Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Another blanket is thrown over us as I hold her tight. After a few minutes, the group pressing in on us gradually disperses, giving us a bit of breathing room as Kingsley starts up the engine and heads back to the marina.
Just as my muscles loosen, my gaze collides with Summer’s. Her brows are tightly knit as she studies us silently. There’s a pensive expression etched across her face. Almost as if she’s trying to work out a complicated arithmetic formula in her head.
Once we return to shore and she gets me alone, she’ll bombard me with questions.
Ones I need time to sort through.
When she raises a brow in silent inquiry, I jerk my shoulders. That’s as much as I’m willing to share. A frustrated puff of air escapes from her. We’ve always had that strange twin thing between us. We’re able to communicate with a single look or lift of the lips.
And right now, I hear her loud and clear.
Summer thinks I’m crazy for getting closer to this girl when all she’s done is betray me at every fucking turn, making me look like a lovesick loser. But here’s the thing—I can’t explain the deep need I have for Delilah. It’s one that rampages through my veins. I’ve always been able to walk away from a girl without so much as a backward glance. There’s always been too many choices to get caught up on just one.
But that’s not how it is with her.
Even though I shouldn’t trust one damn word that comes out of her mouth, there’s something that keeps me from turning my back and walking away. I don’t fully understand it myself.
And crawling to me?
Fuck, that was hot.
Even when Duke tried to stop her, she went through with it. With her gaze fastened to mine as if I was her entire world, she inched across the deck and sat at my feet while I wrapped one hand around her hair and the other around her throat. Even though she was humiliated in front of our classmates, she gave herself over to me just like she promised on the beach.
Almost desperately, I want to believe her actions hold meaning.
But that’s the thing…I have no idea if they do.
It could all be a game.
What I do know is that I can’t focus on that right now.
Not when she’s shivering in my arms.
Not when I almost lost her.
DELILAH
Once we reach Kingsley’s beach house, Austin scoops me out of the SUV and tucks me against his chest. I would be lying if I didn’t admit how comforting it is to be pressed against all that chiseled strength. I don’t care if he stripped me practically bare in front of everyone before pulling me against the warmth of his nearly naked body.
For the first time in a week, everything felt right in the world. Considering that I almost drowned, that’s really saying something. I don’t want to relinquish the closeness we’ve found. I’m terrified that once we step inside Kingsley’s beach house, it’ll vanish into thin air, and he’ll be back to staring at me with eyes full of distrust.
As he strides from the driveway to the mansion with me tucked safely in his arms, I force myself to say, “You can put me down now. I’m more than capable of walking by myself.”
He doesn’t respond as we reach the stairs to the front porch and move into the entryway. There’s no hesitation in his step as he swings to the left and carries me up the staircase. It’s only when we reach the bedroom that he carefully lowers me to the floor.
Our gazes lock and hold as I slide down his practically naked body. Once my feet touch the plush carpet, he straightens, and the blanket wrapped around my shoulders slips and puddles at my feet. The cool air of the room licks over my bare flesh and my teeth once again begin to chatter. Now that I don’t have Austin’s body heat to warm me, I’m freezing.
I blink when he swings away, leaving me to shiver in the middle of the room, arms wrapped around myself, as he walks into the attached bathroom. From where I stand, I watch as he leans over the massive clawfoot tub and turns on the faucet. The sound of running water fills the space.
He fiddles with the handles, testing the temperature before straightening and swinging back around. His eyes never relinquish mine as he returns to the bedroom before gripping the elastic band of his boxers and shoving them down his thick thighs until the material lands at his feet.
Even though I tell myself to keep my eyes locked on his, the urge to take in his magnificent body is too much to resist. All those sinewy muscles on display weaken my knees and make me go a little stupid.