Page 6 of The Good Girl Next Door

His eyes and smile melt my insides, but I’m afraid his touch might incinerate me. I’ll be nothing but a pile of smoldering ash once he gets his hands—ahem,hand—on me.

A small part of mewantshim to get his hands on me, but it’s fast approaching a majority. Pretty soon I won’t be able to fight it.

I swallow, nearly choking as I glance at his big hand, drawing my gaze along his forearm, tattooed and snaked with veins, until I finally look at Silas again.

I reach for his hand. I’ve hardly moved before he snares my hand, encircling it completely—warm, rough, and strong. His dimples deepen as his eyes dissect me. My body feels like it’s vibrating. It feels like I’m on a rollercoaster, the world spiraling around me as my stomach drops, and I can’t figure out which way is up.

“I’m starving,” Silas says, hoarsely.

And I’m not sure it’s for Thai food. His eyes dip for the briefest of moments, but I catch it.

“I hope you like Thai food.”

I somehow manage not to sound awkward.

“It’s my favorite.”

Silas is still holding my hand as though he’s drawing out the moment as long as he can. I’m not sure if an hour has passed or a few seconds, but it’s long enough that my dad finally says, “Let’s eat,” in a curt tone.

It doesn’t scare Silas away. He’s rubbing circles against the pulse point on my wrist with his finger, strumming it as blood thrums in my ears.

“Why don’t you sit next to me, Prudence? I’d like to get to know my new neighbor.”

“Neighbor?”

I glance at my dad who has been slowly approaching us.

“Silas will be living in the pool house until we figure out his living situation.”

“There was a mix-up at the housing office,” Silas says.

“I hope you don’t mind, sweetheart,” my dad says, shoving his hands in his pockets.

I shake my head as my gaze returns to Silas. “No.” My voice is steady, belying the thunderous storm in my head.

“You won’t even know I’m here, Pru,” Silas whispers as his smile deepens.

Pru.

I can feel my nipples tightening into hard beads beneath my dress at the sound of my nickname on Silas’s lips.

There’s not a shred of truth in Silas’s statement, and both of us know it.

three

silas

“Not a chance,Pru. I’ll take care of the dishes. Put. The plate.Down.”

Prudence snorts as she sets the plate back into the sink and spins around, her dress fluttering high enough for me to see a few inches of her thighs. Smooth. Creamy.MINE.

Jesus—I’ve never felt this way about a girl before. There’s been plenty who have tried to grab my attention. Puck bunnies looking for some fun, dressing to the nines to capture more than a passing glance from me. Never works. No one’s ever held my attention until Prudence.

Her dress is hardly flashy. It’s conservative and tasteful but everything inside me is screaming to tear it off her body. She’s got me so heated that I want to lick her fucking collarbone—the only part of her chest showing above that neckline.

She could wrap herself in a blanket and I’d feel the same—but I’d exchange the blanket for bed sheets if she gave me the opportunity.Jesus,it’s painful not touching her.

“No more dish duty? I could get used to this,” she says, leaning on the counter in front of the sink.

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