Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
The words hit me like a freight train. My brain goes on lockdown. For a second, I can’t even breathe. Is this man for real? My heart does a weird little flip that has nothing to do with me skipping breakfast and lunch and everything to do with the six-foot-five wall of muscle currently caging me in like I’m the last cupcake at a birthday party and he’s got a mean sugar addiction.
My mouth opens and closes several times while the neurons in my brain struggle to fire. “That’s… wow. That’s moving fast,” I manage, sounding like a total idiot.
Cole’s smile warms me from the inside out. “We can slow things down a little if you want, but all I really want is to drag you home and keep you there until you forget your own name.” Cole’s voice is pure rough velvet, the kind that makes my panties disintegrate and my brain leak out of my ears.
I don’t want to. Not even a little. My body is already running ten steps ahead of my brain, and my brain is waving a white flag and screaming for mercy.
I clear my throat. “You barely know me.”
Cole’s thumb traces hot circles on my shoulder, and his mouth tips up in a wicked grin. “I know enough. I know you’re honest, loyal, stubborn as a goddamn mule, and the sexiest woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. I know you’ll put your ranch ahead of your own happiness, and it makes me want to take care of you even more.”
Holy. Shit. I want to laugh it off, but my chest goes tight, and tears prick my eyes. No one has ever looked at me like that. I could definitely get used to this, but I’m having trouble believing this is real.
CHAPTER SIX
COLE
I grab Reine’s hand and hold it tight. Her stiff fingers slowly relax against mine. I rub deep, slow circles into her soft palm, watching her face. Nothing on earth could make me let go of her. Nothing.
“Do you always get what you want, Cole?” Her voice is shaky, her eyes a mess of confusion. She draws her bottom lip between her teeth and slowly nibbles. The sight punches all the blood in my body straight to my cock. I bite back a groan, desperate to run my tongue along that pink, tempting lip.
“Not always,” I say. “But I’m persistent as hell when I want something.” I don’t let go of her hand. I’d glue it there if I could. “And I’ve never in my life wanted anything as much as I want you.” Fucking hell. I sound crazy, but I don’t care.
The waitress interrupts with a bottle of wine and a crystal decanter for my whiskey, but I barely notice her. All I care about is the woman whose skin is soft and warm against mine, whose eyes are a storm I want to drown in.
After the waitress slips away, I pour Reine a glass and slide it over, but don’t touch my own. “Let’s try this again,” I say, voice low. “I’m not going away, but we can slow things down if that makes you happy.” Her lips part, but she doesn’t pull her hand away. I can literally see her brain short-circuiting as she tries to make sense of the two of us. There’s color in her cheeks, and her chest is rising and falling fast.
I want to throw her over my shoulder and take her straight back to my hotel room, but I know she isn’t ready. So, I play it cool and just rub my thumb along her palm, nice and slow.
She lets out a shaky laugh. “You are… a lot, Cole Carrington.”
“Sweetheart, you haven’t seen anything yet.” The words come out rougher than I intend, but fuck it, she needs to know what she’s dealing with. “I’m not gonna scare you off, but I am going to make damn sure you know exactly how much I want you.”
“I’m not going to just jump into bed with you.” I love the way she cuts through bullshit. I respect it. I want to see how honest she’ll be if I push her.
“All in good time,” I give her the patented Carrington smirk. “But we have plenty of time for that.” I pause, let my thumb stroke her wrist. “And yeah, I want you in my bed, but that’s just the icing. I want everything.”
She looks at me for a long time. Not blinking. Not even breathing. “You’re crazy.”
“Only for you,” I say. I can hear the corny pick-up line in my own voice, but it doesn’t matter. It’s the truth.
She blinks first, and I win. She takes a slow sip of her wine, then says, “So, you think you’re my knight in shining armor?”
“God, no,” I say, making her bark out a real laugh. “Hudson is the family knight in shining armor. I’m the one who likes to cause the problems.” It’s time to cool things off a little before I scare her off.