Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 71246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
She nods but says nothing else. I’m not sure why I feel so drawn to her, but I decide to push my questioning thoughts away. Silence blankets us as she moves throughout the room, examining each item on my wall, the knick-knacks, and books on my shelves.
The timer dings in the kitchen, letting me know that the pizza is done, and I go to check on it. Finding that it’s bubbly and brown, I pull it out, turn off the oven, and get two waters from the fridge. Jude hesitantly steps into the kitchen as I’m slicing the pizza up.
She looks excitedly at the meal, and I almost laugh.
We eat in silence, a thousand and one questions swirling in my head. As I finish my food, I clean up the kitchen, giving my hands something to do. Jude takes small bites of her food, eating only one piece. I want to tell her to eat more, but consider how rude that might be.
She watches me, and when I get up and head into the living room, I find her hot on my heels, her movements tiny and hesitant.
Back in the living room, I whirl around, and she almost collides with me. A small gasp passing her lips. My hands reach out to steady her and an electrical current zings through me at the touch. I’m not sure where the hell my next sentence comes from, but I realize as soon as I say the words that I mean them. “I was thinking, if you don’t have a place to stay, you can stay here for a while. No charge at all. I just want to help you.”
She looks at me like I’m a flickering flame that might burn her if she gets too close. Tilting my head to the side, I stare down at her curiously. Wonderment, fear, and something else blooms in her big blue eyes. I drop my hands down to my sides, afraid that I might be the reason for her fear, but of course, she shocks me by pushing up onto her tiptoes.
Easing a little closer, there isn’t even an inch of space between our bodies, and yet I welcome the warmth of her body against mine. Her chest brushes mine, and when her small hands lift and come to rest on my shoulders, a strange heat creeps through me, making my heart beat a little faster in my chest.
Then like an unexpected gift, she shocks the hell out of me, she leans forward and presses her plump pink lips against mine, and the entire world falls away around me.
JUDE
I’m kissing him. I’m actually doing it. My heart thunders against my ribs, and I feel like I’m about to pass out. My lips move against his, and I wonder if he can tell how inexperienced I am? Am I even doing this right? Is he going to push me away any second? I try and think of how I can do this. I’ve never kissed a man before or even touched one.
Pulling away, I feel a heat forming between my thighs. My father always said that spot was sacred, meant for my future husband and no one else. The mere reminder of him has me pushing the fear of what I’m about to do away.
They’ll disown you if you’re not a virgin.
Chest heaving, I drop my gaze to the button on his jeans and reach for it with trembling hands. You can do this. It can’t be that hard. I’ve merely flicked the button on his jeans open when his hands come out of nowhere, circling my wrists. They’re rough, warm, and strong, so strong. It hits me then that he’s halting my motions. Oh no. This is where he tells me no. Where he pushes me away. Maybe he’s realized I lied about my age. Maybe I’m too young for him? I’m only eighteen.
I have one chance at this, one singular chance, and it’s about to slip away.
“That’s not part of the deal. You don’t have to…” I look up at him, noting the sharp angles of his face, his clenched jaw, how dark his eyes seem to have gotten in a matter of seconds. He looks angry. Did I anger him? Make a mistake in believing that maybe he wants me?
“Don’t you want me?” I whisper, trying my best not to sound as rejected and hurt as I feel. I’m so far out of my element, I might as well be on another planet. Maybe I’ve done something wrong.
“I mean… yeah, of course, I want you. You’re a beautiful woman, but you… I don’t want you to think that you have to do this for a place to sleep or food. I’m not like that.” His green eyes soften, and the honesty in them tells me everything I need to know.