Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88889 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88889 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
I’ve heard her screams before, but since I’ve begun to develop feelings for her, they take brutal swings at my heart.
Her breathing is harsh as she clings to me, her body trembling.
I hesitate for a moment before I press a kiss to the top of her head, and as I hold her, I slip closer to the edge, knowing that once I tip over, there will be no turning back.
Kelcie is the one person I can touch. She’s the only one I can talk to.
My arms tighten even more around her, and I lean my head down, pressing another kiss to her temple.
The air around us tenses, and when she lifts her arms and wraps them around my neck, alarm bells go off in my mind.
Don’t go there with her.
Kelcie tilts her head slightly back, and I feel her breath on my throat.
Fuck.
I try to fight it, but when my eyes lock with her brown ones, and I see the desire on her face, my self-control is pushed to its limits.
For the first time in my life, I’m hit with an intense urge to kiss a woman. It turns my breathing ragged, and every muscle in my body coils tightly. It used to take effort to get hard so I could have sex with my ex-wife, but with Kelcie, it comes naturally.
FuckFuckFuck.
I have no idea where the strength comes from, but I let go of her and move backward until I’m standing on the lawn. “Ahh . . .” My tongue flicks out to wet my lips, my hands fisting at my sides. “I heard you scream and thought I should wake you.”
Looking rattled, Kelcie places her hand on her neck but then lifts it higher and wipes over her forehead. “Um. Thanks.”
Lick sniffs at the steps before going into the kitchen and wagging her whole damn body with the excitement of seeing Kelcie.
Yeah, I know the feeling.
Needing to get away from Kelcie before she notices my hard-on, I indicate for Lick to stay while I turn away and walk toward my house.
When I reach the safety of my kitchen, I brace both my hands on the table and lean forward while breathing through the intense desire I’m experiencing.
I’m used to living a quiet life where the most excitement I get is writing an action scene. But whatever this is that’s developing between Kelcie and me is so unnerving, and I don’t know how to handle it.
You’re not going to act on it. That’s how you’ll handle it.
She’s already doing better. You should leave before one of you gets hurt.
Even as I chastise myself, I know I’m not going to listen.
I enjoy spending time with her. I’m starting to live for her smiles and the sound of her chuckles and laughter.
I’m finally writing again.
Maybe I can hide who I really am from her forever?
I’ve been able to keep the information from the press, so it should be easy with Kelcie.
I’ve been lucky so far, and my fucked-up family hasn’t spoken publicly about me.
But what if I run out of luck?
Straightening up, I lift my hand and rub the back of my neck as I walk to my office. When I take a seat on the chair at my desk, I pause and stare at the bottom left drawer. Opening it, I pull out the envelope I’ve reluctantly carried around with me. It contains all my personal documents, and I haven’t looked inside since I had to apply for a visa to visit China.
Wow, that was four years ago.
Opening the envelope, I slide the documents out onto my desk. There’s an unabridged birth certificate, which I applied for when I turned eighteen. I thought I might need it at some point. It only contains Rene’s details under the section for mother. I hate to think of her as my mother because she was never one to me. The space for my father is blank.
I look at the aged marriage certificate and divorce decree, shaking my head because I was so fucking stupid to marry a woman I didn’t love.
Margo deserved so much better than me.
The last time she called to check on me, she told me she was getting married again. I was really happy for her, and it gave me some measure of peace, knowing another man would give her what I couldn’t.
Lick comes trotting into the office, drawing me out of my thoughts, and I quickly put all the documents back in the envelope. Just as I slip it into the drawer and push it shut, Kelcie appears in the doorway.
There’s an unsure expression on her face, and her voice is filled with vulnerability as she says, “Hey. Want to have dinner with me?”
I hate that she isn’t comfortable around me any longer.
Climbing to my feet, I smile to set her at ease. “Sure. What are we having?”