Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
His words make me nervous and a little uneasy, and I reach for the near-empty bottle and fill our glasses. Again.
“That’s the booze talking.”
He leans in, and my heart races as he gets close enough for me to smell the cinnamon on his breath and see the different shades of blue swimming in his eyes. His lips tug into a teasing grin.
“No, I see the fire clearly. It’s hot, chaotic.”
I roll my eyes and shake my head. “Wilder.”
“Maven,” he growls and closes the distance between us with one big hand cupping the side of my face. His touch is soft and gentle like I’m a treasure, but when his lips close over mine, it’s not at all soft or gentle. It’s hot as fuck, and I’m instantly breathless as his tongue teases my lips, licking from one corner to the other, all along the seam, until my mouth is as wet as my panties.
I gasp, and his tongue slides inside my mouth, and my hands go to his face and wrap around his head to hold him close. This kiss shouldn’t be happening. It’s wrong on so many levels, but goddammit, I can’t pull back, no matter how hard I try. I tell my brain to stop participating, to pull back and tell him off for being so presumptuous.
But I can’t.
My body is on fire. A raging inferno that threatens the structure of my body. I’m trembling as his tongue explores my mouth, as the taste of him makes me dizzy even though I’m sitting. It’s just a kiss, and I shouldn’t feel this way, but each time Wilder’s tongue swipes along the inside of my mouth, my brain short-circuits. He’s so potent and so masculine, and all of my good sense flies out the window.
Too soon, or maybe it’s not soon enough, Wilder pulls back with a wide shit-eating grin on his face.
“Ah, Maven.”
One hand scrubs over the top of his head and down his face before a long, Fireball-scented sigh escapes.
“Definitely not a mouse. Or a wallflower. Total fire, hot and all-consuming.”
I don’t want to, but I smile and feel my cheeks heat. “Yeah?”
“Fuck, yeah.” He stands and takes a step back. “I almost lost myself there for a minute.”
Holy shit, what? “Me too.”
“Good to know.” His tongue peeks out to slick across his lips, and his eyes close as if he also wants to savor our kiss.
“You mean you weren’t sure?” That surprises me, especially since he’s the one who pulled back first. He’s either the rare man who is also a gentleman, or he’s full of shit, and now I’m so intrigued that I’m dizzy with it.
Dammit, the last thing I want is to let his handsome, far too young for me man intrigue me. I stand abruptly and take off toward the bathroom.
“I should, uh, get ready for bed. We have another early day tomorrow.” I step inside the bathroom and close the door, but a second later, a light knock and Wilder peeks his head inside. “What?”
Another teasing grin splits his face. “I wasn’t sure, not at all. You’re incredibly difficult to read sometimes.”
My own smile matches. “Good to know.” He leaves me alone, and I try really hard not to replay that kiss while I’m in the shower, naked and throbbing and maybe, kinda wishing he hadn’t been such a gentleman.
The thoughts continue to invade my mind, and I hurry through the shower, thinking sleep would be a better alternative to getting rid of thoughts of Wilder.
Except when I leave the bathroom, towel clinging to my damp body, he’s there sprawled across the bed on his back with one arm propped under his head, the very definition of sex appeal.
My body heats up, and I drop onto the bed beside Wilder, anticipating what comes next. Instead, he pulls me flush against his hard body, and we do the unthinkable.
We both fall asleep.
Chapter Fourteen
Wilder
Not even an early morning shower can wake me up at such an ungodly fucking hour. It’s still dark outside, for fuck’s sake, and I’m in the shower stroking my morning wood instead of sliding between Maven’s creamy thighs and making her scream my name.
“Fuck,” I growl and shut off the shower.
Time to make the donuts.
“Ready?”
“To get the hell out of this room again? Absolutely.” Her words are softened by a sweet smile that did strange things to me. “Sorry, I mean, yes. I’m ready.”
The drive to For Goodness Cakes is mostly quiet, probably because it’s too fucking early to be awake, never mind up and chatting. Willow is already inside when we get there with the ovens on and rock music playing a little too loud. She looks up with a wide smile. “You’re here!”
Maven nods. “When did you get here?”
She shrugs. “I figured you would need to make a few more Maven Cakes, so I came in an hour early to get a jump start on the stuff I can bake without you.”