Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 148704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 744(@200wpm)___ 595(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 744(@200wpm)___ 595(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
Crew grips my chin, tipping my head to his. “You’d just gotten here, and I was dying to go to you. I did once. Watched you from across the street, but there was still so much for me to accomplish, and I didn’t know how to do that. Buying and keeping the bar going cost a lot more than I expected and I had to let go of my apartment to keep above water. I didn’t tell you because I was embarrassed. Felt like I was lacking all over again.”
My lips pull into a small smile, despite the sorrow threatening to drown me, and I stretch my neck, pressing my mouth to his. “I would have been honored to have you at your lowest, Crew Taylor. I didn’t need anything from you, just you.”
“I know, baby.” His lips glide across mine, his hands tightening around me. “But I needed to be more for me, to believe I was worthy of you.”
“You are.”
“Show me…”
I don’t hesitate. I seal our lips together, kissing him softly, slowly, but it quickly grows hungry, desperate, and I shift in his hold, straddling him on the bed.
He stays where he is, half sitting as I roll my hips over his naked body, his dick already hard and ready between us. Without a word needed, he lifts me, sliding me back down until he’s filling me.
Heavy moans leave us both, and I lean forward, right as he presses me closer, the need to be fused together heavy for us both.
The room is silent, nothing but our heavy, sensual breaths filling the space.
We fuck slow, steady, drowning in one another’s touch. In the searing, slow kisses.
Crew’s hands bury themselves in my hair as mine find his face, and we hold each other close. His tongue flicks over my lips, dipping at my neck until he’s nipping at my collarbone.
My head falls back, my hands moving to the nape of his neck as I roll my hips forward, and he meets me with a full thrust.
It’s like we’re living in slow motion, the ache building both mentally and physically.
We need the release as much as we need to stay just like this, pieced together forever and ever.
But the pressure is too much for us both, our bodies slick with sweat and shaking in need.
Crew captures my lips with his, kissing me hard.
Claiming me with his mouth, and it’s as if an invisible string tethers us in that moment, binding us together deeper than before.
Stronger than ever.
I feel it in my bones. Feel him in my soul.
“No matter the situation, I love you, Crew Taylor,” I whisper along his lips. “I want you always.”
He kisses me once more, his eyes closed, and it’s as if he’s only now allowed himself to believe when he whispers with a tone so sure, “I know.”
My forehead falls to his and we stay like that for several minutes before he finally lifts his head.
“I love you, baby.”
I smile, pushing his sweat-slick hair from where it curls over his forehead. “I know.” I take his words as mine, making him chuckle.
The moment passes too soon though, the silence stealing the peace of moments ago.
Crew’s gaze is tender as he pulls me forward, so I’m leaning against his chest. “Say it, Sweets,” he encourages.
“Do you think these people will really try to kill him?” I whisper.
Crew’s face falls, even though I suspect he knew what I was about to ask, though maybe not as the first question.
He looks to the side briefly. “They can’t allow someone to screw them over.”
That’s a yes.
A shiver runs through me and I chew at my lips, looking away.
Crew brings my gaze right back with a press of his knuckles to my chin. His eyes narrow, though I’m not sure he realizes it. “Promise me you’ll stay out of this. I can’t allow this to touch you. Promise me.”
I must hesitate too long, because he sits up farther, tugging my head back with a soft grip to my hair.
“Promise. Me.”
“Okay,” I whisper.
His eyes roam mine, his mouth opening, but he’s cut off by a soft double tap against the door.
I jump, and Crew’s grip tightens, his eyes flashing to the clock.
“It’s Will. He said he’d bring you some of Layla’s pancakes for breakfast. Looks like he got tired of waiting for me to call.”
My smile is small, and I only let go once he’s too far for me to hold and quickly slip the T-shirt he tosses me over my head, covering my lower half with the blanket.
Crew winks, pulling open the door, but the smell of warm butter doesn’t waft inside.
The suffocating scent of ash and alcohol does.
Willie stands in the hall, Drew at his side, and I shoot to my feet, Crew subconsciously shifting to block me, but not from their eyes, from whatever it is twisting their handsome faces with agony and anger.