Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 99766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
His dark jeans hug his muscular thighs, fitting him in all the right places. Rather than a hoodie, tonight he’s wearing a pale blue Henley that seems painted on his muscular frame. I’ve been captivated all night by the way the material stretches over each bulge of muscle.
Heat zaps through me again.
Like I said, he’s the sun.
Burning the fuck out of me from the inside out.
Needing an escape, I rush to the bathroom. Once inside, I splash cold water on my neck to cool off. It’s nearing midnight, which means once this countdown is over, I’m going to bail. Jordy already took Roux and Emilia home hours ago. No one will care when I sneak out too.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I yank it out to find a text from Tierra.
Tierra: Oh my God. I’m in hell.
Me: Why did you get grounded anyway?
She’d texted last minute earlier today saying her grandma grounded her and she wouldn’t be coming to the party. I thought it was strange, but she didn’t elaborate.
Tierra: I texted him.
Me: Who?
Tierra: Tim.
Oh, fuck no. That old man who works with her dad? The same Tim she sent nudes to?
Me: Bad idea. What about the investigation?
Tierra: It was a weak moment. No need to judge.
Me: I get it, but won’t you get in trouble? Did he text back?
Tierra: He misses me too…
Me: Back away, Tee. He’s bad news. You’re in all kinds of shit over him. Don’t get pulled back into it.
Tierra: I know. I won’t.
It feels like a lie, though.
Me: Next time you feel like texting him, just text me instead.
Tierra: Yeah, I know, girl. Love you.
I’m not a gushy, lovey-dovey girl, so I just send her some thumbs-up emojis because it seems like my equivalent of a “love you.”
Tierra: Bitch.
I smirk and then send her a middle finger emoji instead. This earns me a lot of crying laughing emojis and then a sassy selfie of her in her jammies, grinning like an idiot. I give her my own selfie. I’m like her alter-ego, the unsmiling, bitchy version.
Tierra: Why you gotta be so hot, Pen? Gonna turn Queen Tee gay!
Me: Better than you texting with old perverts.
Tierra: He’s not old.
Me: Stop talking.
Tierra: Such a bitch, but you’re my bitch.
Me: Bye, bitch.
Tierra: Bye, Sociopath Barbie.
This time, I send her a mixture of thumbs-ups and middle fingers.
After wasting as much time as possible in the bathroom, I finally slip out. Everyone has migrated to the living room. The music has been turned off as they get ready for the ball to drop in New York City. Of course, it’s already flipped over into the new year hours ago and pre-recorded because we’re on opposite sides of the US. Our new year, however, is about to start.
To avoid the loud laughing and cutting up, I make my way into the kitchen. I lean my ass against the counter, crossing my arms over my chest. Waiting. Counting down. Ready to leave.
And just like that…he arrives.
Terrence James.
The beautifully broken one.
Look away, Penny.
You can’t look at the sun. You’ll go blind.
Yet, I can’t help it. My eyes lock on his as he prowls my way, something feral and ravenous in his stare that makes me shiver in a way that doesn’t feel uncomfortable.
“Hiding from me?” he asks, his lips quirking up on one side.
I roll my eyes. “Just waiting until midnight so I can leave.”
His amusement fades as he steps closer. “Then who will I talk to?”
“Cal?”
“He talks too much,” he teases, his words soft, just the way I like them.
“He does,” I agree. “He’s the mouthiest Hoodlum.”
Terrence laughs, a deep, husky sound that sends currents of electricity zapping through every last one of my nerve endings. “The guy never shuts up.”
I fixate on his neck. How can a neck be so interesting to look at? Terrence’s neck keeps my attention. Corded with muscle. Prominent Adam’s apple. Dark, golden kissed brown skin. I wonder what he smells like along his jaw line that’s trimmed neatly with short black hair.
I should be weirded out that I wonder what he smells like. It’s out of the ordinary for me to wonder such things. I’m way out of my depth, in an unknown territory of my mind. My head’s already a fucked-up, murky place. Now, I feel as though I’ve discovered a new piece of it. It’s dark and deep and I don’t know what the hell is hiding in this part of me.
It’s frightening.
And exciting.
My breath hitches when Terrence steps closer, crowding me with his massive form. A small gasp escapes me when he grabs my arms and uncrosses them from over my chest. His large hands easily encircle each bicep. He runs his hands down the lengths of my arms, settling at my wrists. After a quick squeeze, he releases them to lift my chin with a finger, forcing our stares to meet. My heart does a nervous flop inside of my chest. The burning inferno within me flares to life.