Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
I’d never seen anything like it in my life. As with the rest of the house, the ceilings were high and the modern design was stunning. Gorgeous tiles and fixtures, and amazing features like two private toilet closets, two bidets, two large vanities. There was no chance of bumping into your partner unless you tried.
The open-style shower was positively ginormous with dual rain heads, gleaming marble tiles, and a series of intimidating knobs and temperature gauges. And a gorgeous contemporary chandelier hung over a standalone tub the size of a small boat.
I pointed at the tub. “This. We must do this.”
Pierce looked over his shoulder from the shower where he was busy fiddling with the knobs. “You want to take a bath?”
“Yes! OMG. A million yeses!” I reverently ran my finger along the edge. “I don’t have a bathtub in my apartment. I think this might be a small wading pool, though. It’s huge!”
“Um…okay, but it’ll take a while to fill.”
“I can wait.”
He eyed me with amusement. “I’ll get it started. Jump into the shower with me now. No sense standing hangin’ out with dried jizz on your belly.”
“Good call. Remind me to scour your island and barstool later.”
“Will do.” Pierce chuckled, turning on the tub’s faucet before pulling me with him under the shower spray.
We washed up, tied fluffy white yummy Egyptian towels around our waists and hiked downstairs to search for champagne and chocolate. I scrubbed away any lingering evidence of sex from the island in spite of his protest that his housekeeping staff would take care of it.
Sparring with him about the ten different ways that was just rude while wearing nothing but a towel kept me from spinning with incredulity. There was a decent chance I was in the middle of a dream. My evening had all the elements of a wacky adventure with all the prerequisite highs and lows, ending up at a secluded castle on a hill with a handsome prince who rocked my world.
It was…unbelievable.
Literally. My friends would think I was delusional, and I wouldn’t blame them. But they didn’t know Pierce. Maybe no one did. The personal things he’d shared were heartbreaking. He came from nothing and now had more money and fame than he’d probably ever imagined.
But he was alone. And obviously desperate enough for companionship that he’d confided in me of all people…and he didn’t seem to be in any hurry to kick me out. I was pleased and confused and dangerously infatuated.
With a movie star.
But when that same movie star dropped his towel and climbed into the tub, causing the warm water to sway ominously, I was awestruck for a host of reasons that had nothing to do with his celebrity. Pierce was gorgeous. His classically chiseled bone structure, muscular thighs, tight ass, and defined abs were godlike beautiful.
That was all well and good, but he was also surprisingly down-to-earth. And that was what made any of this possible.
No way could I ever sip Cristal naked with someone who looked like him and talk about things like…
“I have an ice cube fetish,” I confessed, smiling contentedly from my side of the tub.
“Huh?”
“You heard me.” I brushed my foot along his calf and took a sip of bubbly. “The ultimate is crushed ice, second place goes to those perfectly round balls they serve in old fashioneds.”
Pierce snorted. “It’s just ice.”
“But it’s cool ice.”
“I’m pretty sure all ice is cool. Nature of the beast and all.”
“Ha. Don’t pretend to be impervious to awesome ice cubes,” I chided lazily. “It’s one of those silly things that stand out when done right. Like…butter.”
“Oh, now you’re talking. I fucking love butter,” he enthused. “France has the best butter in the world. Creamy with flecks of salt and…”
I sank deeper so the water skimmed my collarbone, hiding my smile behind the rim of my fluted glass. He was so ridiculously charming and boyishly enthusiastic. It was sort of ironic that he portrayed a macho badass. That wasn’t him at all. He wasn’t a narcissistic celebrity either, which was kind of amazing considering his rabid fan base. Pierce was just…an ordinary guy.
Okay, that was a lie. He was hotter than the average bear, and his job was undeniably cooler than most, but he was…easy to be with. I couldn’t figure out why—other than maybe we were both a little lonely.
No need for concern, I wasn’t naïve. I knew Pierce belonged to a different world. He was only visiting my planet for a short time. And that was okay.
It was oddly refreshing to know this wouldn’t last. It meant I wouldn’t get hurt when he returned to his red-carpet, jet-setting life.
Either way, he’d move on. And so would I.
In the meantime, I’d savor every second.
9
LORENZO
No one knew Pierce and I were lovers.
No one suspected that we spent every moment apart planning rendezvous via silly text messages. Like today’s…