Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101163 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101163 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Boone practically rips himself away, his chest rising and falling as he stares at me with wild eyes. “We have to slow this down.”
I nod mutely, my finger touching my lips.
“I didn’t mean for it to turn hot like that,” he says, reaching out to slide his hand along the side of my neck.
Frowning at him, I ask, “It sounds like you’re apologizing. You didn’t do anything bad.”
Boone smiles and it’s part teasing, part predatory. “Yeah… but I want to do bad things to you and this is only our second date.”
I stare at him a minute, trying to process he wants to do bad things to me and even more processing that I’d be totally okay with that. “I get it’s only the second date, but we know each other better than two people who have only been on two dates.”
“I don’t want to presume anything with you,” he explains as he slides his hand from my neck, down my arm. He lifts my fingers to his mouth and brushes a kiss over my knuckles. He’s done that to me before and I know it’s supposed to be a show of chivalry, but damn… it turns me on even more. “I like you, Lilly. This isn’t about a hookup for me.”
“I know that,” I assure him. “I trust you. And you didn’t do anything to me tonight that I didn’t want you to do. Let’s not worry about time lines. Let’s just do what feels right and natural.”
I see that takes Boone slightly aback but not in a turned-off way. I can tell he’s mulling that over, and then his lips curl in a sly smile. “So we can make out after the movie?”
“At a bare minimum,” I reply with a grin.
The oven alarm chimes and Boone leans in for a fast kiss. “Let me check the chicken and start the green beans.”
He turns away and another wave of dizziness hits me, this one nothing but a surge of happiness that about buckles my legs.
CHAPTER 15
Boone
My love of horror movies started when I was twelve, which was coincidentally the year Paranormal Activity released in theaters. But that wasn’t the movie my brother Damien introduced me to when he was home for summer break after his freshman year of college.
He started me old school and we watched The Exorcist, much to my mother’s irritation when I woke her up at three a.m. after I had a horrible nightmare. She yelled at Damien that I was too young, but I kept asking for more. At first, I loved the adrenaline rush of frights and suspense, but then I got into the artistic creation and nuances. I even took to writing reviews and posting them on my social media.
While not my first scary movie, I ended up watching Paranormal Activity that same summer with Damien and I’ve seen it a few times since. I know exactly the moments that are going to freak Lilly out. It is my utmost hope that she will be snuggling in tighter during those scenes.
She’s waiting for me on the couch as I bring in bottles of water from the kitchen. I love that she’s kicked off her shoes and has her legs tucked under her. I put the drinks on the coffee table and settle in, grabbing the remote control from the side table. It takes me a few moments to log into my on-demand system and start the movie. When I return the remote, I reach over and turn off the lamp, plunging the living room into darkness, save for the blue light from the TV.
“And… I’m already scared,” Lilly says.
I lift my arm. “Get closer then.”
She moves quickly, settling in against my ribs. I toe off my tennis shoes and kick my feet up on the table. Leaning over, I place my lips against the top of her head. “Feel free to grab on to me when you need to.”
Lilly chuckles, glancing at me. “Bet you’d love that.”
“You would too,” I reply.
I spend the next hour and twenty minutes paying attention to Lilly instead of the movie. I listen to the changes in her breathing and the way her body tightens when it gets suspenseful. Her fingers clutch into my sweater over my abdomen and yeah… there are plenty of moments when her face presses into my chest as she avoids watching the scariest moments.
Near the end, when it gets to the part of the movie when Katie stands at the side of the bed watching over Micah, I can’t help but laugh. Lilly shudders over the creepiness.
“I first watched this movie when I was twelve with my brother, Damien. And that night after I fell asleep, he came into my room and stood by my bed. He made some sort of noise to wake me up and I was all groggy. I saw him standing there and I freaked out. Screamed the house down and boy, were my parents pissed.”