Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 129323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
The rise and fall of her breasts.
The glossy sheen in her eyes.
Despite the glaringly obvious signs of desire, I’ll confirm this is what she wants before we get started.
She can make the choice.
And I hope she agrees because there’s no question, she’s gorgeous.
Actually, that word is wholly underselling it. She’s stunning. But none of that matters if this blows up in my face.
She blinks and opens her mouth to speak, but then closes it.
I narrow my stare at her, waiting for her to say something. When she doesn’t, I do. “Would you like something to drink?”
She shakes her head. “No. I don’t want anything to drink. But thank you.”
I’m about to confirm that she wants to go through with this, but before I can say a single word, she leans forward, signs, and turns to face me.
Her shoulders are back, and she appears confident. Except I don’t miss the way her hand shakes at her side. Or how her finger taps against the pen she still holds.
“Listen…we don’t have to do this,” I say, giving her an out. I will never take a woman to my bed who isn’t sure. “You can leave, and we’ll pretend this never happened.”
“No.” Her voice is silk and smooth, but more importantly, sure.
A confidence she hasn’t had since walking into this room permeates the space, changing everything. I can smell how much she wants this. Wants me.
I’d be a fucking liar if I said I wasn’t turned on by that fact.
I take a step, and the pen drops to the table with a clink.
“Last chance to back out, Cassidy.” I grin, and her lips part into the sexiest smile I have ever seen.
The closer I get, the more I feel like the wolf stalking the lamb.
She shakes her head. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Fuck.
My cock grows uncomfortably hard, and my need for this stranger intensifies.
“Clothes off.” My voice is low and husky. “I want to see you.” I grab my drink and walk over to the window that looks out into the small city, giving her a minute to undress and join me.
Birmingham isn’t a large city, but the lights of the buildings still glow, spreading out to the edge where the darkness takes over. A siren in the distance rings out, but that’s nothing new. It might not be as large as the city I live in, but it still doesn’t sleep. There’s constant activity. Unending noise.
It’s the one thing I miss about a small town in the middle of nowhere.
Quiet.
Peace.
If only every other memory wasn’t tainted.
I push those thoughts away, not wanting to go there. I focus on the lights. Where I live, Redville, isn’t a large city by any means, but compared to where I grew up, it presents opportunities I never had in my youth.
Footsteps bring me back to this room. To the woman who should be naked behind me. My mind focuses on that singular thought. A beautiful stranger here has agreed to help me get out of my head.
Something I so desperately need.
I twist around to face her, my head tilting to the side. She’s not made any move to get undressed. I lift one eyebrow, but she doesn’t say a thing.
She holds my gaze, eyes sparkling in the soft twinkle of the battery-operated candles that Mike insisted on. I make a mental note to thank him for that touch because something about how the light shines in her eyes has my throat drying up and my heart racing.
What the actual fuck.
The coat she’s wearing drops to the floor with a thump, and she places her hands on the hem of her shirt. Slowly, she pulls it over her head, and I suck in a breath. Despite her petite frame, she stands tall and confident in only a black bra and a skirt. She doesn’t move. Doesn’t turn her gaze from mine. She holds my stare, waiting for my command.
I’m practically salivating, which isn’t like me. Typically, sex is transactional. It has to be, considering my status.
I know that makes me sound arrogant, but I’m not. It’s the truth. A harsh one I’ve had to learn the hard way through the years.
Being a hockey star comes with perks and hindrances. Most women want me for the fame. The money.
This girl isn’t much different. I might not be paying her, but she gets something out of it too. She gets to know she fucked me, and I get sex. Something about that just doesn’t sit right with me for a moment. Even if I’m benefiting too.
It’s not her fault. My people contacted her, but I can’t help but feel the sting of knowing this isn’t about her caring about me.
That pathetic, broken boy in me, desperate for the attention. Starving for affection.
I hate everything about this feeling, but I can’t stop myself for what I say next.