Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
She cocks her head at me.
“Does it bother you?”
I look down for a moment, thinking for a moment.
“Yes and no. I love my dad. He’s done his best to provide for us, but he had a hardscrabble childhood. Again, I know he wants the best for me, but he also wants the pot of money that goes with a football career. You take the good with the bad, you know?”
Catherine listens carefully while taking sips of her Coke.
“Now I’ve done it,” I laugh. “I just bared my soul to you, and we don’t even really know each other. You’re uncomfortable.”
She’s silent, looking down.
“No, I’m not,” she says softly. “I value that you shared that with me, Hunter.”
The air between us is comfortable. I can hardly believe that I’m sitting here, having a deep conversation with my ex-girlfriend’s sister. But then I decide to be funny. I’m not used to deep moments after years of being viewed as an “asset,” and Catherine’s insightfulness touches something in me. I finish my Coke with one last swig, and then crush the aluminum in my fingers while grunting like an animal.
“Ooof, oof, oof!” I holler like an ape.
“Really?” Catherine rolls her eyes and turns her attention away from me. Suddenly, the act seems very juvenile.
“Sorry,” I say, setting the crushed can down on the coffee table. “Old habits die hard, I guess.”
“I suppose my sister likes that, doesn’t she?”
“What?”
“You, being all, I don’t know, macho.”
A snort escaped my nose as I tried to hold in my laughter. Catherine turned and giggled as she pointed at me only to have a snort escape her nose too.
“That was you,” I said, laughing so hard my sides ached. She shakes her head as her hand covers her mouth, blocking my view of her pretty smile.
“Why are you doing that?” I asked, reaching out and pulling her hand from her face. “You shouldn’t cover your smile.”
“I don’t know,” she says, blushing. “I guess it’s just habit.”
“But you have a great smile. There’s no need to cover it.”
She merely giggled again, but then the smile faded away. Pain coursed through her expression as she turned her head, and my heart contracted. What was causing this beautiful girl such discomfort?
I leaned a little closer from my seat on the couch.
“You okay?” I ask.
She bites her lip and takes a deep breath. Then, I slide a hand onto her knee.
“I’m okay,” she breathes. “I’m fine.”
I slide my hand a bit higher up her curvy thigh, unable to resist. She shoots me an alarmed look.
“What are you doing, Hunter?” she asks as I move closer still. Her body trembles a bit in my proximity, her large breasts shaking.
“Who told you to hide your smile?” I ask again. Her eyes are locked on mine, and I know I have her in my sights. She’s gorgeous, with that plush pink pout and rosy cheeks. She’s mere inches from me now, and all I have to do is reach out and take what’s mine.
Slowly, slowly.
Carefully, I stretch out my hand and brush my fingertips over her cheek. I move gently, hoping I don’t spook her.
“Do you like this?” I ask in a low voice.
She swallows audibly, her eyes like saucers.
“Yes,” she breathes. “But Hunter…”
I cut her off.
“But nothing, Catherine. Your smile is beautiful. I want you to smile more for me.”
“Hunter?”
Her voice seems fragile, like crystal so easily shattered. Leaning in, I keep my eyes fixed on hers. If she glances away, I’ll lose the moment. A sharp whistle of air seeps through her lips as I brush my fingertips over her smooth arm.
Steady. That’s it. Keep her right there.
Then, my lips brush against hers as I wrap my arms around her body and pull her closer to me. She returns the kiss passionately, her soft form melting against mine before she pulls away violently.
“This isn’t right!” she exclaims, struggling for a moment while pummeling her hands against my chest. But it’s useless because I’m about twice her size and built like a mountain. Besides, my body craves hers too much to stop now. I’m rock hard and dying to be inside her warm wetness. I want her, and I know she wants me too. She just needs that push, that little nudge.
Sucking in shallow breaths, Catherine tries to regain her composure. There’s a battle raging within her, I can see. It shifts and surges in her eyes, making her hands alternately stroke my chest, and then shove me away again.
This is a make or break moment. Catherine thinks she can leave, but little does she know, she’s already mine.
5
Catherine
“Hunter, what are you doing?” I gasp.
There’s hunger in his eyes and it thrills me to my core. His fingers drift over my arm causing me to quiver under his touch. He’s trying to get to me, but I can’t do this. My sister would kill me if she ever found out.