Total pages in book: 14
Estimated words: 13963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 70(@200wpm)___ 56(@250wpm)___ 47(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 13963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 70(@200wpm)___ 56(@250wpm)___ 47(@300wpm)
He’s felt this way for a while?
How didn’t I realize it?
“But our friendship…I don’t want to lose it.”
He swallows up the small bit of space between us until I’m able to see all the chocolaty-colored flecks that make up his irises as his warm breath drifts across my lips.
“I promise that will never happen. No matter what, we’ll always be friends. But I want more, Stella. I want to be the man in your life. I want to hold you in my arms at night.” His voice turns rough, sounding as if it’s been scraped raw. “More than that, I want to be your everything, just like you’re mine.”
Tears prick the backs of my eyes as I reveal what’s in my heart. “You already are my everything.”
His gaze searches mine, sifting through all my private thoughts. “Do you trust me?”
“Of course I do.”
“Then let’s give this a shot. A real shot. I promise, baby, you won’t regret it. I’d move both heaven and hell to make you happy.”
My teeth scrape across my lip as I watch the emotion swirl through his eyes. It feels a little bit like I’m leaping off a cliff into the abyss. It’s terrifying. I have no idea if I’ll land safely or not. But I trust Riggs.
I force out a slow, shaky breath. “Okay.”
He tugs me onto his lap before nipping my bottom lip with sharp teeth. And just like yesterday, arousal shoots through me, lighting me up from the inside out.
That’s all it takes for his eyes to darken with pent-up desire. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about last night.”
Heat pools in my core as I admit, “Me neither.”
Barely does my response escape before his lips descend, settling over mine. His tongue sweeps over the seam and without further prodding, I open so they can tangle. Shivers dance down my spine as electricity hums in the charged air.
A whimper of need breaks free from me.
“Hey, get a room,” someone yells.
Riggs pulls away just enough to growl as he stares into my eyes, “I think that’s an excellent idea.”
His hands wrap around my waist, lifting me to my feet as he pops to his. Then he shoves my books into my bag and throws the strap over his shoulder.
“You ready to get out of here?”
A smile lifts the corners of my lips as I nod. “Yeah, I am.”
With that, he tugs my fingers, towing me from the coffee shop and into the chilled morning air.
RIGGS
Unable to hold off for another moment, my lips crash onto hers as we make our way up the concrete walkway that cuts through a swath of snow-covered lawn to the house I share with my teammates.
Now that I’ve finally gotten a taste of Stella, I have no idea how I went so long without it. She’s like the very air needed for survival.
And so damn sweet.
Once we make it up the rickety front porch stairs, my hand scrabbles for the handle without lifting my mouth from hers. My fingers wrap around cold metal before shoving open the door and steering us carefully over the threshold and into the entryway.
I’m well aware that this would go a lot faster if I’d just take a step in retreat, but I can’t bring myself to do it. Driving over here from campus without mauling her was a feat in itself. I broke about ten different traffic laws in my rush to get home. Her hand was firmly ensconced in mine the entire time. Barely could I drag my gaze away. I was afraid that if I did, she’d vanish into thin air.
Or worse, I’d wake up and realize this had been nothing more than a dream.
I’ve wanted Stella for far too long, and now that I actually have her, I refuse to let go.
“See? Told you something was going on between them. That kiss last night was too damn hot to be just friends. You owe me twenty.” I break away long enough to glare at Hayes. A grin slides across his face as he pops his shoulders in a careless shrug. “What? I saw this coming from a mile away.” He elbows Bridger before rolling his eyes. “Not like this guy.”
My other teammate glares. “Thanks a lot. Now I owe this dumbass money.”
Instead of responding, I scoop Stella into my arms and carry her up the staircase to the second floor. The warm weight of her against me feels so damn good.
She buries her face against my chest. “I’m so embarrassed.”
A chuckle escapes from me. “Why? Because everyone around us could see that I was in love with you? Except for, you know, you.”
She lifts her face until her eyes can fasten onto mine. “I’m sorry, Riggs.”
“Don’t be. Our relationship is right where it’s supposed to be. Don’t ever doubt it.”