Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 191(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 191(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
"Morning, Sunshine," I say, my voice gritty as hell. I know what I sound like in the mornings—basically a sex line operator. It's definitely a feature, not a bug.
She seems to agree because she blinks twice, her eyes bright blue even in the ridiculously over-the-top daylight.
"Are you dead?" she croaks.
A grin curls my lips up at the corners. "Not even close. I feel great. But you can check for yourself if you want. CPR is encouraged."
She processes this, looks down at my mouth, then back up. "You're not swelling," she mumbles, shifting slightly, her cheeks turning pink. "Well, not your face, anyway."
I don't even have to look to know exactly which part of me she's referring to. Dani Frost is in my bed, talking about my cock. Fantasies really do come true. "It's a hazard of sleeping next to you."
"This is the best Christmas Eve ever," she says, and then immediately blushes, as if she didn't mean to say that out loud.
I take the opportunity to grind against her thigh a little…just enough to make the bastard even harder. Her breath hitches in response, and that's all the invitation I need.
It's been at least five hours since I had my lips on her. Unacceptable.
I go straight for her neck, flicking my tongue across her pulse. She shudders but doesn't pull away. Instead, she fists her hands in my hair, clinging to me like I might float away if she doesn't anchor me.
"Dani," I murmur, tasting her skin, "if you don't want this, tell me now." I promised her a chance to change her mind about us last night. I was an idiot for doing that, but I won't back out now, even if it kills me. I'll spend the rest of eternity trying to convince her to fall in love with me if she wants to end this here, but I'll keep my word for today at least.
"I…" She shakes her head, her mouth open, and her eyes huge.
Christ, she's killing me.
"I want this, Trent."
Fuck. Me.
That's as far as I manage to think before my lips are on hers. The kiss is messy, not even remotely delicate, but I'm pretty sure I could die right here and not have any regrets.
I suck her lower lip into my mouth, biting down just enough to make her gasp. Her tongue finds mine, tentative at first, then eager. She's not shy, not really. She's usually just a hot little ball of insecurity and anxiety. But there's a nervous energy to her that I can't get enough of.
She tugs hard on my hair, almost as if she's daring herself to believe this is real.
I make a mental note to never let her doubt it.
I reach under her shirt, skimming my fingers along the soft skin of her back. She's so warm, so alive. I can't get enough of her.
She's been touching me for months, working on my back, but I've never been allowed to put my hands on her. All bets are off now, though. I want to map every inch of her body, memorize every sound she makes, live off every little tremor.
When my hand slides lower, cupping her ass, she stiffens for half a second—just long enough to make me pause. But then she exhales, melting into me, and I know she's not going anywhere.
"Is this okay?" I ask, my voice a thick rasp.
She nods, her expression is so open, so honest, that I feel myself falling deeper.
"You're fucking perfect," I whisper, pressing my forehead to hers.
She laughs, the sound shaky and so goddamn sweet. "You're just saying that because you almost died."
I shake my head, completely serious. "No, I mean it. If you were my last memory, I'd die happy, Sunshine."
She rolls her eyes, but she's smiling now, wide and unfiltered. As bright as the sun.
She tries to slide down to hide her face, but I catch her chin, tilting her head so she has to look at me.
"I mean it, Dani. You're perfect."
She bites her lip, then bites mine for good measure. "You're ridiculous," she finally says.
"Only for you."
She thinks I'm kidding, but I'm not. People think I'm an asshole because I am. Their opinions don't matter. I don't give a shit what they think about me or my career. I don't go out of my way to be nice or make friends. I'm not touchy-feely or some kind of goddamn hero just because I play a sport. I'm just a motherfucker who knows how to skate and hold a stick at the same time.
I want to be something different to Dani. She makes me feel different. I laugh and joke with her in a way I don't with most people. I'm not perpetually annoyed or tuning her out. I want to be right where she is, every damn minute of the day.