Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26122 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26122 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
I snapped my focus up to his face, unsure what to say. I had no idea why he was in here, and he hadn’t said one word to shed light on that fact either. Even if he hadn’t known that I stepped into the pool house, he knew now, yet he didn’t make any move to leave.
His arms hung at his sides, his hands clenched tightly into fists. And as I looked into his face, I could see the muscles of his square jaw working as if he were grinding his teeth.
“Gio?” I prompted softly, not only because I didn’t want anyone to hear, to find out I was in here alone with him, because that would only cause problems, but because I was so nervous right now. Adrenaline raced through my veins like a train just about to derail.
He still said nothing, but he did take a step toward me. I felt the water cooling on my body, my heat rising, my skin starting to feel flushed.
I had contradicting temperatures moving over me, in me, through me. Hot and cold. Hot and cold. My throat was tight, my mouth drying. And still, he came closer. My heart raced, and I thought for sure he heard, could see my pulse beating rapidly at the base of my throat. I felt like my heart would burst through my chest right now.
“What are you doing?” I whispered softly, my voice thick, unleashed desire moving between the words. And still, he said nothing.
His head was slightly downcast, his dark, turbulent eyes focused right on me. “I shouldn’t have come in here,” he said so softly I knew he was talking to himself, maybe didn’t even realize he’d said the words out loud. He slowly shook his head, closing his eyes for a suspended moment. “But I just can’t help myself. I can’t stop myself.” Again, his words were so low I didn’t know if I heard him correctly.
He opened his eyes and took another step toward me, and I felt the wall stop my retreat. I placed my hands behind me, my palms flat on the smooth surface. It was cold, felt good against my overheated skin. I didn’t know what was going on, but I knew what I wanted to happen. I thought about this moment so many times over the past couple years, aching for it.
And the look in Gio’s eyes, the way he stalked forward, his shoulders wide and blocking out everything behind him, his body big and muscular and so very masculine. I felt his heat spear into me, not just because he was closer, but because of the way he looked at me, like a predator, like he was starved, dying of thirst, all those things and I was the only one who could sate him.
No, I wasn’t imagining this desire moving between us. I felt it like a physical touch, like a bolt of lightning moving through me. It stole my breath, took my sanity. I didn’t know if I was dreaming, but I didn’t want to wake up.
“Gio? What are you doing?” I whispered again, my voice holding nothing more than this breathy quality. Despite the shadows, I could see Gio’s expression, this hard, conflicted but also very sure expression. It had my toes curling and my body feeling like it wasn’t my own.
He lowered his gaze to my lips, his very male body nearly pressing against mine. The way he stared at my mouth had me wanting to lick my lips, to draw more attention to them... to make Gio transfixed by the sight.
“I’m just being close to you, Pyper,” he finally said, slowly moving his eyes up to mine. “Isn’t that what you want?”
Please tell me that’s what you want.
I swore I heard the underlying plead that came after his question, unspoken words that were just as loud from the way he looked at me as if he shouted them from a rooftop.
I didn’t need to think about his question. I already knew the answer, but my throat was tight, everything moving in slow motion.
I stared into his eyes, knew they were this deep green color, but the shadows made them look like pieces of obsidian. I knew what was happening, what was about to happen. I didn’t understand it, didn’t know why it was happening now, but this was all I thought about, all I wanted for years as I watched Gio from afar.
Lines were being blurred.
Rules were being broken.
Social classes were being mixed.
And I didn’t care. I didn’t care one bit what anyone thought or said, how they felt. This was my life, and the only thing I’d ever wanted with a desperation that rivaled anything else on this planet was the boy standing in front of me.
He closed his eyes and moved an inch toward me, his body and the sheer sexual need pouring off him causing my temperature to rise. “God, Pyper, you smell so fucking good.” He inhaled, and I felt myself shiver.