he and Aurora stood in the hallway outside Leah’s bedroom. Earlier, she’d gotten her head stuck in her pajamas, hence the call for help. Then, since there’d been no bath, Leah had wheedled them into telling her two stories, one from Aurora, then one from Nick, with a glass of water in between. She had a routine, just the way her mother liked it.
It had been a great day. Still, he was glad when Leah fell asleep mid-final story…and he finally had Aurora alone.
Chapter Nine
The day had been a long one for Aurora. Tiring and enlightening. Overwhelming and frightening. But ultimately satisfying.
Nick’s earlier words, because none of them were you, had stayed with her. When she truly considered what he meant, she’d realized that she needed to open herself up to him or she’d lose what she was starting to realize was a good man.
She’d closed Leah’s door, leaving it open enough so her daughter could see the glow of the nightlight from the hall, and she could hear Leah, if the little girl called out.
She blew out a breath and turned to Nick, holding out her hand.
He entwined her fingers with his. “Where to?”
She’d considered bringing him to the family room but then decided, why delay the inevitable? If she was in, she might as well be all in.
“My room.”
His eyes gleamed with desire. “Lead the way, beautiful.”
She led him to her bedroom and stepped inside the place that had always been her sanctuary—complete with a king-sized bed, a white fluffy comforter and pillows, and pastel paintings on the walls. No man had ever been inside this room before Nick.
“You can shut the door and lock it, if you’d like. Before we go to sleep, we’ll open it again,” she said.
Nick did as she said, and pushed the button on the doorknob. The click reverberated through her body.
“I’m not sure if it’s a good idea for Leah to find us in bed together tomorrow,” she said, facing him.
He stepped forward and cupped her face in his hands. “Then I’ll make sure I’m up before she wakes up. Just let me know what time.”
“Seven,” she said, seconds before his mouth came down on hers. The kiss wasn’t slow or gentle—it was hot and full of need.
Still kissing her, he walked her backwards until her legs hit the mattress and she collapsed on the bed.
He lifted his head and reached for the buttons on his shirt. “Strip,” he said, his gruff tone causing her panties to get wetter.
It was hard to concentrate on removing her own clothes when she was so busy watching him reveal his tanned, muscular skin. She tried not to drool as he undid his shirt and let it fall to the floor. He kicked off his shoes and pulled off his socks, then his hands moved to his pants.
He undid the button when his eyes met hers. “Do you like watching me?”
She nodded and pushed his hands out of the way so she could unzip his fly, then hooked her fingers in his waistband and pulled off his pants, taking off his boxer briefs along with them. She sucked in a deep breath as his hard cock bobbed close to her face.
He stood watching her, hands clenched at his sides.
He was so gorgeous, he took her breath away. But she’d always been too preoccupied with her doubts to fully enjoy him. Tonight, she intended to do just that.