Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
His expression softened. “That bad, hmm?”
That look on his face—it was worth the pain.
“I’ve had better experiences.”
“With whom?” he asked harshly.
I frowned. “Not like that. You were the first guy to get to second base. And the few kisses I’ve had, had been more disturbing than memorable.”
“You Americans and your bases,” he said with a grin, then lowered his voice. “No guy ever touched your wonderful tits?”
“That’s the thing that caught your attention?” I asked indignantly.
His eyes travelled over my upper body in apparent awe. Heat rose into my cheeks.
“They are marvelous,” he said reverently.
I started laughing, and slowly the tension in my core loosened. I fell silent. Again, stunned by the man above me—inside me. “You can move,” I said quietly.
And he did. He was slow and gentle, as if we had all the time in the world. He never took his eyes off my face even when his own became more and more strained. I could have watched him forever, if there hadn’t been the little issue of pain. Xavier didn’t falter in his thrusts, and when he reached between us and his fingers found my sweet spot, some of the pain disappeared. I wasn’t sure how long he could continue, but his stamina was admirable. Eventually, I dared to whisper, “Can you come?”
Xavier’s brows snapped together. “I want you to come first.”
Admirable but unrealistic. “I don’t think I can come,” I got out, flushing.
Xavier faltered in his thrusts. “That bad? Should I stop?”
“I want to see you come,” I admitted.
“I don’t want to hurt you worse.”
“Please, Xavier.”
Something in his eyes shifted, something that filled my chest with warmth.
He kissed me lightly. “I’ll be quick. I’m not going to last much longer if I let loose. You’re too fucking tight.” He sped up a bit, his thrusts hitting deeper than before.
I clung to his neck. “Come.”
By now, he was moving faster and harder than my body was happy about, but I wanted to see him come. I didn’t think I’d ever wanted anything more.
And then he finally tensed, his head falling forward as he jerked inside of me. Sweat trickled down his chest. I slid my fingers through the fine dark hairs there, over the steel of his muscles. He breathed out, his stomach flexing. He stayed like that for a while, and I couldn’t help but feel a stupid sense of triumph that a man like him wanted me.
He pulled out and let himself fall to the bed beside me before he slid his hand under my waist and pulled me toward him like I weighed nothing. I pressed my face into his chest, marveling at the hammering of his heart, at his musky scent.
I was utterly and completely in love.
And the throbbing between my legs was joined by another pain, a hollow sensation in my chest, because Xavier didn’t do love. He didn’t even date. He fucked and rucked. Everyone knew it.
“Are you all right?” Xavier asked in a deep after-sex rumble I’d never heard before, a voice like warm honey and crisp autumn leaves.
My throat tightened.
Xavier tensed. “Evie?”
“I’m fine,” I said quietly but firmly.
Xavier drew back, probably to look at my face, but I pressed my cheek harder against his chest, scared my feelings for him would be plain as day.
“I want to see your face,” he murmured. His voice had a quality to it I didn’t recognize. My curiosity won out and I finally lifted my head.
Xavier’s dark brows were drawn together, his short hair mussed up, and guilt shone in his eyes. He had no reason to feel guilty. Everything between us had been my choice. He didn’t say anything, only searched my face, and I let him. I took my time admiring him, the dark stubble ghosting his strong jaw and sharp cheekbones, the piercing gray of his eyes like a summer sky before an impending storm, those kissable lips capable of the most infuriating smirk in the history of humankind. Love hadn’t been part of the plan.
“Did I hurt you?” he asked quietly. His worry upped my emotions, and it took considerable effort to keep it from showing on my face.
“It’s getting better.” I had a feeling the real hurt was yet to come, in the morning, when the harsh reality smacked me in the face. “Can we go to sleep now?”
He nodded but the look of regret and guilt remained, and I knew why: he, too, was thinking of the next morning.
I kissed Xavier once, lightly, sweetly, then rested my cheek against his firm chest. He shifted and the lights went out. It took me a while to feel tired, and even longer to fall asleep.
Sunshine tickled my face. I opened my eyes, staring out at a familiar skyline, at the blue late-summer sky over the harbor bridge. I knew at once where I was and the soreness reminded me what had happened. I’d been here too many mornings picking up the pieces after Xavier was done with his latest conquest.