Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 20174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 101(@200wpm)___ 81(@250wpm)___ 67(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 101(@200wpm)___ 81(@250wpm)___ 67(@300wpm)
My pulse is racing. My head feels fuzzy, like it’s stuffed with Styrofoam. I’m not even thinking right now. I’m operating on pure instinct.
“Piper,” Jake replies, trying not to sound pissed off. “Can you…give me a second?”
Another second he can spend with this girl that isn’t me? No way.
“I could really use your help,” I reply.
“Okay,” he says quickly. He turns to the girl and whispers, “Sorry, Angela. Can we finish this tomorrow?”
Angela—so that’s her name—nods and stands, shouldering her designer purse. Her heels clack on the hardwood as she walks past me to the door.
When she reaches the door, she glances back over her shoulder, looking past me at Jake with something in her eyes that sets my blood boiling.
Jake moves like he’s going to speak, or run to her, but stops himself.
A sense of relief and triumph flows through me as she exits, leaving me standing in the foyer with Jake, who stares at me like I just robbed her at gunpoint.
“What the hell was that?” he barks. His voice sounds a lot angrier than I anticipated.
“I need a bottle opened,” I reply, playing naïve. “Did I interrupt your date?”
He advances quickly on me, so fast that it gives me a start. “That wasn’t a date. That was a potential client for me! You know I want to open my own business one day, right?”
My heart sinks. Did I really just let my jealousy screw something up for Jake?
I want to apologize, but I’m buzzing with so much energy that I can’t. Why doesn’t he just grab me and press his lips to mine? Doesn’t he want to?
“And what are you even wearing—?”
“I thought she was a date,” I interrupt. He frowns.
“So what if she was?”
Is he messing with me on purpose? He has to know what I’m getting at.
All the looks he’s been giving me. The stolen glances. The heavy breathing I hear through his door at night when he thinks I’m asleep.
“You want me, Jake,” I finally say. I don’t know how I get the words out, but I do.
His jaw drops, and his eyes narrow. He stares right into my eyes like he’s searching my soul for intent.
For a second, I’m sure he’s going to turn his back on me or storm out the front door with his new client.
But he doesn’t move. He just stands there in all his glory, towering over me like I’m miniature sized.
“Piper…” he says softly.
“I know you do, Jake. I’m not blind. You can’t hide it anymore.”
Before I can react, he has his hand around my arm. He pulls me close, and I’m sure he’s going to kiss me.
I close my eyes and part my lips. Yes, finally it’s going to happen.
But the kiss doesn’t come.
I open my eyes and find myself staring into his. They’re blazing with energy—maybe even anger. And I feel myself starting to melt inside.
His dominance is so sexy. His rough hand holds me strong. He could do whatever he wants with me, and I wouldn’t be able to resist.
Not like I’d want to anyway…
“No.” He shakes his head. “I can’t, Piper.”
“Jake, please—”
“No!” he shouts, causing me to jump. He sighs heavily and shakes his head. “You’re right. I do want you, Piper. I want every fucking gorgeous inch of you.”
My heart leaps. Golden energy fills me. My thighs begin to tingle.
“Jake…”
“But we can’t. I can’t,” he says, lowering his eyes. “You know why?”
“Because I’m your step-sister?” I ask. He nods heavily. “Is that really that bad, though? We’re not really related…”
Again, he shakes his head like he’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. “My dad…it would destroy our family.”
I reach up, cupping his strong jaw with my hand. His scruff tickles my palm.
“He doesn’t have to find out.”
Wow, Jake’s really bringing out the bad girl in me. I never behave like this—never would have even thought about it until him.
He reaches out, gently caressing my belly with the back of his knuckles. His fingertips move down toward the waistband of my panties, and for a moment, I’m absolutely sure he’s going to take me.
But then, before I can blink, he’s backed off. At least six feet of distance between us.
“No,” he says, pulling his keys from his pocket. “Absolutely not. I can’t.”
“Why!?” I plead, tears pooling in my eyes. This is beyond simple lust at this point. There’s much more I want from him. Much more I need.
“Because,” he says, moving past me. “If I have you, I won’t be able to stop.”
And then he’s out the door and gone. I hear the engine of his car and the squeal of his tires as he pulls away, leaving me standing, hollow and dejected.
My legs tremble, and I fall to my knees. But I stop myself from crying. That’s too much, too far, and not what needs to happen now.