Page 23 of Timber's Girl

LINDY

We’re both adults.

Famous last words that come back to bite me in the ass as I wiggle beneath the comforter next to Gideon. Sneaking a peek at my phone, I squint from the bright light and stifle a groan.

12:07 A.M.

It’s barely after midnight?

Gideon and I went to bed a little over an hour ago, and I’m regretting the paranoia that had me dialing his number when I thought someone was tailing me. Because if I hadn’t called him, I’d be asleep already. Probably. Maybe.

Okay, so my sleep isn’t that great even without a giant man who smells like pine and oil creating a dip in the mattress, tempting me to roll into the divot and right into his arms.

That would totally demolish my ‘take it slow’ boundary.

You’ve known the man for over a year.

You’ve dated him for over a month.

How much slower do you need?

And let’s not forget my hormones which riot for attention the moment he’s in the vicinity. But what can I do? Accost the poor man in his sleep?

His breathing evened out soon after his head hit the pillow. Gideon’s off in dreamland while I’m stuck in reality—hot, horny,and mad about it. My focus shouldn’t be on testing the firmness of those broad shoulders and ridged abdomen. It should be on the weirdness from earlier.

On whether Dean or one of his cronies was following me home from the grocery store. But that asshole’s taken up so much of my brainspace that I really don’t want to think about him now, especially when fear for my safety is the last thing on my mind.

Honestly, I’m probably the safest I’ve been since the last time Gideon and I slept together—him on top of me like a guardian blanket.

“Ugh…” I sigh under my breath, flipping over to my right side.

“Care to share what’s got you so frustrated?” Gideon’s scratchy voice emanating through the dark sends me jerking back so fast I almost roll off the bed, until his muscular arm snags my waist and saves me from the abyss.

“You’re awake?”

“I never fell asleep,” he admits. “Hard to do next to a gorgeous woman. Who also prefers fidgeting every few seconds rather than resting.”

“Sorry.”

His other arm rests under his head as he stares at me through the dark. Moonlight offers a muted glow to the room but not enough to expunge the shadows. All I can make out is the gleam of his eyes and the flash of white teeth when he speaks.

“Want to talk about it, whatever’s keeping you up? Is it Dean?”

“No, definitely not.” I shift a little further away, praying the shadows hide my embarrassment.

“No, you don’t want to talk about it, or no, it isn’t your ex?” he asks, and the smirk on his face is almost palpable despite the lack of light.

Reaching beneath the covers, my fingers find the elastic waistband of his sweatpants and snap it against his stomach in retaliation for laughing at my flustered vagueness.

“Careful… You’re playing with fire.” The switch from playful teasing to growly alpha is intoxicating, so I snap the waistband again, my heartrate picking up in anticipation.

A rumble of thunder rolls through his body, vibrating from his lower stomach to my palm—something I pressed flat to his hot skin rather than removing it after taunting him.

“Is that a question, Lindy Girl? Because my answer is yes.”

Swallowing past the thickness of my tongue, I whisper, “Good, because I don’t want to go slow anymore,” then inch my hand below the gray cotton until his dick springs free.

Pre-cum leaks from the mushroom head, and a hum of apprehension runs below my skin. Like the rest of Gideon’s bulky stature, his cock matches—thick and long and oh-so-tempting. Nervous energy rides the coattails of arousal, my body getting turned on just from looking at him.

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