Total pages in book: 156
Estimated words: 155203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 776(@200wpm)___ 621(@250wpm)___ 517(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 776(@200wpm)___ 621(@250wpm)___ 517(@300wpm)
I wait for him to reach me.
“This is unexpected. I assumed we would go back to ignoring each other for at least another week.”
Although he laughs, a flicker of guilt crosses his expression. “Yeah. About that, actually. I didn’t get a chance to give this to you before.” He reaches into his pocket. “I got distracted.”
I grin because I know exactly what the “distraction” was.
“Anyway. Here.”
An amazed laugh sputters out of my mouth when he holds out a crumpled daisy.
It must have been crammed in his jacket pocket this whole time. It’s not in great shape, this poor flower.
“Oh my God. You’re bringing me apology flowers again? Can’t you ever apologize without all the pageantry?”
He smirks at me. “It’s not an apology flower. It’s to celebrate National Dessert Day.”
“That is not a real day.”
“Yup. I looked it up.”
I think it over. “All right, I accept. I do love dessert.” I offer an overly lascivious grin. “Seems like you do too.”
“I mean, when the dessert is your pussy, I’ll eat it any day of the month.”
A hot jolt of lust tightens my core. Goddamn it. I know I started it, but he shouldn’t be allowed to say things like that. They do my head in.
His humor fades, replaced with a slight flush of sheepishness. “I shouldn’t have disappeared for a week.”
I sigh and take some responsibility. “I didn’t call either.”
“Yeah.” His lips curve mockingly. “What’s your excuse?”
“I was scared. That was really good sex. Like, scary good.”
He looks startled by my honesty.
“What about you? Why didn’t you call?”
He’s quiet for several beats. Then he bites his lip.
“Similar reasoning,” he finally says.
My pulse quickens. “So what’s next? Should we go back to being people who don’t do naked things together?”
“I just went down on you, Gisele.”
“I mean, starting now. Should we stop or keep going?”
Ryder searches my face. “Do you want to stop?”
“No,” I admit. “But I also don’t want to do this silent treatment thing again.”
“Neither do I.”
“And I don’t want you doing naked things with anyone else,” I find myself blurting out.
He startles again. “I’m not.”
“Oh. Okay. But let’s say you were wanting it to be an option, I don’t think I’m comfortable with it. I mean, there’s nothing wrong if you wanted that,” I add hurriedly. “Lots of people don’t want the exclusive label. They think it locks them into a relationship, which is not what I’m trying to do at all, I promise. I don’t want us to be in a relationship. But…” I realize I’m babbling and force myself to articulate. “What I’m saying is, I know some girls don’t care about not having exclusivity, and I don’t judge them. But it’s not for me.”
He looks amused. “Are you done?”
“Yes.”
“A lot of guys don’t want to be exclusive right away,” Ryder says roughly. “I’m not one of them.”
I blink in surprise. “Really?”
“I barely have time for one woman, let alone multiple ones.” Somewhat awkwardly, he moves closer and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “My dick belongs to you.”
There’s no way that could ever be considered a classically romantic line, but it makes my heart skip a beat nonetheless.
“Okay?” he prompts.
I nod slowly. “Okay.”
I’m still thinking about the exchange when I get ready later to meet Diana for dinner in Hastings. My resting heart rate is dangerously high as everything Ryder said to me this afternoon continues to run through my mind.
Eventually, I grab my phone, unable to stop my own feelings from spilling out.
ME:
I can’t stop thinking about you too.
ME:
And my pussy is yours.
HOCKEY KINGS TRANSCRIPT
ORIGINAL AIR DATE: 10/15
© THE SPORTS BROADCAST CORPORATION
JAKE CONNELLY: WE’LL CONTINUE TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE SITUATION over in New Jersey. Losing Novachuk will be a massive hit, but I will say, the Devils have always been able to bounce back from unlucky incidents. They had that nasty streak of injuries about five years ago—remember the season where their entire starting line was out with injury?
GARRETT GRAHAM: They’ll recover, no doubt.
CONNELLY: Moving over to the college world now. Obviously, it’s still early in the season, so all these games aren’t necessarily indicative of which D1 schools will be at the top of the pack come February. But UConn is looking so good.
GRAHAM: Phenomenal.
CONNELLY: Three consecutive wins and shutouts. They’re off to a great start. Your alma mater, not so much.
GRAHAM: Well, this is something we discussed in July. The so-called superteam and how they’d perform.
CONNELLY: Well, this superteam is off to a devastating start—lost their first three games. With that said, did you see the stick-handling from Luke Ryder against Boston College last night? Wow. You’ve got these other guys, the flashy stickhandlers, who are all pop and dazzle but not necessarily the most effective. Ryder, meanwhile, is effective as hell.
GRAHAM: He is.
CONNELLY: So quick with the puck. Kid possesses the keen ability to throw defenders off with these cool deceptive moves, setting up passes they don’t even see coming. Which is astounding considering his size. For such a big guy, with that kind of reach—and he uses a tall stick too—he shouldn’t be able to stickhandle the way he does.