Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 79462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
The heat of Viper's hands on my skin.
The intensity in his dark eyes as he looked at me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered.
The way he said my name like a prayer and a curse all at once.
I shiver at the memory, desire pooling low in my belly.
It wasn't just sex, as mind-blowing as that had been.
There’s a connection between us, raw and electric.
Two damaged souls finding solace in each other, if only for another night.
But was it just one night?
The question hovers in the air, unspoken but impossible to ignore.
What happens when Viper wakes up?
When we have to face the harsh light of day and all the complications that come with it?
I don't have answers.
All I know is that I'm not ready for this to be over.
Not when I've only just begun to scratch the surface of who Vincent Beckett really is.
Carefully, I extricate myself from his embrace, holding my breath as he stirs slightly.
He mumbles something unintelligible and rolls over, still deep in slumber.
I let out a quiet sigh of relief.
I slip out of bed, wincing as my feet hit the cool hardwood floor.
Goosebumps rise on my skin as I pad quietly around the room, gathering my scattered clothes from the night before.
My lacy black bra dangles precariously from a lamp shade, and I can't help but smile at the memory of how it got there.
As I pull on my jeans, I steal another glance at Viper.
He looks so peaceful, so different from the intense, passionate man I've come to know.
A part of me wants to crawl back into bed, to wake him with soft kisses and lose myself in him again.
But I can't.
Not yet.
Not until I figure out how to navigate this complicated situation with Allegra.
I finish dressing quickly, smoothing down my hair as best I can.
My reflection in Viper's mirror shows a woman I barely recognize—flushed cheeks, swollen lips, eyes bright.
I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what comes next.
With one last lingering look at Viper, I tiptoe to the bedroom door.
My hand hesitates on the doorknob as I strain my ears, listening for any sign that he might be waking up.
Nothing but the soft sound of his breathing reaches me.
I open the door as slowly as possible, cringing at every tiny creak.
Finally, I slip through and gently pull it shut behind me.
Only then do I allow myself to exhale.
In the hallway, I lean against the wall for a moment, my mind racing.
What am I doing?
Is this the right choice?
But I know I need time to process everything that's happened, to figure out my next move.
I pull out my phone, fingers hovering over Allegra's name in my contacts.
No, I can't call her.
Not yet.
Instead, I open the Uber app, requesting a ride.
As I wait for confirmation, I can't help but replay last night in my head.
The way Viper looked at me, the feel of his hands on my skin, the intensity of our connection...
The ping of the Uber app snaps me back to reality.
My ride will be here in five minutes.
Just enough time to slip out unnoticed.
As I make my way down the stairs, a war rages inside me.
Part of me wants to run back upstairs, to wake Viper and tell him... what?
That I'm falling for him?
That I'm terrified of losing my best friend?
Instead, I force myself to keep moving, each step taking me further away from the man who's turned my world upside down.
As I reach for the front door, I pause, my hand trembling slightly.
"I'm sorry," I whisper, though I'm not sure if I'm apologizing to Viper, to Allegra, or to myself.
With a deep breath, I open the door and step out into the chilly morning, leaving behind the warmth of Viper's bed and the certainty of his arms.
For now, all I can do is put one foot in front of the other and hope that somehow, someway, everything will work out in the end.
The Uber pulls up, a sedan that blends into the quiet suburban street.
I slide into the backseat, grateful for the tinted windows that shield me from prying eyes.
I mumble the address I need to go to the driver, who nods silently.
As we pull away from Viper's house, my mind drifts back to last night.
The way his tattooed arms wrapped around me, strong yet gentle.
The intensity in his dark eyes as he looked at me, like I was the only woman in the world.
"You okay back there?" the driver asks, catching my eye in the rearview mirror.
I force a smile. "Yeah, just tired."
It’s nice of the driver to ask, but I'm not okay.
I'm caught between ecstasy and dread, replaying every moment with Viper while simultaneously imagining Allegra's face when she finds out I’ve been sleeping with her father.
I whisper to myself, leaning my forehead against the cool glass of the window. "God, what am I doing?"