But the pros she knew looked like children playing pretend compared to Aiden O’Malley. The main skill Charlie had developed after she’d been so horrifyingly wrong about her brothers in blue was people-reading…and she couldn’t begin to guess what the real Aiden was like.
At the moment, he looked slightly rumpled, a few buttons of his shirt undone, his hair not quite perfect, as if he’d been running his hands through it. He went still as she walked toward him. “Charlie.” She heard the door shut behind her, but she had eyes only for him.
Pretend. It’s just pretend.
It didn’t feel very fake when he held a hand out to her and she crossed the room to take it. She had a vague impression of strong colors on the wall and sturdy furniture, but she couldn’t take her gaze from him.
He took in her dress with a quick look, the heat in his green eyes banking just as quickly as it had last night. “I like it.”
“Thanks.” This felt too weird, especially considering why she was really here. Charlie looked around. “I met your sister when I walked through the door.”
“Keira.” He said her name on a sigh, the very picture of the beleaguered brother.
Real or pretend?
“She’s pissed at me right now, and I don’t expect that to change anytime soon.” Aiden motioned her closer and took her hand again, running his thumb over her knuckles as he examined the manicure she’d gotten today.
She didn’t ask what he’d done to make his sister angry.It was none of her business. She wasn’t here to get to know him—something she desperately needed to remember. “What’s the plan?”
“Dinner.” He saw her confusion and explained. “Before we can convince our enemies that we’re madly in love, we need to convince my family. Their belief will lend the whole thing credence. Some of them are terrible liars.”
She doubted that very much. Charlie looked down at their joined hands, the contact so innocent and yet branding her all the same. “Well, then let’s make it convincing. This holding hands makes me feel like I’m back in seventh grade and awkward as hell.”
“What are you proposing?” His tone gave nothing away, not anticipation, not condemnation.
“The only way they’ll believe you proposed marriage so fast is if the sex was off the charts.”Fool, fool, fool.She was on dangerous ground, and she knew it, but she wasn’t going to risk what little she had left to lose on a plan destined to fail because they half-assed it.
Charlie took a deep breath and stepped into him. He felt good, all long lines and hidden strength, but she was about to jump out of her skin just being this close. Seductress she was not. “We have to be all over each other, have to constantly look like we’re about to fuck or have just fucked—or a combination of both.”
His hands came to rest on her hips, not pulling her closer or pushing her away, just touching her. “It would make the charade more convincing. I can’t argue that.”’
“Then let’s…” She ran her hands up his chest and looped them around his neck. The move pressed her breasts more firmly against him, and his fingers flexed on her hips. It was a slight movement, but it was the first physical indication he’d given since that moment in the car that he wanted her.We’re both the problem here. Too cold. Too contained.“Let’s mix things up a bit.”
“You’re playing with fire, Charlie.” The words came out in a rumble. “I promised I wouldn’t touch you unless you asked me to, but make no mistake, if you want to play this close to the line, then we’ll be crossing that line. Repeatedly.”
“I know.” Her body tingled, but she couldn’t be sure if it was in fear or anticipation.
“Be sure.”
He was giving her an out, which was kind of sweet, but she was right and she knew it. They had to cross this line, and cross it before they encountered any more of his family. The reasoning felt flimsy, but she pushed away her doubt. She was an adult, and she was well aware of the risks that came with taking things to this level. “I’m sure.”
He didn’t ask again. Aiden let go of her hip with one hand, and slid it up her side to bracket her throat. There was no pressure, no pain, just a startling possessive gesture that seared her to the core. “Take off your panties. Now.”
She swallowed hard, the move dragging his calluses against her sensitive skin. “I’m not wearing any.”
The look he sent her nearly had her on her knees, her legs shaking, her breath already coming in short gasps. “Good girl.”
***
Aiden knew he should put the brakes on this insanity. It was a bad idea, a distraction neither of them could afford. He stared at Charlie’s fuck-me-red lips tellinghim she wasn’t wearing any panties and reacted. “I’m not fucking you. Not today, not like this.”
Was there disappointment in those blue eyes of hers? He thought so. Aiden tightened his grip on her throat, just a little, claiming her even though he had no right to. “Make no mistake—Iamgoing to fuck you, Charlie. I will spread your thighs, rip off your panties, and drive into you until your eyes roll back in your head and you see the face of God. But I will do it when I’m damn well ready.” He dipped his hand beneath the hem of her dress, slowly skating up the outside of her leg to her hip, taking the fabric with him until she was partially bared.
She shivered a little. “I don’t know that I put sex on the table.”
“It’s not on the table.” He turned, putting himself between her and the door, and backed her up against the desk. “Not today.” It was a mistake, but he couldn’t stop as he lifted her onto the desk.
You knew this was going to happen. Fuck, you even planned on it.
