Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 24934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
"Don’t stare," I say, though it comes out more breathless than firm.
"Can’t help it," he says, his voice low and rough. "You’re beautiful, Sarah."
My hands falter, and for a moment, I forget the cold. His words settle over me like a warm touch, making me feel exposed in a way that has nothing to do with my lack of clothing.
I take a deep breath, then step into the water. The icy bite is immediate, stealing the air from my lungs. "Oh my God, it’s freezing!" I yelp, splashing toward him.
Grady chuckles, catching my hand as I stumble. His grip is strong and steady, grounding me as I adjust to the shock of the cold. "Told you it works," he says, his voice warm despite the temperature.
I glare at him, though the effect is ruined by the way my teeth chatter. "You’re insane."
"And yet, here you are," he teases, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Before I can respond, he tugs me closer, his hands settling on my waist. The cold water seems to disappear, replaced by the heat of his touch and the intensity of his gaze. The moment stretches, the world narrowing to just the two of us.
"Grady..." I whisper, my voice trailing off as he leans in.
His lips brush mine, soft at first, then demanding. The kiss ignites something deep inside me, a fire that burns away the chill and leaves me clinging to him like he’s the only solid thing in the world. His hands grip my waist tighter, pulling me flush against him as the river rushes around us.
When we finally break apart, we’re both breathing hard, our foreheads pressed together. "Let’s get out of this water," he murmurs, his voice thick with need.
I nod, too breathless to speak. He leads me to the shore, grabbing the towel he’d left on a nearby rock. He wraps it around me, his hands lingering on my shoulders as he looks at me like I’m something precious.
"Come on," he says, his voice softer now. "There’s a sauna up the hill."
The small sauna tucked near his backdoor is warm and inviting, the heat wrapping around us like a cocoon as we settle onto the wooden bench. I clutch the towel around me, aware of every inch of space between us—and how much I want to close it.
Grady leans back, a towel slung low on his hips, his chest still damp and glistening. He watches me with a smirk that’s equal parts teasing and possessive. "You’re quiet," he says, his voice cutting through the thick silence.
"I’m still trying to figure out what happened last night—it feels like a fever dream,” I admit, my cheeks heating for an entirely different reason now.
"What happened," he says, leaning closer, "is you finally let go."
"Let go of what?" I ask, though I already know the answer.
"Everything," he says, his voice dropping to a rough whisper. "Your fears, your doubts...all the things that keep you from living the way you want to."
His words hit me like a punch to the gut, but before I can respond, he’s there, his hands framing my face as he kisses me again. This kiss is different—deeper, hungrier, like he’s been holding back for too long and can’t anymore.
The towel slips from my shoulders as his hands roam, his touch igniting a fire that spreads through me like wildfire. I don’t think, don’t hesitate. I just give in to the pull between us, to the way he makes me feel alive in a way I never have before.
"Sarah," he murmurs against my lips, his voice rough with desire. "Tell me to stop, and I will."
"Don’t," I whisper, the word barely audible but filled with all the things I can’t bring myself to say.
He growls low in his throat, and then we’re lost. The sauna fills with the sound of our heavy breathing, the crackle of the wood stove, and the soft gasps and moans we can’t hold back. Every touch, every kiss, feels like a promise—a declaration of everything we’ve been holding back.
With a fierce growl, he leans me against the door and presses his body hard against mine. My back arches as his hands grip my waist, his fingers digging into my skin with a possessive force. A wave of desire surges through me as my hands roam his hard chest, my breathing quickening at the sight of his lean, toned body. We lock eyes for a moment, our lust-filled gaze holding nothing back.
"I want to taste you on my lips again,” he breathes before claiming my mouth in a searing kiss. The heat between us is palpable as he lifts me up, pressing me against the door with his powerful thighs. My legs wrap around him instinctively as we devour each other, his hands roaming hungrily over my body. "I only want me inside you," he growls, grinding against me in a way that drives me wild with need.