Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 91840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
“Did you buy the whole store?”
“Just the essentials and enough to feed you for the next week.”
He leans his head back against the sofa and takes a drag of his cigarette.
I’m mesmerized by the set of his lips around that cigarette and then the way the smoke flows out of his mouth before curling up into the air.
Smoking is gross. But, somehow, he makes it seem sexy.
“Thank you.” He turns his head to look at me. “I appreciate you cooking for me.”
The way he’s looking at me, warm brown eyes on mine, I can feel his stare in every part of my body. And it feels good.
“So”—I clear my throat, looking away—“do you want to eat now?”
“Shower,” he says. “I feel gross.”
“How is that going to work?” I ask.
He stares down at the boot on his leg. “Fuck if I know. Guess I can take it off while I shower.”
“Nope. Tate said under no circumstances are you to take it off. So, it’s shower with the boot on. Or would a bath be easier? I could keep the water low, and you could hang your leg out of the bath. Rest your foot on a stool.”
“Sure, I guess that could work.” He shrugs.
“Okay. I’ll go run you a bath.”
I head off to his bathroom and get the bath going. I find some bubble bath that says it helps with muscle relaxation and pour it in.
I need something for him to rest his foot on while he’s in the tub.
There’s a stool under the vanity unit. I pull it out and set it next to the bath.
Perfect height.
The bathroom has started to steam up, and my shirt is sticking to my skin.
I hear the sound of Gabe’s crutches on the wooden floor of his bedroom.
I shut off the taps.
“It’s ready,” I tell him.
“Thanks,” he says, coming into the bathroom.
“So…” I twist my hands in front of me. “Will you be okay getting in…or do you need my help?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Okay. Right then. Just holler if you need anything.”
I back out of the bathroom and close the door behind me.
I hear the swoosh of his clothes being removed, and I try not to think about Gabe getting naked behind the door.
He’s naked in there.
Lord help me.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I force all thoughts of naked Gabe away. Then, I take myself out of there and into the kitchen where I give myself a much-needed infusion of coffee.
Ava
“Speedy!”
I hear the urgent call of my name, so I come running from the kitchen.
“You okay?” I call through the bathroom door. I don’t want to just go barging in there.
“Where have you been? I’ve been calling you for ages.”
“Ages? How long?”
“Well, I yelled your name, like, three times.”
“Three times is hardly ages, Gabe. And I was in the kitchen. What’s up?”
“Will you come in? Talking through the door is annoying.”
I push open the door, and there he is, in the tub, in all his naked glory. Leg hanging out of the bath. Cigarette in hand. Bubbles covering the important part. Olive skin as far as the eye can see. A smattering of dark hair on his ripped chest.
Dear God.
He looks sexy as hell.
My heart starts thumping, my pulse skyrocketing through the roof. My girl parts shimmy with pure joy.
Gulp.
I look away, lifting my eyes to stare at the wall, because, if I keep looking at him, I might do something crazy, like climb in the tub with him.
“I can’t believe you’re smoking in the tub.” My mouth has gone dry. I run my tongue around it.
“What else am I supposed to do in here?”
“I don’t know.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Relax.”
“I am relaxing—with a cigarette.”
My eyes come down to the ashtray perched on the edge of the bath. “It already has two cigarette butts in it.”
“Or three. I was bored, and you took ages to come.”
“Good Lord.” I lift my eyes skyward. “So, what can I do for you, Smoky?”
“I need help getting out of the bath. Seems getting in was easy—well, not easy but easier. Getting out, not so easy.”
My eyes flash down to him. “But…you’re naked.”
“Naked is how people usually are when in the bath, Speedy.”
“B-but I can’t help you get out. I mean, you’re naked. I’ll see you naked.”
“You’ve seen me naked before.”
“I have not,” I gasp.
“You’ve watched my movies. You’ve seen me naked before. I’m not shy, Speedy.”
“No shit.”
“Are you a…prude?” His voice is teasing, but there’s a definite challenge to his tone.
“No, I am not a prude!”
“Then, what’s the problem?”
“Well…I mean, sure, I’ve seen you naked in your movies, but this is real life, and your thing…” I nod my head in the direction of his southern region.
His eyes go down. “My cock?”
“Yeah.” I swallow roughly.
“Say it.”
“What?”
“Cock, Speedy. Say it.”
I frown at him, my hands unfurling from my chest and finding my hips. “Cock. Cock. Cock. Cock! Better?”