Page 44 of The Sweetest Risk

“Good,” I breathe out. I run my hand along my inner thigh, wishing it was Tristan’s hand. My phone dings and I open a photo message from Tristan. His hoodie is gone and all I see is his sculpted tattooed chest and washboard abs and the deep V along the elastic band of his underwear that is peeking out from his dark gray sweatpants. He is sticking out his tongue playfully and I can feel myself getting so wet at the mere sight of this man. His voice is also so irresistible, I feel like my body might just combust from the vibrations of every word that comes out of that perfect mouth of his.

“You took off your hoodie, Hot Shot. And that tongue. Are you trying to tease me?”

“Oh, Brooke, you and I both know that I want to do more than tease you. And trust me when I get home tomorrow, I am coming straight over to your apartment to show you just how much my tongue misses licking every part of you. For now, I want you to be a good girl and slide your panties to the side and put your fingers inside you.”

Now it’s my turn to drive him crazy with the truth. “I would, except I am not wearing any.”

Tristan groans and his deep voice vibrates throughout my entire body, causing my toes to curl. It’s almost like he is in the same room as me. “Fuck, Brooke. This is fucking torture being away from you. My body is aching for you.”

“Good thing we get to see each other tomorrow. Let’s hold off until then. Would you mind waiting, Hot Shot?” As much as I want to do this over the phone, I want him next to me, on top of me, behind me…all of the above. My body is aching for him, too, and I selfishly want his hands on me and his lips grazing every inch of my skin.

I thought he would be disappointed and insist that we finish what we are doing. Instead, he surprises me with the sweetest statement: “I have waited for you for almost a third of my life, Brooke. I think I can handle it. You have no idea how much I want my hands all over you.”

“Well, until tomorrow, then. I can’t wait to see you. Have a safe flight back home.”

“I will and I’ll text you tomorrow morning, Brooke. Goodnight babe.”

I smile and butterflies flutter in my stomach at the way he said “babe” so effortlessly. “Goodnight, handsome.”

I tap the red button and plug my phone into the charger. I switch off my bedside lamp and pull my comforter up closeto my face. I don’t know how well I am going to sleep tonight because I can’t get Tristan, every single aspect of him, out of my head. Tomorrow can’t come soon enough.

22

Iget a notification that I have a package waiting for me in the mailroom. I pull open the large doors to the leasing office of my apartment complex. A couple of employees are at their desks.

“Hey can I help you?”

I get a quick glimpse of his nametag: Bryan. “Yes you can, Bryan. I got a notification that a package was delivered for me.”

“Name?”

“Brooke Beckett.”

A flicker of recognition washes over the other employee’s face and it looks like she is starting to blush. I glance over at her nametag and register that her name is Kayla. “Hold on, Bryan! You don’t need to go to the back room to get her package. I have it right here.”

Confused, Bryan sits back down at his desk and swivels his chair around to face his computer.

“Um, is something wrong with the package that you had to hold it up here rather than with all the other packages?” I nervously laugh.

Kayla laughs back as she reaches down underneath her desk and says, “Oh no. There is no problem. It’s just the guy who dropped this off wanted to ensure I give it to you directly. He said that the contents of the package were really important and he didn’t want to take any chances of it being accidentally given to the wrong person.”

“Okay…did this guy have a name?”

“He didn’t give me a name, but he lookedreallyfamiliar. I just can’t pinpoint where I’ve seen him before. And just between you and me, he is really hot! He was wearing a backwards hat, had a scruffy beard and sleeves of tattoos.” She blushes again and hands me a package wrapped in pink wrapping paper with a big pink bow on top of it.

I know exactly who this is from.

“Thank you for holding onto this for me. I am sure that this mystery man will be forever grateful.”

I start to walk away and then the girl stops me. “Oh, he left you one more thing!” She gets up and walks toward the window where a bouquet of bright pink roses sits on the windowsill. My heart leaps as she hands me the vase. “Whoever this guy is, sure does like you. No man has ever bought me flowers and surprised me with a gift before. You’re so lucky.” She fawns over what I have in my hands.

I smile back at her. “Thank you.”

Once I make it into my apartment, I drop my keys on the coffee table and carefully place the vase next to them. I take the box and pull on one side of the bow to release it. I tear open the wrapping paper like a kid on Christmas morning. I definitelyhave the same level of excitement. I lift the top of the white box. Of course there is pink tissue paper covering the contents of the package. But there is also a note lying on top.

Cupcake, I’m sorry I couldn’t come by your apartment on Sunday night when I got home. I got held up with the team and some PR stuff for upcoming games. I hope tonight makes up for it. I want you to wear this underneath your clothes tonight at your ice skating lessons. I hope you like the color. ;)

P.S. There is a location change for tonight. I’ll send you the address later.

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