Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 67675 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67675 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
“What’s wrong?” Landon asked, tilting my chin up and examining my face. “Did I scare you that badly?”
“I think I scared myself.” Shakily, I tried to explain in a way that wouldn’t just make him pat me on the head condescendingly and tell me I wouldn’t have stood a chance.
“Survival instinct,” he said instead, and inexplicably, brushed a lock of my hair behind my ear. The touch was so tender and intimate, his words nearly flew out of my head.
As if he’d just realized what he had done, Landon dropped his hand and took a step back. His eyes were still on mine though, and they were gleaming just like they had in my imagination.
“It’s biology,” he went on. “For thousands of years, promulgating the species and protecting our young has been our chief priority. I have no doubt you’d stab someone to protect Emma.”
“Not just anyone, you,” I said, frustrated.
When he snorted, rage coursed through me. Here I was, terrified that I’d almost hurt him, and he was laughing at me. I grabbed a spatula from the drying rack and flew at him, determined to prove that I could have stabbed him.
Landon caught my wrist easily and disarmed me. Then he caught the other before it could swing at him, and before I knew what was happening, I was facing the opposite direction, caged in by my own crossed arms, his hands like steel brackets on either wrist. He was holding me against his chest so tightly I could barely breathe.
And he was laughing.
It was silent, but I could feel his chest moving up and down.
“I appreciate your concern, but as you can see, I have nothing to worry about,” he said, amusement thickening his voice.
I was irrationally angry, but beneath that, there was another emotion. Something darker and scarier. Something that felt good being pinned against him, that liked feeling his hard, muscular body impressed against mine. I struggled even though I knew it would be useless. Landon let me for a minute, then he loosened his grip just enough to twist me around.
“Let me go,” I said breathlessly, staring up into his shadowed eyes. “You’ve proven your point.”
“Have I?” Landon asked, his face strangely arrested. The amusement was gone from his voice now. He sounded deadly serious.
“Yes.”
He didn’t say anything, just skimmed my face with his cool, pale green gaze. I had a feeling he wasn’t missing a single detail, and I wondered what he was looking for exactly. Though I could barely breathe, being this close to him again, I took the opportunity to study him back.
Landon’s gaze dropped to my mouth, lingered there.
“What are you thinking?” I whispered, my heart picking up speed.
“I’m thinking I was wrong earlier,” he murmured.
“When you said I couldn’t stab you?”
He lifted his eyes to mine, amusement flickering through them briefly before they darkened again. “No. When I said we had nothing to worry about.”
My breath caught. I didn’t bother asking what he meant. I knew.
Landon lowered his head, blotting out the light of the stove behind him. I tilted mine back, meeting his mouth as it came down on mine. He tasted like mint and reluctance, a strangely intoxicating combination. His grip loosened, and I skimmed my freed hands up to his shoulders, fingertips clawing into the fabric of his white t-shirt. I parted my lips beneath his, inviting him in.
Instead, he broke the kiss, but he didn’t pull away. He leaned his forehead into mine, breathing hard. “This is a bad idea.”
“It’s not like we haven’t had it before,” I whispered.
“And look how that turned out.”
“It’ll be different this time.”
I felt his forehead scrunch against mine as his brows rose. “How so?”
I slid my hands to either side of his face, wondering what on earth I was doing trying to talk him into this. I should be pushing him away. It was dangerous. Still, I whispered, “Well, like we said. It’s only for three weeks.”
Landon groaned. “That’s your best argument? I hope you make a better doctor than you would a lawyer.” He still didn’t pull away though.
I could feel how much he wanted me. The barely controlled breath, the hard length of him pressing against my hip. I wanted him too. It had been so long since I’d been with anyone, and I’d never been with anyone like him. Maybe that was how it was with your first. I didn’t know. All I knew was that my second had been sweet, thoughtful, and disappointing. I leaned forward and pressed my lips against his clavicle. “It’s like Vegas,” I murmured. “What happens there, stays there. For the next three weeks, this apartment is Vegas.”
“That’s a better argument,” he murmured, his hands sliding up into my hair. He pulled my head back gently and stared down at me. “I’ve always loved your mouth.”