Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87825 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87825 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
And I love the way he’s trembling—it’s a surefire sign that what we just did affected him the way it affected me.
“You bring me to my knees, Sawyer.” The words blast against my neck as powerfully as the truth in them blasts through the last of my defenses. Something too strong for me to fight coils around my heart. Rises in my throat.
Fear.
I let out a shaky breath, scared of drawing him closer even as my arms tighten around him. I can’t even think straight as I run a hand up between the valley of his shoulder blades and sink my fingers into his hair.
And that’s the moment I know we made a horrible mistake.
Chapter Twelve
Ashton
I can’t get Sadie’s deer-caught-in-the-headlights look out of my head. It’s especially disturbing because I’ve seen it plenty of times in the mirror whenever a girl begins showing signs of getting too serious.
It’s the same damn expression I wear right before I break things off with whoever I happen to be screwing at the time.
Now that same look is lingering in Sadie’s eyes, and I don’t like it one bit. She tried to play it off. Tried using the excuse that Mandy would be home soon to get me out of her apartment.
But she’s scared, and it has nothing to do with sucking and swallowing. She feels more than she’s letting on, and I hate how she’s wrestling with herself over this. We’re approaching a fork in the road, and it’s coming up way too fast for my liking.
If I can’t win her over, I’ll have to let her go in order to save our friendship.
I know her as well as I know myself. Sadie has always been part of me, but over time that part morphed into this ball of longing in my gut I can’t ignore any longer. I’m dying to taste her lips, aching to get inside her body. Not just her body, but her soul.
The realization has been trickling in for what seems like forever, and now it’s crashing over me like an unstoppable wave. I fucking want her more than I’ve ever wanted anyone or anything.
The annoying redhead my sister befriended on the playground when we were young and innocent. The fiery girl who infiltrated my heart before I even realized it was happening.
The stunning woman who has me wrapped now.
I pull into my driveway and cut the engine on the bike. The rain has slowed to a drizzle, and tiny drops collect in my hair and on my coat as I head up the pathway to my front door. I stall at the sight of the shadowy form sitting on my front stoop. Corinne is huddling under the awning, staying dry from the rain.
“How long have you been waiting?”
“Not too long.”
Stepping past her, I insert a key into the doorknob. “You should have called,” I say, wincing at my harsh tone as I swing the door open.
She rises to her feet. “I would have if I’d known you’d be in such a shitty mood.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. I’ve just got a lot on my mind.” I switch on a light and gesture for her to come inside.
Corinne follows me into the living room. “I messaged you. Didn’t you get it?”
Shit. I completely forgot. “Uh, yeah, I did. It’s been a busy day.”
She settles a hand on my arm. “Did I do something to piss you off?”
I take in her hunched shoulders and feel my own slump. “You didn’t do anything, Corinne. I just wasn’t expecting you.”
Nibbling on her lower lip, she stares at me with hurt in her brown eyes. “I miss you.”
And I know I’m wearing the expression—the same one Sadie shot my way before I left her apartment twenty minutes ago.
“Look, Corinne, I don’t want to hurt—”
“Don’t,” she interrupts. “Don’t say you don’t want to hurt me. It’s too late for that.”
God, I feel like such an asshole for not addressing this before now. “I should’ve realize sooner that you felt…more. I thought we were just having fun.”
“Just having fun?” Her brown eyes are bright with pain, and the accusation in them spears through me, making me feel like the bastard I am. “I thought we had something…I mean…” Lowering her head, she wipes under her eyes. “What did I do? Just tell me so I can fix it.”
Fucking hell. I hate this part. I hate hurting people, especially someone as sweet and vulnerable as Corinne.
“You didn’t do anything. I’m just not into serious hookups. You already know this.”
She raises her chin and looks me square in the eyes. “I’m in love with you. How could you not know that?”
Closing my eyes, I drag a hand down my face. I’m not ready for this—for this girl standing before me, saying she loves me as tears drip from her eyes.