Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22633 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22633 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
I almost blow him off and tell him he’s imagining things, but where has being safe ever gotten me? Nowhere. I just met him, and most likely, I’ll never see him again. “You’re right… geez, I don’t even know your name.”
He hesitates for just a minute. “Ben.”
I try to remember the name Ben from the list of people that bought tickets for tonight, and I don’t remember anyone. Could he be someone’s plus one? I keep my tone light. “Okay, well, Ben, you’re right. There was a shift in me. I’m always the cute one.” Oh God, that sounds so conceited. But I force myself to continue. “No one ever sees me as anything more than the ‘cute’ friend. I mean, just once, I want someone to find me irresistible. That’s all. And yeah, we just met, but maybe I was hoping…”
I let my voice trail off. Geez, what is wrong with me? I’m practically begging this man to want me, and I know nothing about him. I unfold my legs and stand up. “I better get back in there. It was nice meeting you, Ben.”
I don’t want to leave. If anything, I want to stay and listen to his deep voice as he talks about anything and nothing. But I have work to do, and I can’t do it from out here. I wave awkwardly at him and turn away with fists clenched at my sides. Walking away from him doesn’t feel right, but what choice do I have?
Ben
“Stop,” I tell her as I jump up from the swing. “Please, don’t go.”
She stops, but her back is still to me.
I don’t know what I’m doing. She’s the first woman that I’ve been attracted to in what feels like forever, and I don’t want to let her walk away. I take the few steps between us and reach for her hand, lacing our fingers together. She’s slight compared to me, but somehow our hands fit together perfectly.
“Look at me, Maggie.”
She turns around and leans her head back to meet my eyes. “I really should go.”
I pull her hand, and she falls against me, her body pressed against mine. “Stay. There’s something I should tell you.”
Her eyes widen, and her breath hitches. I try to tamp down my arousal, but being this close to her and feeling her body next to mine is proving more than I can handle. How is it that I just met her and I can’t let her walk away? “So you didn’t like it that I said you are cute?”
She shrugs, and the movement has her hair falling forward, hiding her eyes from me. I brush it off her face and put my hand on her cheek. “I only said you were cute, but the truth is, I think you’re beautiful. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
She leans toward me but doesn’t say anything.
“Talk to me, Maggie. Tell me if you want me to walk away.”
She shakes her head slowly. “No, I don’t. I want…”
She stops, and I hold my breath, waiting for her to finish. She licks her lips and stares at me with wide, innocent eyes. I lean down until our mouths are mere inches from each other. “What do you want? Tell me.”
I’m holding her too tightly, but I can’t let her go. She goes to her tiptoes, and her voice is soft as a whisper. “I want you to kiss me.”
I release her hand and cup her face in my palm, searching her eyes. When I was getting ready for tonight, I was filled with dread and tried to figure out how I could get out of it. Now, all I can do is feel thankful that I’m here because I would have hated to have missed this. I lean down before I can consider all the reasons why kissing her is a bad idea.
As soon as my lips touch hers, I have my arms wrapped around her, holding her flush against me. Every one of my senses are heightened, and I know that I don’t want to let her go. I tilt my head to deepen the kiss. She whimpers as she digs her nails into my waist, pulling me closer. My hands slide down her back, and I cup her ass, lifting her up so she can feel my bulge pressed into her belly. She leans into me as her hands slide under my shirt. As soon as her bare fingers graze my waist, I pull back, breathless.
Never in my life have I wanted someone as much as I want her right now. Panting, I tell her, “Go home with me.”
Her mouth falls open. “You want me to go home with you?”
I lean my forehead against hers, still trying to get my bearings, and hiss, “Yes. Fuck yes.”
She looks unsure, and I put my hands on each side of her neck. “You don’t have to.”