Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
“Give me a chance, Clarke,” he whispered into my ear, and the tension in my body dissipated.
“Say you’re sorry.”
“I’m sorry,” he breathed against the shell of my ear. “For everything I’ve done in the past to piss you off. And anything I will do in the future.”
I lost my will to fight as he cloaked me in his warmth. Hating myself for giving in to his charms.
“We’ll be back,” Will said to his sister. “We have a few things to work out.”
Chapter Seven
CLARKE
The Past
Three years ago
I didn’t do one-night stands. In fact, I’d never had one until I met Will Roman. And technically, what we had spanned years, so did it really count as a one-night stand?
After I left the nightclub with Will, we took an Uber to my apartment. I should have gone to his hotel room, as he’d originally suggested, but I let him into my home. Into my little world. And that was where I fucked up.
Will walked around my living room with a beer in his hand, sipping from the bottle as he glanced at my things. His eyes roamed over the framed pictures of me with my dad. Some dated back to when I was two-years old, while others were as recent as my college graduation. That was four years ago.
“You seem close with you dad,” Will commented.
I nodded, unwilling to let a stranger into my life. My bed was one thing, but my family was another. Despite the story the pictures told, I was never that close with my dad. His journalism career put a wedge between us. He showed up for the obligatory things like graduation and even sent a card on my birthday. But he was never around when I needed him.
I chose journalism because of him. He’d spent his life traveling the world to cover the hottest stories. And I thought he would be proud of me if I pursued the same career. How naive I was to think he would ever consider me his equal. I would never be as good as my father, nor would I ever be as famous. Though, I tried.
At least my mom was proud of what I had accomplished. She loved and supported everything I did, no matter the outcome.
“Your dad looks familiar,” Will said as he took one last glance at my photos.
“He’s a journalist. Maybe you’ve read his work.”
He shrugged. “I’m not much of a reader. And I try to avoid the papers. Nothing but bullshit.”
“You probably shouldn’t insult a woman’s profession before you fuck her.”
He shoved a hand through his sandy blond hair and laughed. “Yeah, probably not. My bad. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“All good. We know why we’re here. It’s not like I will see you again.”
“But what if I wanted to see you again?”
“You don’t live in New York.”
“I travel a lot. We play a few games a year in New York. And Manhattan is only a two-hour drive from my house.”
I cocked an eyebrow at him. “You’re serious?”
He shrugged. “We could hookup when I’m in town.”
I wasn’t delusional. Regardless of what he said, I knew the deal. Professional athletes could get any woman they wanted. He would forget my name the second he left my apartment, and I was okay with that.
“You’re different from the puck bunnies.” He stared at me with genuine interest. “I’m curious about you, Clarke. I don’t know if that’s a good or a bad thing.”
“Probably bad. Nothing good could ever come from sex with a stranger. And no more talking, okay?”
He chuckled. “You got it, boss lady.”
I studied his face for a moment, and then I closed the distance between us. He gripped my hips as I traced the pads of my fingers over his muscular stomach. His body was so damn toned I couldn’t wait to see him without a shirt. But it also made me feel a little self-conscious. I was already thinking about how I’d look average compared to his naked body. And I had to force those silly thoughts away.
It was one night, nothing more.
As his tongue invaded my mouth, he lifted me in his arms, our mouths melded. He carried me across the room and lowered me onto the couch with care. For such a big guy, he was gentle. Will caged me against the couch with his muscular chest, kissing me so hard and fast my head spun from pleasure. No one had kissed me like this since… forever. Even my ex-husband hadn’t shown me this much desire.
Will stripped off my shirt between kisses, unhooking my bra as his lips traced down my stomach. He teased me with his hot kisses. Like he was making love to my body with his lips.
He cupped my breast in his hand and rolled his thumb over my nipple before he pinched it between his fingers. I moaned in response, swept away by the intense sensation overtaking my body. Will took his time licking, biting, and sucking my nipples, and I cried out his name with each flick of his skilled tongue. Needing a release, I grabbed his hand and slid it beneath my panties.