Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
She turns to face me. Her eyes, although still red from her tears, are filled with longing.
“I lo—” I start to tell her again, but she rises on the balls of her feet and presses her lips to mine. I can feel the tremble in her hands as she presses them to my bare chest.
The time for talking is done. Time to show her how much I love her.
Chapter 2
Reese
I’m an entangled mess of emotions. I’m supposed to be celebrating my nuptials with Hunter, the man I was engaged to just hours earlier, yet here I am, in a hotel room with my best friend. My best friend who decided the day before my wedding to tell me he’s in love with me. I don’t know if I believe him. I know Cooper, and he’s always been protective of me. He’s never thought that anyone was good enough for me, and I have a strong suspicion that’s what this is about.
Regardless, his confession of love made me think. In fact, thinking is all I was able to do all last night, and throughout the day. I came to the conclusion that I didn’t want to marry Hunter. He’s a great guy, but he was safe. When Cooper pushed me away, I was broken, and Hunter was sweet, and never pressured me. Hell, he had his own beliefs. We respected one another, but I don’t love him. Not like I should.
I just walked out on my wedding, and I’m more torn up about the fact that Cooper is here telling me he loves me. I’m upset because I want more than anything for his words to be true, but I just can’t trust them. He’s broken my heart in the past. I kept that from him. The pain, the agony he caused. I never let the pain show. That’s my mistake, my issue, and I need to be honest with him, and I will be.
However, for once, I’m being selfish. I want him. I want to know what it feels like to have his body pressing into mine. I want to know what it feels like to be a part of him. For us to be one together. I’ve fantasized about him for years, and I’m giving in to temptation. He’s here, and he’s willing. I’m here, and this is all I’ve ever wanted. I know there is so much we need to discuss. There is still so much I need to figure out. I need time to process all of this.
After tonight.
Tonight, for the first time in my life, I’m taking what I want. What my heart really wants. And that’s Cooper. I know it’s wrong, but I can’t seem to find it in me to care. My life has been flipped upside down in the last twenty-four hours. I’ve always wanted him, and even though he’s here under the guise that our lives are now entwined, I know better. However, I’m still taking this moment. I’ll need it to carry me through the heartbreak and the tears once he realizes he was wrong. That he was just jealous of my time with Hunter, the time he was no longer getting.
This time, I’m not going to hide the hurt. I’m not going to sugarcoat it to spare his feelings. I need to put me first, and that includes being honest with how he broke me. I don’t know what we will be after tonight. I don’t know if I’m tossing away years of friendship for one night of being consumed by him, but it’s a risk I’m willing to take. After this moment, after his confession of love, things have already changed. I know they’ll never be the same.
I’m taking what I can get.
Cooper pulls out of the kiss, and we’re both panting as we try and catch our breath. He smiles down at me, tucking my hair behind my ear. He’s being sweet and affectionate, which is how I always imagined this moment would go. The only problem is, if I let this night continue down that path, my heart will never recover. The odds are against me as it is. My heart is so entwined with him that I know the scars of the past will always remain.
“You’re beautiful,” he says softly. His brown eyes are hooded as he takes in my naked body.
I’d love to stand here and let him tell me all the sweet things he thinks he needs to say, but again, I know my heart and know I can’t take it. Placing my hands flat on his chest, I allow them to roam over the peaks and valleys he calls abs. Not able to handle the intensity of his stare, I allow my eyes to follow the path of my hands until I reach the waistband of his boxer briefs. His hard cock is peeking out the top. Gently, I trace the tip with my thumb, causing him to groan. With one hand held tightly to my hip, the other slides behind my neck as he leans down and presses his forehead to mine.