Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
We’d planned to get together in the morning, though, for breakfast before I had to catch my flight. That seems safe enough, I told myself.
Yet despite successfully breaking away from him, every second since I’d returned to my room, I regretted not spending the night with him. He’d promised “not to try anything,” saying he just wanted to lie with me. And I would’ve been fine with that—but after today, I didn’t trust myself. I didn’t want to sleep with him. I wanted to sleep with him, and that was the problem. Taking that step with him wasn’t fair when there were still things about his current life I wasn’t sure I could ever accept.
As I lay on my hotel bed, staring at the ceiling, I realized I still had the two pieces of cake I’d wrapped in napkins and stuffed into my purse earlier. When they’d served it, neither Atticus nor I had an appetite for cake.
Something had kept me from getting out of my dress and taking a shower. Intuitively, I knew I wasn’t done for the day. It was the middle of the night now, but all I could think about were those two pieces of cake burning a hole in my purse—not because I was hungry, but because they were my excuse to see him again. Because as much as I’d already decided it was a bad idea, Atticus was all I could think about.
I didn’t want to leave California tomorrow, either. Didn’t want to leave him. And I couldn’t believe I was wasting this precious time alone in my room.
Reaching for my bag, I headed out the door. He’d given me his room number in case I changed my mind, and I hoped I remembered it correctly.
When I got to his door, I took a deep breath before knocking.
A few seconds later, Atticus opened, and his mouth curved into a smile. “Hi, beautiful. This is a surprise.” Though he didn’t seem that surprised at all.
I raised an eyebrow. “It almost seems like you were waiting for me.”
“I’m always waiting for you, baby. Always.”
He still wore his suit, though he’d loosened his tie, and his hair was beautifully disheveled, as if he’d been running his hand through it since we parted.
I entered the room, reaching into my bag. “I, uh, forgot to give you this.”
He took the cake. “Thank you.” It was mostly just a lump inside the napkin. “You came here to give me a smashed-up piece of cake?”
I felt myself blush. “I know how much you love…cake.”
He set it on an end table. “Not as much as I love you.”
My heart felt ready to explode. The words I love you, too were at the tip of my tongue, but I didn’t feel brave enough to unleash them yet.
“I’ve been staring at the ceiling, wishing you’d come, but not wanting to cross the line by calling and begging you. I guess wishes do come true sometimes.” He inched forward. “I’ve had that happen more than once today. Anyway, you’re right. I did have a feeling you’d show.”
As he stared down at me, he placed his hand on my chin. Then he took my mouth in his, the long-lost yet familiar taste consuming me. I moaned. My Atticus. It had been too damn long since he’d kissed me like this. It was different from our chaste kiss back in New Jersey. That had been controlled. This was completely unbridled, wild, and ravenous. His tongue searched desperately for mine as our bodies pressed together. I knew there was no turning back.
“Don’t fucking leave me tonight,” he rasped. “Stay with me. Be with me. I can’t handle being apart from you.” He moved back to look at me. “It’s what you want, right? That’s why you really came?” His eyes glistened, as if he might cry.
Any potential response was squelched as his lips returned to mine, devouring me before he lowered his mouth to my neck.
I whimpered as he sucked on my skin, my head bending back in sweet surrender. “Atticus…”
“Let me make love to you, Nicole. I need to release this tension inside of me, everything I’ve been bottling up for more than three fucking years. I need to give it back to you tonight.”
I panted, clawing at his back. “Yes…” I managed to say.
Atticus groaned as he kissed me harder. My panties were already completely wet. I could feel how much he wanted me as his erection pressed against me. My knees quivered as the muscles between my legs contracted.
My chest rose and fell as I pulled back for a moment of air and looked up to meet his incendiary stare. I was going to give all of myself to him tonight. I was going to let myself have something I’d wanted for so long and love every minute of it. I wasn’t going to worry about the repercussions. Not until tomorrow, at least.