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)
“I’m feeling better already,” he says, and to punctuate it lifts his fork with a glob of icing on it. Pulling his mask down, he pops it in his mouth. “Mmm. So good!”
“Brat,” I say affectionately, chucking him on the chin.
I stand from the table, not wanting to ruin his cool cred. “Too weird for me to cheer you on when you play table hockey?”
“Not too weird at all,” he assures me.
CHAPTER 19
Boone
Walking through my apartment with Lilly following behind, I flip on the lights. I’m not a man who’s prone to nerves or lack of confidence. I know what I want with Lilly and I’m confident she wants the same things. But as we walk into my home, having left Aiden back at the hospital, tucked into bed and snoring hard because he had such a big day, I’m not sure exactly the next step to take with her.
My big plan was to take it slow with the intimacy. Give her pleasure, make her delirious with wanting the next step so when we did go there, it would be even more special.
But Lilly has been so open in her feelings and desires. She wants to touch me and if she asks me tonight, I won’t be able to say no. Not only because I don’t ever want to deny her anything, but the more I come to care for her, the more I want to fuck her. That’s the ultimate way for two people to bond and I’m ready for that step now. Bottom line… I think my initial plans aren’t going to work tonight but it will all depend on what Lilly wants. I’ll let her lead the way.
Lilly is the first thing I think of when I wake up in the morning, the last thing before I go to sleep and a million other times in between.
She’s the one for me, for as long as she’ll have me, and that I know with absolute certainty. If we have sex tonight, it will be better than anything I’ve ever had because we’ve developed our relationship on a deeper level that has nothing to do with attraction or desire. So often in the dating game, the players are sidetracked by lust, blind to so many things along the way. When Lilly let me be an integral part of her life—including helping with the care of her father and brother—it solidified a connection that some people might not reach for years.
Maybe never.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Lilly says, and I realize I’ve walked into the kitchen and I’m staring at the fridge. I glance over my shoulder to find her staring at me expectantly. Her purse is on the small island, her sweater draped over the back of a stool.
I could lie and say I was thinking about opening a bottle of wine for us to relax with or that I was reminiscing about Aiden’s birthday party…
Instead, I turn and move toward her. Hands to her hips, I pull her close and stare down at her. Our eyes lock and she looks at me with such naked emotion that my heart feels like it’s going to leap out of my chest to join with hers. I have to blink or I’ll get lost.
My words will get lost and I need them now.
“I don’t have any expectations of what will happen tonight,” I begin. Her expression doesn’t change, which tells me she trusts that no matter what, she’s safe with me. “I had this grand, glorious plan to dole out a little more pleasure to you and that we’d continue to take baby steps. But I’m not sure I want to wait. And I’m sorry if that sounds crass, being so forward with what I want, but I want to make love to you tonight.”
A soft breath stutters from Lilly’s mouth, blowing across my throat. Her gaze is forthright, her tone sure. “It’s what I want too. I don’t need the baby steps. I’ve already given more of myself to you than anyone, and I’m ready to give you that last piece.”
Those words are such a turn-on, they make me want to drag her to the floor and fill her up. Instead, I show a measure of restraint and pull her into me for a sexy, tongue-filled kiss that leaves both of us groaning. I turn, press her into the counter and kiss her so thoroughly, her fingernails dig into my arms. That only serves to fuel my lust. Upon the realization that Lilly is mine tonight, I’m fighting for control.
Reluctantly, I pull away. “Would you like some wine? Or something else to drink?”
Her face is flushed, eyes hazy. She shakes her head. “Let’s go to bed, okay?”
Fuck yes. Right now. Run, run, run.
Instead, I take her hand and kiss her knuckles before leading her through the apartment. My nerves jangle again and my blood is racing, but once I’m in my bedroom and she’s back in my arms with my mouth on hers, everything is just as it should be.