Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
He starts to grin, but I shoot the attempt dead with a glare.
"There is nothing funny about this."
His gaze turns contemplative, and I see his hand start to move.
Oh no. Don't do it. No, no, no.
But he does end up doing what I fear: he's rubbing his jaw thoughtfully, and my body's reaction is also as I fear.
Sexy.
It's completely baffling why I find this gesture or this posture - oh, I don't even know what's the proper way to call it. The only thing I know is that my heart races like an idiot when I see him like this, and now it's even worse, with how he's also gotten my stupid toes to curl.
"You seem to understand how my mind works pretty well—-"
And that disturbs him, naturally. No one in his right mind would be happy when finding out their mind is an open book to someone like me.
—-while I can't even figure out why you wanted us to meet here. I want to be the one who understands you the most."
'Keep your enemies close, and your blind dates closer' is what he's basically saying, and no words have been truer.
"I get what you're saying," I feel obliged to acknowledge. "I know how you see me—-"
"I doubt you do."
"There's no need to lie," I assure him. "I really do get that you see me—-"
"As my future wife?"
"As a potential threat—-" I say at the same time.
Uh. Wait. What?
I stare at him in confusion, and he laughs.
"You don't believe me?"
"I'm not even sure what to think at this point—-"
"I can help you there," he says easily. "Just think of me, and we're good."
No, I am not going to give him the satisfaction of seeing my lips crack even the slightest—-what the heck?
I tense up when he suddenly leans forward and clasps his hands over the lacquer table like what he's about to say will get heads rolling.
"Now that we know where we each stand, shall we get back to discussing your reasons for choosing this place?"
And I'm right. Even with how silky his tone are, the glint in his eyes tells me he means business, and I can't help thinking it's my own head that's destined to roll. It's obvious he's expecting me to reveal something profound—-
"Why this train ride?"
And I'm right again, darn it.
"I don't want to lie to you..." It's my first time to feel so humanly awkward as I speak, and I hate it.
"Then don't. Just tell me the real reason—-"
So, so, unbelievably awkward, but if it's the truth he really wants—-
"It's because I have work to do at West Palm Beach."
"And?"
"And...I always take this train when going there?"
He stares at me, and it almost has me squirming in my seat.
Almost.
But not just yet, although I'm also weirdly convinced that having this guy in my life also means it's only a matter of time before I experience some seat-squirming myself.
Another moment passes, and just when I've started to seriously consider lying about having another reason—-
"That's really all there is to it?"
"Yes."
"I can't say I'm not disappointed—-"
Is this the part he'll tell me I'm not human enough for him?
"—-since I was kinda hoping for something kinkier."
Or not.
"I'm joking, by the way—-"
"I don't think I can ever do kinky," I say at the same time, "but I'm very open-minded?"
His jaw snaps shut, and I'm not sure what to think when I see him go absolutely still while staring at me like I'm his teenage fantasy made real.
"Tell me more, please."
Is it just me, or has his voice turned unnaturally thick?
"Do you have any hard limits?"
And getting thicker by the second, too.
"Or can I really do anything I want with you? And to you?"
I finally realize that the thickness of his voice is all due to lust, and since I find it rather marvelously brave and indubitably crazy of him to lust after someone like me—-
"I don't think I have any hard limits, physically speaking." The least I can do is give his question serious thought and answer honestly. "But I'm not sure I'll ever be the type to scream 'I love you' when having sex?"
He starts rubbing his jaw again, and I wonder if he'll think I'm crazy if I tell him it's when he's doing that I'm likely more prone to saying those three yucky little words?
"Anything else I should know?"
"I get bored rather easily, but I can also get insatiably curious and greedy?"
"Like a cat." He purrs as he says this, and I barely manage to keep myself from rolling my eyes at the irony, which I'm sure is all deliberate on his part.
Why has no one ever told me how harder it is to date people than to kill them? Even my own family has certain lines they dare not cross in my presence, but this guy just doesn't seem scared of me in any way.