Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 87091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
But part of her was afraid of failing. She’d left her nerdy student self behind a long time ago. What if she wasn’t up to the challenge of applying to med school? The best thing to do was to apply without telling anyone about it. Not even Erin. That way, if she didn’t end up following through, it would be fine.
“Is your family planning anything for the big 3-0?” Erin wanted to know.
So she told Erin that her mom had planned a big family gathering on Sunday. “Siblings, cousins, uncles, and aunts. You know what my family’s like. I’d love for you to come,” Crystal said. “My actual birthday is on Wednesday. I’ll go to work as usual, maybe go to a salsa class that night.”
Erin said she’d love to go to the family party and then asked, “On your actual birthday, why don’t you come over to Jay’s place instead, and I’ll cook dinner for you? Get some champagne. I could invite Mila and Tessa, and kick Jay out so it’s just us girls.”
Crystal grinned and realized that Erin’s suggestion was absolutely perfect. After planning so many parties for other people, the last thing she wanted was to organize something for herself. She’d like nothing more than a low-key girls’ night.
When Crystal got home and was alone again, the restlessness of the morning, the all-consuming thoughts of Damien, returned. It was as though her body and her mind were at war. The way he’d been looking at her all day—the secret glances and those little touches during dinner had aroused her to the point of distraction. Just being around him gave her ideas she shouldn’t be having.
She’d had enough pizza that she couldn’t distract herself with snacks. She checked her email and her messages, returned a couple of phone calls, and then the rest of the evening stretched before her, empty.
There was only one remedy for this kind of malaise: dance.
She changed into a sleeveless black crop top and a salsa skirt, put on salsa shoes, and then headed to her small home dance studio. She cranked up the tunes and closed her eyes, waiting for the rhythm to take over. As the music pulsed, her body swayed. Then spun. Her blood seemed to thrum with excitement.
And yet Damien didn’t leave her head. Instead, he returned tenfold as her mind lingered on the sexy details of their dance on Saturday night. His strong arms, thrusting hips, the sheen of sweat on his neck, the salty way he tasted when his tongue found hers. She imagined him with her now, partnering her, spinning her, dipping her, seducing her.
She danced for a couple of hours but the restlessness didn’t abate. It was getting late. She was too wired to sleep. What was she going to do with all this energy?
Then suddenly she knew. Maybe it was crazy. Maybe she was out of her mind. But she couldn’t go on like this, aching for Damien.
Some urges had to be sated.
Not allowing herself time to think and talk herself out of it, she jumped into her car in her dance outfit and heels. She let herself through the gates and walked up to his house in the shadowy dark.
When she saw that it was in darkness too, she almost lost her nerve. Of course Damien was already in bed, probably in a deep and dreamless sleep, unfettered by thoughts of her kiss. But then she noticed a light on in his bedroom. She knew the keycode, but she didn’t want to startle him.
Instead, she banged on the front door, feeling half crazy. She waited a minute and then in case he hadn’t heard, she banged on the door again. She heard footsteps, the door opened, and there he was, standing before her, a startled look on his face. He was still wearing jeans, but his feet were bare. His shirt was untucked as though he had begun to get ready for bed.
But there was nothing sleepy about those eyes. On the drive over, she hadn’t planned what she was going to say, thinking that the moment would take over. Now that she was here, she couldn’t find the right words.
Clearly, neither could he—but the air between them was thick with them, all unspoken.
They stood on the threshold, just staring into each other’s eyes until finally, he reached out and put his hands on her shoulders. She nearly moaned at the sensation of his skin on hers as he pulled her toward him. She raised her arms, put them around his neck. Everything seemed to be in slow motion as she reached up for him and he lowered his mouth to hers.
The kiss was melting, tender, their lips pressing hungrily together, searching, until passion had its way and the kiss became more urgent, more insistent, until she was breathless.