Total pages in book: 167
Estimated words: 164838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Grabbing his bowl from the table, I shoved it back into his hands. “Eat. I made it for you. To say thanks for helping me last night.” I couldn’t stop speaking now that stress had gathered. I did what Lily did and blurted everything. “You unlocked the cage I’ve been trapped in. You took away his power, and I’ll always be grateful for that. I’ll always be so thankful you messaged me that day. I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay you, but I’d like to try and—”
“Lori.” Swooping forward, he pressed his finger against my lips. “Hush.”
I blinked and shivered.
The world fell away as our eyes locked. I forgot about cakes and gratitude. All I wanted was a repeat of last night. I wanted to give him the same level of pleasure he gave me. I wanted him to know that I might never know his name, but I would always, always remember him.
His finger fell from my lips, his breath catching.
A split-second decision had me snatching his bowl from his hand and tossing it back onto the coffee table.
He reared against the armrest with a scowl. “What are you—”
I didn’t let him finish. Gathering all my fledging strength, I crawled directly on top of him.
He went deathly still. His hands gripped the couch as his body turned to stone. “W-What are you doing?”
Peng jumped off the settee as my knee went between X’s legs and I planted one hand on his chest. Fighting my trembles, I reached for his mask.
“Lori, don’t—” He tried to scoot backward but the armrest trapped him.
He shook his head.
I went to pull.
His hand snapped up and locked around my wrist. “Stop.”
My eyes flashed to his. “You can’t eat with it on.”
He sucked in a breath. “I’m not hungry.”
“But I baked you a cake.”
“And I’m grateful. I’ll eat it when I go home. If you allow me to have a piece to takeaway, of course.”
I huffed. “I’m not a restaurant, you know.”
“And I didn’t expect you to bake me a thank-you.”
My heart pounded far too fast. “How could I not? What you did felt…amazing.” My cheeks burned as I forced myself to stay honest. “No one has ever…I mean, I’ve never had someone…” I swallowed hard. “That was my first time.”
“I know,” he said softly, full of gravel and gruff. “You told me no one has ever made you come.”
I blushed. “Well, yes that too. But I meant…” I couldn’t look at him. I focused on the toothy snarl of the skull. “No one has ever gone down on me.”
His eyebrows shot up, his piercing twinkling silver in the lowlight. “You’re kidding me.”
My cheeks went into full blush.
“How…how is that possible?” he whisper-growled. “Fuck, if you were mine, I’d dine on you every night.”
My gaze snapped to his. Prickly heat crackled over my skin.
Cupping my cheek with his free hand, he ran his thumb over my bottom lip. His gaze transfixed on my mouth. “Your taste is…” He glanced at the chocolate cake with an erotic huff. “A thousand times better than the sweetest dessert. You taste like the flowers you’re always cooking—like the best kind of nectar.” He chuckle-snarled. “To know I’m the only one who’s sampled you in that way? To know no one else has licked you, tasted your cum, or heard you cry out in ecstasy is a very bad thing for me.”
“W-Why?” I swallowed hard. “Why is it bad?”
“Because that stupid crush I have on you is blowing completely out of control.”
He successfully set my heart on fire.
Groaning, he tipped his head back as if exhausted by the thick, sexual tension arching between us. “You have no idea how hard this is for me.”
“I think I probably have some idea how hard you are.” I forced myself to grin. “Probably about how wet I—”
“Fucking hell.” He squeezed his eyes closed and shook his head. “You can’t say things like that.”
“Why?”
“Because it makes me want to keep you, and…I can’t.”
I froze solid, hovering over him. “Who says you can’t?”
What am I saying?
His forehead furrowed. He ignored my question with a snarl. “I thought I could do this, but I’m so far out of my depth, I’m drowning.” He laughed coldly. “And you know what the worst part is? I know I should get up right now and walk out that door, but all I can think about is how you invited me here for cake yet all I want to eat is you.”
My stomach flipped. I tried to pull his mask again. “I can be on the menu.”
Wow, who are you right now?
His chin tipped down, his eyes blazing a hellish black.
My fingers clung to the bottom of his mask, refusing to let go even as his hand tightened around my wrist.
“You wouldn’t offer if you knew who I truly am.”