Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 132321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
“Was I okay at that?” That’s what he’s here for, to teach me. I have to stop forgetting that part.
“Magnificent. A-plus for my star student.”
Glowing from the compliment, I run my fingers through his soft, thick hair again. He’s such a beautiful man. Inside and outside. How did he get to his age and never have a girlfriend? Never ever? Or did the relationship end so badly, he doesn’t like to talk about it?
“You’ve really never dated anyone seriously?”
His shoulders jerk. “Does it matter?”
“No, I guess not.”
He dips down and catches my lips in a kiss. I wrinkle my nose at my scent all over him and he laughs against my mouth. “Kiss me.”
That seems so intimate for our arrangement, but I can’t resist his plea. I hook one arm behind his neck and drag him closer. While our lips slide together and our tongues collide, I slip my hand under his shirt, daring to sneak over his abdominals.
“Can you?” I tug on the shirt. “Take this off?”
A bolt of alarm darts across his face, so fast I might have imagined it. Then his expression settles into languid arrogance. “You haven’t earned it yet.”
He doesn’t want to get too comfortable here. Got it.
I said I wanted him to stay the night but now I’m not sure if that’s safe. I don’t want to get used to this. To us. To him being here in my bed and never anything more than that.
Jigsaw
Something in Margot’s mood has shifted. More than a post-orgasmic haze is keeping her quiet. First the relationship question. Then asking me to undress.
I study her face. Glossy eyes staring up at the ceiling, rapidly blinking like she’s trying not to cry.
Danger.
What the hell am I doing? This wasn’t supposed to get complicated. I knew this was a mistake. I’ve been way too casual and familiar with her. Kissing her every chance I get, talking to her like a boyfriend instead of a coach. Insisting on only focusing on her pleasure because I don’t want to teach her all the tricks to get a man off just so she can use them on someone else who isn’t me. The thought of her with some other guy twists a hot knife of jealousy in my chest.
I’ve violated all of my own rules with her.
I want to honor our agreement and give her everything she needs. But first I need some distance. Clarity.
A distinct buzzing comes from the floor.
Margot turns her head and frowns.
“Fuck, that’s mine. I thought I shut it off.” I sit up and grab my jeans off the floor, searching for my phone.
Rooster flashes on the screen.
I stand and answer the call. “What’s going on?”
“Where are you?”
“Why are you answering a question with a question?” I open the bedroom door and step into the hallway.
He sighs into the phone. Fucking with him when I can’t see the exasperation on his big, bearded face just isn’t as much fun. “I’m listening.”
“Laundromat got broken into.”
“Are you serious? What’d they go after, the dryer sheets?”
He snorts. “No, they beat the hell out of the change machine and a couple of washers before giving up and just taking what was in the register.”
“Fucking assholes.” I tuck my phone between my cheek and shoulder and hop into my jeans, jerking them up my legs.
“Yeah, the worst of it is the front window. Shattered the whole thing to break in.”
“Are you shitting me?”
“Nope. Huge fucking mess. Eazy and Z are down there dealing with the cops now.”
I flick my gaze toward Margot’s bedroom door. Rooster just handed me an excuse to escape. “I’ll be home in a couple of hours.”
“Where are you?”
“None of your business. Tell Z I’m on my way.”
“You don’t have to leave now.” He blows out an exasperated breath. “We have enough people to cover it.”
“No, it’s fine. You at the house?”
“Yeah, someone hacked into Stella’s site, so I’m dealing with that.”
“Shit. That’s bad, isn’t it?”
“It’s not great.”
“Maybe give Upstate a call and let them know the moon’s in retrograde or whatever.”
He snorts a laugh. “Yeah, I was going to call Murphy after I got off the phone with you. I’ll be sure to tell him that.”
“Later.” We end the call.
I shove my phone in my pocket and return to the bedroom. Margot’s sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing an oversized T-shirt and a sad expression that gives me pause.
Rooster said he doesn’t need me.
I don’t want to leave.
I really should though. Things were getting too cozy before. Too relationship-y.
“I’m sorry, babe. I gotta go.” I grab my cut off the nightstand.
She blinks up at me. “We never got to the pleasuring you part of the lesson.”
I’m painfully aware of that fact.
“I know. We will.” I give her a cocky wink even though I’m feeling more unsettled than anything right now. “That’s a lesson all on its own.” I force a grin, trying to keep the mood light. My mind’s already back on my bike speeding away from the reality that I’m in deeper than I intended.