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)
The other thing I figured out?
One taste will never be enough to satiate the deep well of need that lives inside me where this girl is concerned.
STELLA
Hours later and I’m still thinking about that kiss. Even though neither of us has mentioned it, it’s like an elephant sitting between us.
Or maybe it’s just me.
Maybe I’m the only one dwelling on it.
When I stifle a yawn, Riggs leans closer, his warm breath stirring the hair near my ear. “Ready for bed? It’s after midnight.”
The low scrape of his voice has my belly doing a strange little flip flop.
Or maybe it’s the question itself.
Although, it shouldn’t. The two of us sharing a bed isn’t new or a big deal. We’ve done it plenty of times before.
And yet…
It feels like a huge deal.
And I don’t want it to.
I don’t want anything to change between us.
Once you sleep with someone, the dynamics in your relationship shift. There’s no way to stop it from happening. It’s inevitable.
As much as I’d like to pretend otherwise, our connection has morphed into something new. Something different. It’s like one day I suddenly noticed the way his joggers were slung low on his lean hips or how a chunk of his hair hung in his eyes. Whenever those little sparks of attraction flared to life, I’ve been diligent about stomping them out and pretending they never happened. For the most part, it hasn’t been a problem.
Unfortunately, that kiss has blown my carefully constructed façade to smithereens, and I have no idea how to put the pieces back together again.
Or if it’s even possible at this point.
Every time he says something, my gaze roves over his face, taking in all the subtle changes adulthood has wrought, before dipping to his mouth. The way his tongue will peek through his lips makes my panties flood with undeniable heat.
Someone needs to explain how one tiny kiss has rocked the very foundation of our friendship.
It doesn’t make sense.
“Stell?”
I blink out of those thoughts and refocus my attention on Riggs. His head is cocked and he’s staring at me with a heavy-lidded look. It’s almost as if he knows exactly what’s circling through my head.
Heat stings my cheeks.
How embarrassing would that be?
That kiss probably meant absolutely nothing to him and here I am, obsessing about it like a loser, because when it comes down to it…I can’t remember the last time I locked lips with someone and it blew my world apart.
Have I ever been knocked off balance like that?
I almost wince, privately acknowledging the harsh truth to myself.
The only consolation I have is that there’s been a long string of lousy dates in my not-so-distant past. Including the one tonight. That has to be the reason all these weird feelings have been roused, right?
It’s embarrassing to realize that I have to redirect my thoughts for a second time. “Yeah?”
“I asked if you’re ready to hit the sheets.” A smirk curls around the edges of his lips.
For some reason, that question makes me feel even more tense. Like a tightly wound spring just waiting to go off.
As difficult as it is, I tear my gaze away from his and glance around the living room. With the late hour, the crowd has thinned. Maybe the best course of action would be to crash at Juliette’s apartment. A little time and distance from Riggs would probably be enough to set everything to rights again.
Except…
Neither she nor Carina are anywhere to be found. When did they take off? And how didn’t I notice?
Ugh. I’m stuck here. Guilt suffuses me because I don’t mean it that way. Under normal circumstances, I love spending time with Riggs. But right now, it feels like we’re in this really weird place and it’s exactly where I don’t want to be.
Left without any other recourse, I say, “Yup. I’m super tired. I’m sure I’ll be out as soon as my head hits the pillow.” At least, that’s my hope. I just want to put tonight firmly behind us.
As soon as the words leave my lips, he pops to his feet and pulls me up. Before I realize it, he’s dragging me through the crowd to the staircase and then up to the second floor. A handful of moments later, we’re in his room. I stare at the queen-sized bed that dominates the space. I’m always popping over and hanging out, and this is the first time I’ve been hyperaware of it.
My hands tremble as I beeline for my duffle and rifle through it. Once my fingers lock around the soft cotton of my tank top, I hightail it to the safety of the bathroom. As soon as I slip inside and close the door, I lean against it and squeeze my eyelids tightly closed.
I really need to get a hold of myself. I’m acting like a twenty-one-year-old virgin who’s never been within five feet of a boy before, and that’s not who I am.