Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 113142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
No, not lying. She was curled up, much like a contented kitten, nestled into me with her head under my chin. She had one hand clutching my shirt and the other tucked under her own chin. Her hair had come out of its ponytail and was spread out around her—at least the tresses that weren’t locked in my fist. I pulled back a little farther, unsure how she got there. I knew she’d been stroking my head when I fell asleep. I remembered how tired she looked; she must have fallen asleep as well and ended up in my bed.
Not that I was complaining.
I couldn’t remember the last time I had woken up with anyone in my arms. I also couldn’t remember ever feeling this happy when I did—or this content. I wondered, though, how she was going to feel when she woke up.
As if sensing my thoughts, she moved, and I held my breath waiting to see what she would do. She was nestled so tight against me, my arms holding her closer than I had ever held another human being, and I was worried she would freak out when she woke up.
I had to bite back the laughter as she stretched—her legs bending and flexing, toes pointing out. Her hand holding my shirt loosened, lifting and curling, only to go right back into the same position. She tucked up her legs even tighter and she burrowed back into my chest with a little sigh, relaxing once again into sleep, looking more like a kitten than before.
Unable to resist, I loosened my hold on her hair and ran my hand through the curls, resting my cheek on her head, breathing her in. I knew she’d probably wake up in a few minutes and there was a good chance she’d be upset with herself, and even me, but until then, I could hold her. I’d wanted to do that all night.
She inhaled with a low sigh, shifted a little, then tensed up. I knew she was awake and trying to figure out what was happening.
“Relax, Ally.”
“Wh-what am I doing here?”
I tugged on her hair gently so her head tilted back. “Well, until a few minutes ago, you were asleep.”
“But… But…how?”
I grinned at her. “Usually a person closes their eyes and unwinds. Sleep finds them.”
Her gaze flew around, panicked, and she struggled to sit up. “I have to go.”
“Relax, Nightingale. Relax. Nothing happened. You fell asleep, that’s all.”
“What time is it?”
I glanced at the clock. “Almost one.”
“One? I’m supposed to meet my mother. She’ll be so angry I’m late!”
I frowned. “You worked all night. Vivian said you worked extra hours too. Your mother will understand.”
She shook her head frantically. “No, she won’t. She’ll be disappointed. She’s always disappointed in me.”
She was off the bed and heading toward the door, grabbing her purse and keys as she hurried away. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a tin of her cinnamon candies, struggling to open the container. She uttered a mild curse as she dropped the container, bending down to pick it up and taking one before she stood back up. I launched out of the bed, ignoring the pounding of my head caused by the abrupt action, and in a flash, I was behind her, drawing her back to me, wrapping my arms around her.
“Hey, Ally, calm down. You can’t leave like this. You’re trembling.”
“I have to go.”
I tightened my hold. “When you’ve calmed down. I’m not letting you leave when you’re shaking so hard that you can’t drive safely.”
Her shoulders slumped, and I spun her around, holding her tight. “It’s just lunch.”
“You don’t understand.”
“I want to.”
She tilted her head back. “Why?”
I ran my fingers over her cheeks, cupping her face. “Because of this.”
I stared into her lovely eyes. Never breaking her gaze, I covered her mouth with mine. Softly, our lips met, parted and joined again. Brushed gently, touching lightly. I drew her bottom lip into my mouth, stroking the plump flesh with my tongue.
She whimpered, a breathy little sigh that I felt in my soul. With a groan, I slipped my hands into her hair, pulling her to me. In this very moment, nothing else existed. Only her warmth, her sounds, and her sweet, cinnamon-flavored mouth. Our tongues touched, stroked, and teased. She grasped my shoulders, then she flung her arms around my neck, holding me close. I wrapped an arm around her, crushing her to my chest. I wanted to take her back to my bed, lay her down, and kiss her until she forgot about everything else but me—but us.
I knew, however, I couldn’t do that—not yet. Slowly, I tempered the kisses, until they were gentle nuzzles of my lips against hers. I drew back, setting her feet on the floor, and enfolding her in my arms. “I want to understand everything.”