Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 81584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
“That what you want?” he asked, his hands landing on my waist.
“No answering questions with questions,” I chastised.
The sleep I’d gotten had done more for my anxiety and worry than anything else had. I felt strong. Capable. Turned on. Maybe it would fade, who knew.
“Figured out I was gone for you last month,” he said after a moment. “I’m down for any of it.”
“Yeah? Any of it?”
“You wanna be together? I’m in. You wanna use my cock like you own it and walk away afterward? Do it. You wanna keep it friendly? I’ll keep my hands to myself.”
“As easy as that?”
“Probably shouldn’t say it,” he muttered, lifting one hand to give my hair a tug so I’d tilt my head back, and he could nip at my pulse point. “But I’m not sure there’s anythin’ you could ask for at this point that I wouldn’t give you.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“That night when I handed you your clothes,” he continued, making me freeze. “It was already chilly in the bedroom, and I wanted to open the window to smoke. Didn’t want you to get cold.”
“What?” I snapped my head back down to look at him.
“Wasn’t tryin’ to kick you out,” he clarified. “But then you were rushin’ to leave, so I figured you weren’t interested in round two.”
“I—you,” I sputtered. “I’ve never even seen you smoke except that night.”
“I’ve got a pack for when I’ve been drinkin’,” he replied. “Don’t crave ’em otherwise.”
“You mean we could’ve been fucking this whole time?” I asked, slapping his shoulder.
“Probably not,” he replied, chuckling as he caught my hands in his fists. “But you would’ve gotten more that night for sure.”
I huffed.
“Woulda taken me a minute to figure it out,” Gray said, lifting my hands to kiss them before letting go. “But we woulda been right here eventually.”
“Pretty sure about yourself.”
“Baby, you woke up this mornin’, came struttin’ across the room topless, and straddled me. I think it’s warranted.”
“I didn’t strut.”
“You did.” His hands glided up my waist and cupped my breasts before pinching my nipples lightly. “After the way you’ve been lately, it was a beautiful fuckin’ thing.”
“All the drama at home is still there,” I reminded him, running my fingers lightly through his hair. “My life is still a mess.”
“Work’s a mess. Your life isn’t.”
“I think I have to quit my job. I haven’t found anything else, but I can’t be there every day.”
“I agree.”
“I’m so fucked.”
“It’ll work out.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“Give yourself a little more time to put things in perspective without that shit breathin’ down your neck,” he said gently. “We’ve got over a week to ignore it.”
I looked into his dark-brown eyes. He was so calm. Collected. Quiet. The only time I’d ever seen him worked up was when I had my hands on him.
“I am drama,” I warned. “If that’s what you were trying to avoid, you failed. Even beyond this Scott shit—things are never peaceful. I’m loud. Contrary to recent history, I generally don’t take anyone’s shit. and I won’t take yours either. I can hold a grudge for years. I don’t forget, and I rarely forgive—and I’m not quiet.”
“I know you,” he reminded me.
“I’m just saying, if we’re together, I’m not going to change. I know myself. You’ll be jumping into the drama with both feet. I’ll try not to yell at you while we’re at the club, but I can’t promise that unless you can promise to never piss me off.”
“You done?” he asked as I paused to take a breath.
“I think I covered it.”
“All right, my turn.”
I nodded regally, giving him the floor.
“You yell at me, there’s a good chance I won’t engage if we’re in company. I’ll hash it out with you later.”
“That’s fine.”
His lips twitched. “Want you to come to dinner at my parents’ house—”
“I know your parents.”
He waited until he knew I was done. “Want you to come to dinner at my parents’ as mine.”
“Oh.”
“I’ll stay at your place whenever you want, but I’d appreciate if we could spend time at my place, too. I like the quiet.”
“I like your place.”
“That’s easy shit—now for the big one.”
I stiffened, wondering what the hell he could want.
“You don’t hide shit from me. You don’t lie to me. If you’re dealin’ with somethin’, you read me in on it.”
I nodded slowly. That would be harder. I was used to taking care of things on my own and telling people about them later. It had worked for me since I was a kid.
“I want to be exclusive,” I said, countering.
He stared at me like I’d lost my mind. My stomach churned.
“Baby, what the hell do you think we’re talkin’ about right now?”
“Our relationship if we decide to have one.”
“No.” He shook his head. “We’re talkin’ about our life. Together. Of course I’m not gonna fuck anyone else. I don’t wanna fuck anyone else. You shouldn’t want to either.”