Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 143842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 719(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 479(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 143842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 719(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 479(@300wpm)
I plugged my phone into the charger on the nightstand before I moved into the en suite bathroom. It carried the same theme as the kitchen, brown cabinets so dark they were almost black, the countertops a swirl of creams and browns and golds.
Tossing my hair into a ponytail, I washed my face then changed into a pair of silky teal sleep shorts and matching tank.
So yeah, teal was my signature color.
Massaging night cream onto my face, I wandered back out into my bedroom and sank onto the side of my bed. My attention drifted to the window, errant thoughts traipsing to the man next door.
Wondering if he was there or how he spent a Friday night.
I rolled my eyes at myself.
I knew full well how someone like Cody Cooper spent his Friday nights. Hell, it was likely how he spent most every night of the week. Giving someone all those smirks and teases and dishing out the type of pleasure I was most certain he had to offer.
I refused the urge to peel back the edge of the blinds to peer out—just to check—and I reached over and flicked off the lamp on the nightstand. I slipped under the plush covers and relaxed into the comfort of the mattress.
I thought I must have already been drifting to sleep when my eyes popped back open, the sound of my phone vibrating on the wood pulling me from the promise of blissful sleep.
Groaning, I reached out and grabbed it, and I squinted through the darkness at the message.
CC
You didn’t even text to say goodnight. And here I thought we were friends.
My heart rate accelerated. A brimming of excitement and that clawing uncertainty that skimmed beneath the surface of my skin. A heatwave of warning.
The attraction that had never been extinguished through the years and the betrayal that gnashed at my insides for even giving it consideration.
I needed to put a barrier between us. Build a fifteen-foot wall.
The endeavor seemed doomed since he was in my face all the time.
Brow pinched, I tapped out a response, making sure to imbue all the accusation into it that I could muster.
Me
Are you watching my window?
His response neared instant.
CC
Tell me you weren’t watching mine.
Me
I have absolutely no reason to be watching your window, Mr. Cooper.
I fired it back just as fast, my breaths coming a little too shallow.
CC
Such a sweet little liar. And I thought we established it was Cody? Cody, baby. Let me hear you say it.
How easily he tossed out the tease and the taunt. It wound around me in a knitting of greed. Another text came in right behind it.
CC
I’ve never been so good at hiding what I want, so yeah, Shortcake, I was watching your window, wondering when I was going to catch you sneaking a peek at me again.
The air fled from my lungs, the oxygen growing too thin. How many times had he caught me peering out the window toward his in the last two weeks?
The stupid impulse to seek him out coming back to bite me in the ass.
It suddenly felt as if the temperature had risen by fifty degrees. My skin grew sticky with sweat.
Feeling suffocated by it, I threw off the covers and sat up on the side of my bed.
The draw I felt toward him was mad.
He was arrogant and brash and every-single-thing that I didn’t need in my life right then. My life was incredibly complicated, and it would be insane to toss another wrench into it.
More than that, it was our history that branded him as off-limits.
None of that seemed to make a difference, though, since desire was pounding through my bloodstream like the warning blare of a freight train.
Me
I can’t help it if our windows face each other and I need to pull back the drape to make sure the window is locked. It doesn’t mean I was looking at you.
CC
Is that right?
Me
That’s right.
Lies.
So many lies.
CC
You think I don’t feel those eyes on me? You think I don’t know what you’re imagining? You think I don’t know what you need? I’ve been trying to ignore it for the last week. Can’t do it any longer.
My teeth grated.
Cocky. Freaking. Cowboy.
But there went that desire.
Sailing.
Surging.
Making me stupid as my fingers flew across the screen.
Me
And what exactly is it I need?
I was asking for it. Just asking for it. A slew of messages came through, one right after the other.
CC
What you need is someone to show you how gorgeous you are, inside and out.
CC
What you need is someone strong enough to hold you up so you can let go for a little while.
CC
What you need is someone who knows how to bring you the kind of pleasure you’ve been aching for.
CC
I can feel it radiating off you. How bad you need it.
CC
An escape.
CC
I’d fuck you so good, Shortcake.