Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 37953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
“Damn it, baby. What did you do? Let me see it.” I fight the stinging tears in my eyes. Did he just call me baby? I turned slightly to give him room to view my wound. It’s bleeding as Julian pulls it away from the water, but it’s not too terrible. When he takes my hand, suddenly the pain dwindles and my heart races. “You’re not going to need stitches, but I need to get my kit. Give me a minute.” He opens a kitchen drawer and pulls out the bandages. My body tingles, and my pulse picks up as he works on me. Being around Julian has that effect.
“It feels better already,” I say, peeking through my lashes.
“That’s good. You have to be careful, sweetheart. As much as I like my meat bloody, I can skip the blood in my vegetables.”
“Haha,” I snark, sneering at him briefly before hissing as he wraps my finger.
“Sorry. It’s all better now. I’ll finish this and you take a seat.” He points to the uncut veggies.
“It’s my job,” I reminded him.
He glares at me, but that look doesn’t have the effect he thinks it does. My entire being wants to jump into his arms. “Just sit your little bratty ass down and relax. I can cook, okay.”
“Are you sure? Your mom brings all your meals, or I’ve made them,” I reminded him.
“Well, I can at least chop,” he confesses with a chagrin. He tosses the ruined vegetables and cleans all the utensils and the cutting board. “At least I’m good at cutting others and not myself, little brat,” he mocks, sticking his tongue out at me.
Damn, he looks great in the kitchen, but I can’t let him do all the work, so I bargain with him. “Okay, how about you chop, and I handle the cooking part?”
“I’ll agree to that.” I hop off the stool and move to the stove. He smiles and tosses me a wink which damn near makes my knees buckle. I take a pan from the cabinet and prepare it with the olive oil while he gets the remaining vegetables together.
“Good, because haven’t you heard you shouldn’t cook without a shirt on? As a doctor, you should know better.” I wagged my bandaged finger in his handsome face. “You also forgot the magic treatment too.” He leaned in and kissed my finger.
“Is it all better?” Our bodies are a little too close, breathing growing heavy.
“It’s a start,” I whispered, my lips parted as I ached to taste his hardened, stubbled jaw that was just inches from me.
The pan behind me starts to sizzle. “You should get that.”
“Yeah.” I turn around and turn it down and begin making the dish and refuse to look at him again while I’m cooking so he can’t see how flush my face is.
Chapter Five
Julian
I was so grateful that lunch was over. I set the dishes in the dishwasher, thanking Everly before excusing myself because my phone began to ring. “Hello, Mom.”
“Hey sweetheart. What time are you coming over?”
“I’ll be there in about an hour. I was getting ready.” I give Everly a sheepish smile, feeling like I’m abandoning her even though I don’t owe her an explanation for where I’m going or who I’m going with. It’s been a while since I visited with my family, and I promised that I’d come over. There is a big gathering at the clubhouse today, and with the weather playing nicely, we should have a good turnout of Steele Riders and their kin.
Besides, I had to get away from Everly before I did something stupid. Hell, I already did something stupid kissing her finger was reckless.
Every bit of the meal was like a ticking time bomb. Most of it we sat in silence, each of us aware of the growing tension, the heat hotter than the summer sun, and when she lifted the damn fork to her lips, I wanted to toss it on the floor and take her on the table. Everything I do has been crazily pushing boundaries beyond necessary. She was driving me wild.
I’d been in the shower and stroking my cock, knowing damn well she was down the hall. Hell, I put the laundry basket in the room because I saw she took the hamper away. She must have realized I was in the shower which means she could have heard me saying her name over and over again as I came. Is that why she cut herself?
“Hey Drake, yeah. Julian’s right here, but he’s about to leave.” I slam my eyes shut as I tuck my wallet in my pocket. “He’s always on the run,” she continues with a giggle. “Okay, I’ll tell him.” She ends her call and approaches me.
“What’s up with Drake?” I grunt.
“He’s good, but he said he called you over the past couple of days and you haven’t called him back.”