Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 17761 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 89(@200wpm)___ 71(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17761 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 89(@200wpm)___ 71(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
I moved before he could finish. My hand lifted, fingers brushing against his jaw, testing, feeling the rough scrape of his stubble beneath my palm. I expected him to pull away, to stop me, to tell me he thought I was too vulnerable because of my past and that this wasn’t a good idea.
But he didn’t move.
His breathing became heavier, his gaze burning into me. “Evie,” he said low and gruffly, so much different than the doubt his voice held only a moment ago. “Are you sure about this?” he asked, sounding strained, clearly seeing the desire on my face and knowing without a doubt what I wanted “this” to be.
“Yes,” I whispered. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
The space between us disappeared when we both leaned in at the same time. His lips met mine, softly at first, testing, waiting for me to pull away. But I didn’t.
I deepened the kiss, shifting in front of Ash, so close my breasts were just a breath away from grazing his chest. I raised my hands and threaded my fingers in his hair. The warmth of his body and the way he let me be the one to control the situation and pace, even as his hands slid up my arms, made me braver.
The heat built between us, slow and deliberate, an erotic tension that became sweltering and stretched tight, ready to snap.
I got lost in the feeling of Ash’s soft lips worshipping mine, our tongues gently swirling around each other, tangled in a slow dance of want and need.
“Jesus Christ,” he breathed, resting his forehead against mine. “You taste good, baby.”
At this moment, I realized something profound. I didn’t want to just survive. I wanted to live.
And being with Ash gave me the hope I was headed in the right direction.
6
EVIE
“God damn, Evie. You’re perfect,” he hissed against my mouth and then pulled back far too soon.
My lips tingled, Ash’s flavor covering my tongue, moving down the back of my throat until I grew thirstier for him. I’d never felt so… consumed.
He cursed again, curled his hand around the back of my neck in a gentle but firm hold, and once again brushed his lips across mine. He didn’t add pressure to the kiss, and the feeling of his warm breath along my mouth drove me mad. I clutched the material of his shirt that was molded around his flexing, hard muscles.
“You drive me crazy, sweetheart. You’re so beautiful, so sweet, that it makes me feel like a damn caveman with my need to protect you.”
I'm so ready for him.
“So strong, my pretty girl,” he said in a gruff voice, like this serrated side of him was coming to the forefront, as if he couldn’t help it, but he knew I was the one who needed to control this situation to feel comfortable.
I felt his hand clench and relax against my nape, as if he was barely hanging on to his control but trying so damn hard that it was physically taking a toll on him.
I knew what I wanted. “I want you, Ash.” He let out this deep rumble from his chest, and I felt tingles move along my skin at the fact that my words pleased him. “I want all of this.”
“Tell me exactly what you want, and it’s yours. I’ll give you the fucking world, Evie.”
Oh God. Can I?
Could I be so bold and go all the way? Because I felt like this was exactly what I needed in order to feel whole.
I stared into his eyes. This moment meant… everything.
“Sweet girl.” He pulled back and cupped my face, staring deep into my eyes. “I’m going to show you how you should have been treated.” He leaned in and kissed me. “I’m going to worship every part of you.” He rested his forehead against mine again, and we breathed the same air. “I’m never letting you go.”
His words were profound, maybe too sudden, too consuming, but it had my heart racing all the same. I didn’t think too hard about what he meant by those words, but they sounded… final.
He made me feel like I was his with only a handful of words.
Our mouths pressed together, not forcefully, but so erotically, so thoroughly that I was left clutching him for support. His hands still cupped my cheeks, his palms big, his skin warm and calloused.
“I’ll be gentle for you,” he said against my lips.
“Ash,” I whispered. I wanted whatever he had to give me, no matter how fast, how overwhelming. I knew that either way would be life changing. I wanted him to know what he did to me.
“I could come just from hearing you say my name,” he replied as he pulled back, and I forced my eyes open, forced myself to meet his stare head on. A dark look of possession and arousal covered his face as he watched me.