Total pages in book: 213
Estimated words: 201920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1010(@200wpm)___ 808(@250wpm)___ 673(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 201920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1010(@200wpm)___ 808(@250wpm)___ 673(@300wpm)
More than that, I want her to give them to me.
Her words spin chaotically, as do her emotions. “I need something to hold on to, Daniel, and this, this is intense and overwhelming and emotional-”
“But do you want it?” I cut her off, asking the simple question.
“Why did you come get me in that bar? Don’t lie to me. You knew I’d be there, didn’t you?” she asks me and I don’t know if she knows more than she should, or if she’s just that damn good at knowing who I am.
I lean back in my seat and decide to be careful with my words as I slowly say, “I wanted you for so long.”
“So that’s all this is? You wanted to fuck me, so you finally did?
“You already know that’s a lie.” My words come out like a vicious sting and she drops the act. “I know you feel this too.” I finally speak the words that feel as if they’ll break me. But they’re true. “There’s always been something between us.”
Addison’s expression is pained.
“I know you feel guilty admitting it, Addison. I do too. I’m just as much to blame.” She doesn’t know how true those words are.
Time wears on and more than a moment passes. Addison pulls her knees into her chest and all I want to do is grab her ass and pull her into my lap. But my fingers dig into the leather, pinning me where I am until I have the only answer I need from her.
“Do you want me?” I ask her.
“It’s not that easy,” she whimpers. Torn between the desire she feels and the guilt she won’t let go of.
My body tenses and the rage from knowing the past may forever darken my future takes over as I lean forward. “The fuck it isn’t.”
I have to close my eyes and focus on what I want, what she needs to hear. I speak so low I’m not sure she can hear me, but I pray she can. “I can’t tell you what will happen a week from now, but I know I’ll still want you.” I open my eyes to find her watching me intently as I continue, “I’ve always wanted you. It’s not going to stop, and I don’t care about anything that happened yesterday as long as I get you tomorrow.”
“When did you turn into this man?” Addison’s question is quiet, but full of sincerity. “I don’t remember any of this from you.”
The answer is right there. So obvious to me.
Because she wasn’t mine and couldn’t be.
“You were young, and belonged to someone else.” I can’t bring myself to speak Tyler’s name. The alcohol and thought of losing her if he comes up again is too much.
Before she can respond to the omission I ask her the only thing that matters, “Do you want me?”
Her green eyes shine with sincerity as she barely whispers the word, “Yes.” She bites down on her lip as I rise from my seat and make my way to her. Slowly and carefully, with each step knowing I’m so close to keeping her.
“If you stay here Addison, I swear I won’t let you leave.” I swallow thickly and clear my throat when she searches my eyes and knows I’m speaking the truth. “This is your last chance to run from me.” I owe her that at least. One last chance to run.
“I’ve never wanted to run from you.” Her words are laced with raw emotion and she reaches up to cup my face. “We’re doing this?”
“You can’t leave me, Addison. You have to promise me, no matter what happens,” I say and hope she can’t hear the desperation in my voice. “No matter if we fight.” I start to say more, but I choke on the obvious. No matter if Tyler comes up again.
I can barely breathe as she strokes the stubble of my jaw with her thumb and whispers, “I promise.”
She falls into my lap so easily. Her warmth and soft touches light every nerve ending in me on fire. But so much more than that too. The pounding in my chest. The need to be close to her. To be skin to skin and show her she’s mine again.
I’m dying inside, needing to take her, but I move so achingly slowly. Cherishing every second of something I almost lost. Every second of her.
“Daniel?” Her voice is hesitant, but raw. As if the question itself will break her as I kiss the crook of her neck and let my fingers barely graze her skin, just a whisper of a touch.
“Addison?” I answer her with a playful air and smile against her skin when she breathes easily.
“I’m scared,” she whispers into the air and when I pull away from her, her face is toward the ceiling with her eyes closed tight. Her fingers dig into my shoulders as I nudge her chin with my nose to get her attention.