Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 156145 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 781(@200wpm)___ 625(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156145 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 781(@200wpm)___ 625(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Gideon moved to the kitchen counter—white marble shot through with pale gray—and set the bag of food on it. He turned and crossed his arms over his chest. “Why the change of pace?”
“Maybe I just want you.” It was the truth, but not the full truth.
He shook his head. “Honesty, Lucy.”
Why had she agreed to that particular term? She pulled at the hem of her fitted blue dress. “I’m nervous. Last night was good, but I didn’t expect that level of reaction, and I’m afraid if we don’t get it over with, I’m going to change my mind.”
“Get it over with,” Gideon murmured. “Sex isn’t something you ‘get over with.’ If you think of it that way, there’s a problem somewhere.”
A problem he was determined to fix if the expression on his face was anything to go by. She sliced her hand through the air. “No problem. That’s not what I meant at all. My issue is that the anticipation, the will-we-or-won’t-we, is driving me nuts. I want to rip it off right now—like a Band-Aid.”
He stared at her for a long moment and then burst out laughing. “A Band-Aid. Fuck, woman, you really are going to kill me.” He ran a hand over his face. “The anticipation is meant to be enjoyed.”
She could think of a lot of words to describe how she felt standing in her apartment with Gideon and knowing they were alone and could do what they wanted for hours. Enjoyment didn’t top the list. Her body was too hot, her lungs too tight, her core aching from need. But she knew that look on his face. If she didn’t do something rash, he was going to put the brakes on and sit her down and coax her to talk through it. For someone with such a ruthless reputation, Gideon was overwhelmingly careful with her. She knew why—he had residual guilt over not telling her immediately about Jeff’s cheating ways. But she didn’t care about any of that right now.
All she cared about was getting through this interaction so she could go back to breathing normally again.
Before she could talk herself out of it, Lucy unzipped the side of her dress and slid it off. She didn’t look at him as she kicked the silky fabric to the side. If she thought too hard about the fact that she stood in front of him in only a pair of nude-lace panties, she might die on the spot.
A second passed. Another.
Still, he didn’t say anything.
What is he doing?
Probably looking for a way to gracefully exit that wouldn’t have her throwing herself from the nearest window. Stop that right now. She was stronger than this. Lucy looked good. She ate relatively well and hit the gym at least three times a week. Last night Gideon’s physical reaction had proved that he’d wanted her. He might not have taken his release, but he wasn’t remotely unaffected.
So why was he standing there without saying a word?
Stop waiting for him to make the first move.
Do it yourself.
Gathering her courage, she lifted her head and looked at him. Her first step took more effort than she could have dreamed, and the intense look on his face didn’t help her any. He held himself perfectly still, every muscle coiled. Though, for the life of her, she couldn’t tell if it was to keep from jumping her or to stop himself from fleeing.
Only one way to find out.
She took the last few steps that brought her close enough to touch. Tentatively she reached out and laid her hands on his chest. Why isn’t he saying anything? She waited another few seconds but the only sound in her kitchen was the soft rush of their quickened breathing.
Maybe she’d misjudged the situation. Oh, God, what did I do? “If you’ve changed your mind, just tell me. We can pretend this whole thing never happened.”
Gideon couldn’t look away from Lucy. She was fucking perfect. He’d known that, of course, but seeing it without clothes barring his vision was something else altogether. Her breasts were small and high, capped with dark rose nipples. He forced himself not to reach for her as she stroked her hands down his chest and back up again.
“Gideon?”
She’d asked a question, hadn’t she?
“What?” His gaze snagged on her narrow waist and the nude-lace panties that were so sheer, he could see a shadow of her slit beneath them. He cleared his throat and jerked his attention back to her face.
She frowned a little. “Did you change your mind?”
“No.” He finally allowed himself to move, reaching up and covering her hands with his. “Fuck me, but you can’t expect a man to be faced with the sight of you naked and still be able to hold down a conversation.”
“That’s sweet.”
But she thought he was lying. He could read it all over her face.