Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 19358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 97(@200wpm)___ 77(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 97(@200wpm)___ 77(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
“You have a nice home,” I said, feeling slightly envious that his house already felt more homey than my place ever had.
Xavier let out a soft laugh. “You wouldn’t have said that if you’d seen it two weeks ago. I finally had a free weekend, and my parents insisted on helping me unpack.”
“They must be happy to have you back.”
He smiled and shrugged before heading to the fridge. “Yeah. I haven’t been back long enough to decide if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.”
Three dirty mugs sat in the deep sink, all with different sayings and designs on them, and a stack of well-used paperbacks with library labels on the spine sat in a neat pile on the counter nearest the door that probably led to the garage.
“You read medical thrillers?” I asked in surprise.
He paused while pulling out a bottle of white from the fridge. “Uh, yeah? I can’t decide if you’re surprised I read that genre or surprised I read at all.”
“I just… I can’t read legal thrillers. I spend the entire time angry at the author’s ignorance of how the law actually works.”
He laughed and straightened up before reaching up into a nearby cabinet for wineglasses. I couldn’t help but look at the sliver of skin revealed when his T-shirt rode up.
I wanted to lick it. Caress it. Smooth the rest of the shirt up and over his head so I could devour all of that skin.
“I only read the ones who get it right,” he said.
My eyes drank him in as he poured the wine. He peered at me. “You’re being awfully quiet, Mr. Baptiste.”
“Stop calling me that,” I muttered before taking the proffered glass and tasting the selection. The smooth, fruity flavor was refreshing, but not exactly what I wanted in my mouth right now.
“So it’s Hon behind closed doors, then?” he teased. “Duly noted.”
“You caught me by surprise at the courthouse,” I admitted. “I wasn’t expecting to see you there.”
Xavier took a sip of his own wine before stepping closer to me and crooking a finger in the placket of my shirt between two buttons. He tugged me closer. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here, Counselor. But I can’t say it’s a bad thing.”
“I wanted… I want…” I let out a breath. “You said I could come.”
His grin widened. “And I meant it.”
I groaned and leaned in, resting my forehead on his shoulder. “I’m not good at this. I just want to get laid.”
The rumble of his laughter made its way into my throat and chest as he set his wineglass down and wrapped his arms around me, running strong hands up and down my back.
He smelled so fucking good, like faded cologne but mixed with the faint scent of dried sweat. I wanted to huff his armpits like a drug.
“I can help you with that,” he promised. “But first, I want to know why it took you a full seven days to turn up.”
I stepped even closer to him, enjoying the feel of his strong body and the comforting weight of his hands on my back. “Couldn’t handle the smug look I knew I’d see on your face,” I murmured, turning my face so I could nose the warm skin of his neck.
His hands moved down to my ass. “I do feel smug. But only because you’re going to be in my bed tonight and no one else’s.”
He moved one hand up to cup the back of my head and then turned to meet my lips with his. The kiss was slow and soft at first, exploring. But I wasn’t in the mood for sweet.
I attacked him like a piranha.
6
XAVIER
My heart was still thundering with excitement from the unexpected visit. But now that Hon was devouring my mouth and clutching the front of my shirt with tight fists, I began to worry about the visit ending too soon.
He was so fucking sexy. His long hair was down, and silky strands of it tangled in my fingers as I cupped the back of his head. The man smelled like sugary lemons and tasted like my chardonnay.
I wanted so much more than a quick fuck in the kitchen.
“Bedroom,” I managed, pulling away long enough to suck in a breath.
I maneuvered him upstairs, yanking at his clothes along the way until they resembled a naughty trail of breadcrumbs.
“Tell me what you want,” I urged him. His skin was warm, and my hands couldn’t get enough of it.
Hon’s eyes were half-lidded, lips a deep, moist plum. “Want you to fuck me.”
His words were a surprise. First, I was shocked he was willing to go that far in a quick hookup. Second, I was surprised he trusted me enough to bottom. He’d been calling the shots up to now, so his desire to let me take him was unexpected.