This one also was built, his chest and arms covered in black ink.
The way those muscles flexed as he sunk into me…
“This book has to be really interesting if it has all of your attention.”
I let out a soft yelp in surprise, my head snapping up. My heart is beating wildly inside my chest as I find a grinning Blake watching me over the top of the book. His chest is naked, sweat glistening on his skin, one lone drop sliding down, down…
“See something you like, Blondie?”
Blake’s low baritone sends a shiver down my spine. He crosses his arms over his chest, and my head snaps up. Amusement and something else, something darker is playing on his face and making my stomach tighten as he raises his brow in a silent question.
“Wh-what…”
I lift my book, but in my hurry, it falls from my hands and onto my face.
“Ouch.”
Before I can react, the book is gone, and Blake’s standing there, mere inches from me. His expression is serious as he scans my face. “Are you okay?”
“You scared me!” I protest and reach for my book. “Gimmie that.”
Blake shakes his head and pulls it out of my reach. “Oh, no, I wanna see what was so interesting that you didn’t hear me coming.”
He opens the book and starts reading.
I swallow hard. Maybe he opened some random scene, maybe…
His brows rise, eyes widening the more he reads.
“Blondie.” He glances at me. “I really hope this isn’t for school.”
I jump to my feet and grab the book out of his hand. “Of course it’s not for school. It’s for my book club.”
If possible, his brows arch even higher. “This is what you discuss at book club? Smut?”
Color floods my cheeks, but I refuse to look down. “It’s aromancenovel. Not smut.” I cross my arms, clutching the book to my chest. “But even if it were, I don’t see how that has anything to do with you.”
“I don’t know about that.” Blake shakes his head, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. “If I knew, I might be tempted to join. I didn’t have any idea that reading could be so… educational.”
I try to imagine it. But instead of seeing Blake’s tall frame in one of the chairs at the Reading Nook as he discusses sex scenes with the ladies of Bluebonnet, a different scene pops into my mind. Blake trying to recreate one of the steamy scenes from the book. Down to the smallest of details. With me.
My mouth goes dry as heat pools in my belly.
“Savannah?”
I blink to find Blake watching me expectedly.
I shake my head, pushing the thoughts out of my mind. “What are you doing here anyway?”
“I was out for a run and saw you sitting on the porch.” His eyes scan my face. “So I figured I’d check in on you.”
“Oh…” I tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “I’m fine.”
I haven’t seen Blake in the last few days. Ever sincethatday. The day I fell apart at the hospital, and Blake saw it happen. Not just that, he comforted me. Held me while I cried. Hekissedme. And I let him.
I’ll do whatever you need me to do. Be whoever you need me to be.
I bite into my lower lip.