Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87439 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87439 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
I dumped my clothes into a hamper in the laundry room, grabbed Silas’s things from the dryer and left them on the sofa before tiptoeing upstairs. I took a quick shower and redressed in a pair of sweats, a black Henley, and my comfiest slippers. Downstairs again, I grabbed my laptop and my reading glasses, then settled at the kitchen island to do a little work.
I sent out a company-wide email regarding the weather. Those who could work from home would do so, but everyone else would likely get a snow day tomorrow too. I checked the status on a large delivery we were expected to ship out next week, touched base with our main distributor, and sent an early good-night text to Ivy and Chase. I was pleased the message went through and that I still had an Internet connection.
That wouldn’t last. Neither kid responded, which made me think Sarah’s had gone out already. Dangerous territory. I could feel familiar frustration gnaw at my insides. I was an expert at worrying about shit I couldn’t control. Were they warm enough? Had Sarah prepared properly and made sure they had food and supplies and—
“No! Don’t…don’t. Okay…okay…no, stop!”
I abandoned my phone and darted to the living area where Silas was rolling on the mattress, in the throes of a nightmare.
I set a hand on his biceps. “Hey, it’s just a dream.”
Silas gasped for air and sat up so fast he knocked me on my ass. “Where am I?”
“Christ.” I fixed my glasses as I scrambled to my knees, crouching next to the blow-up bed with my back to the fire. “You okay?”
“I’m—” Silas blinked rapidly, raking his hand through his sleep-mussed hair. “Yeah. Shit, I’m so sorry.”
“Hey, relax. It’s all good.” I narrowed my eyes as if that might help assess the situation better. “How do you feel?”
He lowered the comforter and brought his hands to his face, flexing each digit. “Better. Much better. I can move my fingers and toes too. I just…I can’t believe I fell asleep. What time is it?”
I swallowed hard as my gaze wandered from Silas’s broad shoulders to his puckered nipples and the sexy trail of hair pointing south. I grabbed the boxer briefs from the stack of his newly dried clothes and tossed them to him.
He mumbled his thanks and wiggled into them. If I’d looked away, I’d never have noticed his erection. And I might not have noticed the head of his cock peeking out from the elastic band of his black boxer briefs. It was pink and if I wasn’t completely mistaken, I was pretty sure that was a bead of precum at the tip.
Fuck. Me.
I turned quickly and added wood to the fire, stoking the embers as I adjusted my twitching dick in my sweats.
“It’s, uh…almost four o’clock,” I replied.
“No way! How long have I been asleep?”
“A couple of hours…give or take.”
Silas widened his eyes. “That’s nuts. Wow. Note to self: Don’t go for a walk in a snowstorm. Ever again. I can’t believe I did this to you. I feel terrible, man.”
I scoffed. “Don’t do that. I’m just glad you’re feeling better. Hungry?”
“Uh…maybe. I’m a little dopey.” Silas’s laughter sounded like release. “We ate the soup, right?”
“We did.”
“And you made grilled cheese.”
“Yep. Something light might be best for now. I can whip up an omelet if you’re interested. I have ham and bell peppers.”
“I can help.” Silas scooted forward and scanned the mess of blankets. “Any idea where my shirt is?”
I lifted the comforter. “Here it is.”
He got on his knees, his momentum pulling him toward me. And now I was glued to his side on a wobbly mattress.
“My bad.” Silas flashed a glib half smile. Kind of charming, kind of dickish.
I huffed, not quite annoyed, but maybe I should have been. He was too close, and I couldn’t avoid pressing against him as I attempted to stand.
But Silas moved too. That teensy bit of contact sparked a collision, dragging his bulge across my upper thigh.
And just like that, a bolt of lightning zinged through my veins.
Ignore it, ignore it. Nothing happening here. Just a case of post-nap wood. Totally normal.
Silas unabashedly stuck his hand inside his briefs and pushed his hard-on out of the way like a man wrangling a snake into submission.
“That’s embarrassing,” he said, clearly not embarrassed.
I didn’t move. I couldn’t.
The danger of the situation had passed, leaving me with a half-naked warrior with golden skin and glistening muscles, who just happened to have a fucking semi…in my living room. I was a strong man with nerves of steel and more willpower than the average joe, but something was wrong with my reflexes ’cause now I was the one who was frozen still.
“We should…omelet,” I whispered.
“Omelet. Yeah.” Silas’s nostrils flared as his gaze flitted from my eyes to my mouth.