Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“Abby is going to write a formal letter to Tom’s attorney letting him know that his client needs to stop contacting me, and that if he doesn’t, we’ll pursue a restraining order.”
“Good.” Lucas looks at Maddi. “I’m gonna put her to bed. Why don’t you go get ready yourself?”
My stomach fills with butterflies. The last time I stayed here, it wasn’t something I planned. I spent the night sleeping in my clothes. Tonight is different. We’re different. Things between us are more intense now. I don’t know how I will be able to handle sleeping in the same bed as him and not taking advantage. I just can’t since Maddi is in the house.
“Sure.” I watch him stand. “I should take Merida out,” I whisper as he scoops Maddi into his arms.
“I’ll take her. Just get ready for bed,” he whispers back before carrying Maddi to her room. Merida follows at his heels.
I get up off the couch and head for his room, where he dropped my overnight bag. I grab it and take it with me to the bathroom, then change out of my clothes and into a pair of cotton sleep pants and a matching cotton tank. I tie my hair up into a ponytail and take off my makeup. My stomach is still in knots at the idea of sleeping in a bed with Lucas again. I look at myself in the mirror and frown. I’m not ugly, but I’m also not beautiful like Eva—or skinny like she is, either. When I met her, I felt like I had crawled out from under the rock she used as a throne. I had guessed she was beautiful because Maddi is beautiful, but I didn’t know just how gorgeous she was. Her face is model perfect, and I look like the girl next door’s stepsister. Her body is toned, and mine is soft. We’re complete opposites. Keeping my eyes on my reflection, I suck in my slightly round stomach and stand a little taller, pulling my shoulders back. It changes nothing—I look the same, only uncomfortable.
Putting my extra weight out of my head—since I can’t exactly lose twenty pounds before bed anyway—I brush my teeth, apply night cream, and leave the bathroom. When I enter the bedroom, I hear Lucas back come through the front door and then tell Merida to go to Maddi. Unsure what to do with myself, I’m still standing next to the bed when he comes into the room. His eyes sweep over me, then soften before he moves past me to the lamp on the side table. He flips it on, then moves back to the door to shut off the overhead light.
After brushing his lips over my forehead, he whispers, “Get in, baby. I’ll be just a few minutes.”
I pull back the blankets and slide into bed. I hear the shower start and shiver from the image that pops into my head. I close my eyes and think about puppies and kittens—anything to get my mind off Lucas naked in the shower and the water running over his body. I must do a good job of distracting myself, because I fall asleep.
I slowly wake up, feeling warm and safe. My body is half on top of Lucas. My head is on his shoulder, and his arm curves around me to rest on my hip. My torso is pressed to his, and my thigh is between his legs. I’ve always loved to cuddle. Tom never did. He would for a while after sex, but eventually he would force me away so that he could sleep. This is only the second time I’ve spent the night with Lucas, but both times I’ve woken with him holding me. I open my eyes and notice that the room is barely lit; a small ray of light is coming in through the closed blinds. We agreed to meet Lisa and David for breakfast, with Fawn and Levi, this morning at eight. I don’t know what time it is, but I need to shower and get ready, then take Merida out. Plus I don’t really feel comfortable with Maddi finding me in her dad’s bed—even if she does know I slept here last night.
I start to move away from Lucas, but before I can get anywhere he rolls over, forcing me to my back. His big, warm body comes to rest partly on top of mine, with his knee between my legs. His face goes to the space between my neck and shoulder, and his lips brush against my sensitive skin.
“Good morning,” he whispers in a deep voice.
I shiver and slide my hands up his sides, under his arms. “Morning.” My voice comes out sultry as his fingers wrap around my side and his thumb brushes across my nipple.
He looks down at me, his face still soft with sleep, his hair mussed. He is always handsome, but looking up at him with my hands on his bare skin, his knee pressed to my core, his weight on me, I’ve never been more attracted to him.