Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Two thoughts whirl together in my head: Tripp cares about me. About our friendship and my feelings. He cares about me in this way that it’s impossible not to believe, in a way I’ve always craved. And the second thought is how much Meadow means to him, how much he considers what’s best for her, the way a father is supposed to do…the way my father never did.
Both things make me like Tripp more, make me feel changed, make me want to take a chance. Wouldn’t that be what Talia would tell me to do? Isn’t that what Morgan did? He took a chance with Dusty. East took a chance with Archer. I’m not saying Tripp and I will end up in the same place. I don’t believe he’ll fall in love with me, but he’s offering me something I never knew I wanted, and even if I had, never imagined I would get.
“Say something.” His fingertips dance along my nape.
“I like you more than just friendship too, and I don’t think I’ve ever liked someone more than that before, not even my ex-wife. I need your friendship, but I think I need to see what this is as well. I’ve missed out on so much. I don’t want to miss out on this.”
“Jesus.” Tripp cups my face, angles my head in his direction, then drops his forehead against mine. “You’re twisting me up, Rhett Swift.”
“Is that good or bad? Honest question.”
He chuckles, then presses his lips against mine softly. “Good. So we take things slow? Date? Meadow?”
“I’m not ready to tell her either. I’m not ready to tell anyone. My head doesn’t work that way. It will stress me out and make it harder for me to enjoy…us.” Is that what we’re saying? That we’ll be an us? I want that—to be an us with someone.
I want to be happy. I want to be normal. I want to know who I am.
“Okay. We date, and we keep it between us for now. But I already told Archer you got me feeling things.”
“What?” I pull back.
“Is that okay? I never said you feel the same.”
I nod. “It’s okay.” I just can’t imagine him feeling the need to tell someone how he feels about me.
“So…back to that kissing thing…about how good it felt…you think I could kiss you again?”
I smile so fucking big, my face hurts. It’s ridiculous, but I can’t help it. I want to laugh. I want to kiss him and laugh with him and pretend I know how to be happy.
“Yes,” I reply, but then it’s me who leans in, me who takes his mouth. Me who nibbles his lip and sucks his tongue and tastes him before Tripp does all those same things to me.
My body buzzes, sparks and zings with so much pleasure, that I don’t stop myself when I lean against him, when Tripp goes to his back and I lie on top of him.
“Am I too heavy?”
“Fuck no. You’re just right. Being with someone more similar to my size is one of my favorite things about being with a man. It can add some extra special fun.” He pumps his brows.
I answer by kissing him again, my tongue slipping into his mouth, brushing against his. His arms go around me, hands fisted in my shirt. He makes noises again that I swallow down.
We kiss until my jaw hurts, but I don’t want to stop, don’t know if I ever want to stop.
Tripp maneuvers us so we’re on our sides, facing each other. There’s not a lot of room on the couch, but then he’s sliding to the floor, pulling me with him.
“Luckily, I got the office carpeted,” he says, running his hands up and down my body as he resumes the pleasure assault on my mouth.
I feel like I could die, like I could be kissed to death and it’s something everyone should aspire to.
My dick throbs, and when he rolls on top of me, I hiss in response. “Too much? We can just kiss.”
“I was on top of you earlier.”
“Yeah, but this is different. You’re new to this, so you’re running the show.”
Because that’s the kind of man Tripp is. He wants to make me comfortable and do what’s right, and I…I just want him. Want in this way I never have before.
I hold the back of his head and pull his mouth down to mine. He kisses me hard and hungry, ruts his cock against mine, and… “Fuck,” I gasp. I haven’t come with another person in years, and I’m close, so fucking close. “You’ll make me come.” Maybe that should be scarier than it is, but I’ve spent my whole life being afraid of everything. I’m not afraid of Tripp. He’s too good. And I want to soak up the way he makes me feel.