Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Jesus.
God, just the thought of it hurts. What will it be like when I have to see him with her? She must be tall and beautiful and have her shit completely together. Unlike me.
I don’t think I can do this.
Yes, you can. You’re his friend. So, be his friend. Suck it up, Ari. It’s big-girl panties time.
“Wow. That’s great. I’m really happy for you.”
Okay, so that wasn’t so great. I sounded insincere as hell. And, if I could hear the insincerity in my voice, then he probably did, too.
But, if he did hear it, he doesn’t call me on it, which I’m grateful for.
“Well, don’t be too happy for me. She doesn’t know how I feel yet…and she might not feel the same way.”
She will. Trust me.
“I’m sure she will. You should tell her.” I nearly bite through my lip when I say that.
Why did I say that?
“You’re right.” He nods, still staring at me. Actually, he hasn’t moved his eyes off me once since this whole conversation started. “It’s funny though,” he continues, “because of what I said before—you know, about what my usual type is. Well, this girl is the exact opposite of that. She’s brunette. Short as hell. Filthy mouth on her. Has baggage bigger than JFK. We do, however, share the same taste in movies and music—well, apart from NSYNC…”
I suck in a sharp breath.
He can’t mean…
Was Luke right that Ares might see me as more than a friend?
Surely not.
“Actually, she looks and sounds an awful lot like you.”
Holy shit.
“I-I don’t…understand.”
He pushes off the counter, walking over to me. He takes the glass from my trembling hand, setting it on the window ledge. Then, he takes my face in his hands, tilts it up to his, and stares down into my eyes. “Then, let me make it very simple for you.” And he leans down and covers my mouth with his.
Ares Kincaid is kissing me.
He’s kissing me.
Actually, mouth on mine, kissing me.
Duh. Where else would he be kissing you? Well, there are other places…
Nope. Not going to go there. Because I’ll definitely get my panties in a twist if I do.
I just…can’t believe this is happening. One minute, I’m thinking he’s into some other woman…and then this.
But it is happening.
Holy hell, it’s happening.
It’s his tongue sweeping my bottom lip before slipping into my mouth. His hands on my face.
It’s everything I imagined and more.
I know there’s the stupid, gimmicky romance trope of feeling electricity and butterflies, but, God, his mouth on mine is all of those things and more.
My whole body is aware of his in a way I’ve never experienced before.
Maybe I haven’t felt this way before because I was drinking. I always thought it brought my senses to life, but maybe it was dulling them.
Or maybe it is just him.
Because this, being here with Ares…this feeling, right here, this is what it’s like to feel alive.
One hand leaves my face and pulls my hair free of the tie. The other hand slides down until it’s cupping my chin.
His kiss slows. Lips brushing once…twice.
Hot breath on my skin.
I open my eyes. His are on mine, hot and dilated.
“Do you understand now?” His voice is gravelly and oh-so very sexy, making my womanly parts tremble.
A grin pulls up one side of my mouth. “I’m starting to. But I think I need you to tell me again. But more thoroughly this time.” I tug his mouth back down to mine and feel his smile against my lips, and it’s the greatest thing ever.
Two very large hands slide down my back, cup my ass, and pick me up, setting me on the windowsill. My back is pressed against the glass. He’s in front of me. And there’s nowhere else I would want to be right now.
“That’s better,” he murmurs against my lips, shifting closer, putting himself between my legs. “You’re so small.”
Something very hard and very large presses up against my stomach.
Sweet Lord, that’s one hell of a boner he’s rocking there.
“You’re big.”
Jesus effing Christ.
I mentally roll my eyes so hard; I almost give myself a headache.
“Thank you.” He chuckles into my mouth.
“I meant, height.”
“Of course you did.”
“But you do seem big…down there.”
“I am.”
Well, there you go.
His hand slides up my side, brushing the underside of my breast, making me moan.
My hands go to his chest.
Holy shit.
Rock-hard muscle beneath smooth skin.
He’s hard everywhere.
And I am a lucky, lucky girl.
I run my fingertips through the smattering of hair on his chest, tracing one of his nipples, and he shivers.
Then, he kisses me harder. One hand plunges into my hair, tilting my head back, taking control of the kiss, and I am more than willing to let him take over. The other hand skims the hem of my T-shirt, fingers running under the hem, brushing against my skin, making it my turn to shiver.