Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
TWELVE
Tony
After having Coralynn in my bed and in my life consistently for the past few days, there was no goddamn way I’d be letting her sleep alone tonight now that we're back in Whispering Oaks and the wedding is behind us. Last night solidified everything I knew would come to fruition, but it still ticked me off that she admitted her love for me first. At the end of the day, though, as long as I’ve got my girl, it doesn’t matter.
Which is why I’m at her doorstep less than an hour after I followed her into town. She went in one direction, and I went in mine. I’d only needed to unpack a few things, get laundry sorted, look over a few emails, answer a good bulk, and check in with the doctor on call. There was only one case that needed a bit of help, and after we discussed it for what seemed like at great length, he went back to the patient's chart, found the hiccup, and went from there.
I hopped in the shower, put on a clean change of clothes, and then came directly here. Coralynn’s home is in the downtown area, tucked a couple of streets back from Main Street. I suggested we take in the scene, enjoy the Christmas displays, grab a bit to eat, and head back to her place for the night. My rounds don’t start until tomorrow afternoon and follow through into the night, which means I’ll need to be at my place and closer to the hospital. Coralynn’s day starts earlier for her, so it just made sense for us to do it this way. I figure until Shae and Luke are back from their honeymoon, there won’t be a hell of a lot of routine involved.
“Hey, that was fast,” she answers the door before I’m up the rest of the steps.
Jesus, one second, one minute, one hour, and it’s still like seeing her for the first damn time. “Yeah,” I respond, crowding her, head dropping and mouth going to hers. The peppermint flavor touches my lips, exploding my desire for her yet again. There’s nothing more that I want than to take this inside, divest us of our clothes, and lock us away from the outside world.
Except the last thing I want Coralynn to think is that I’m hiding her away, when what I want, no, need, is to show everyone that she’s mine. All fucking mine.
“Can I be greeted like this every time?” she asks when I pull back after getting the slightest taste. Her hands are on my chest, she’s on the tips of her toes, and it’s clear she doesn’t want this to end, either. The subtle way her tongue peeks out, tracing her lips, moistening them, tells me so.
“Fuck yeah, and as much as I want to take this further, I promised you a night on the town. That’s what we’re going to do. Then we’ll come home, and I’ll chase you till your heart’s content.” My little troublemaker is doing everything in her power to tempt me.
“Promise?” she asks, as if I wouldn’t give her anything in my power.
“That’s a guarantee, trouble.” I pull away reluctantly. She traded her leggings and tunic sweater for a pair of jeans, a slouchy beige sweater, and added a pair of suede boots. I’ve done similar, minus a sweater. I run too damn hot for that type of fabric so tugged on a burgundy Henley.
“Then I’m ready if you are. I only need to grab my keys.” She keeps the door open, and I take a step inside. The way she has this place decorated is all her. Every nook and cranny you can tell has been handpicked to curate a story about her style.
I lean against the doorjamb, watching as she floats around the room, turning lights off, picking up a remote to put in a glass dish, and once she blows out a candle in the kitchen, it looks like she’s ready to go. A strap slides over her shoulder and across her body. The words are on the tip of my tongue that she doesn’t need to bother with a bag. I’ll be paying for everything, but this is the time when I’m going to choose my battles, and this one isn’t worth it.
“Okay, I think that’s everything.” Coralynn graces me with a soft smile, pulling her hair off the leather strap.
“You want to walk there or drive and park?” She gives me a look, one that’s hard to decipher when she does this cute little thing with her nose. It’s a cross between a scrunch and a wiggle. Somewhere along the way, the sitcom was one that my mom would watch the reruns of every day of the week while growing up. She does the same now, when the days are long and she gets bored. Now, though, Dad watches them right there with her. The main plot is about a woman named Samantha, a good-hearted witch who falls in love and marries a mortal man, Darrin. She’s determined to live the suburban lifestyle, promising to give up witchcraft. Her powerful witch relatives constantly make it difficult. And when she’d give in and use her magic, well, a nose wiggle was involved. “I take it driving is a no?” I say with laughter in my tone.