“It’s hard to tear yourself off a good meal,” he whispers in my ear. “And my gorgeous girl, you're the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted.”
I laugh, still high on pleasure, and press a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, for your help.”
“I’m always happy to show you a good time,” Blake winks, and I roll my eyes, making him laugh.
“Want me to take care of this for you?” I palm the bulge threatening to burst from his jeans, earning a pained groan.
“Better not. It’s taking everything in my power not to fuck you as-is.”
I lick my lips. “Why hold back?”
“Your real, positive first time should be more special than a random afternoon-fuck. You deserve better.” He presses a kiss to the top of my sweaty forehead. “Go clean up. We have to leave soon.”
The front door slams shut,and I can only hope Blake is decent.
I can’t believe I did this. Blake is my brother’s friend, my fake boyfriend. I set out to have a quiet year, but I couldn’t have made a bigger mess if I tried.
The strange part is that I don’t regret it. Not even a little. Sure, this might complicate my relationship with Blake, but it also might not. We’ve always had thisthingbetween us, a spark I desperately tried to ignore despite his attempts to talk to me all those years. And when we agreed to do this…I think this was a long time coming.
Besides, he not only got me off—twice—but he made me feel safe and desired and didn’t downplay his arousal. Sure, he declined a quick fuck, but his reasoning was so sweet I can’t be mad at him for it. In fact, it only underscored the fact that I can trust him, that he isn’t like Hudson.
So I can choose to let it go, pretend this encounter didn’t light a fire for something more. Or I can take a leap and open myself up to him completely.
I’m not ready for a big talk, though, so I decide to embrace Blake’s signature language: flirting.
I step into the living room wearing the tightest sports leggings known to man along with a sports bra, and a long, knit sweater clutched in my hand. Blake’s eyes are on me the moment I open my bedroom door, and they follow me as I cross to where he’s sitting on the couch. I put my phone on the coffee table, putting a little arch in my back and sticking out my ass so he has no choice but to look at it, though I know he would have done so anyway.
“You arekillingme. What are you trying to do, seduce me for real?” Blake’s voice is low and raspy, and I don’t need to see his face to know what’s going through his mind. Satisfied, I straighten my back to look at him.
“You like them? They’re push up,” I say, running a hand over my ass. “But I think what’s really helping is the fact that I’m not wearing anything underneath.”
A pained groan leaves Blake’s lips and he hides his face in his hands, the effect of my outfit starting to show in his jeans. “You areimpossible.”
“Andsucha liar, too. I can see the outline of your underwear clear as day,” Alissa laughs from the dining table, a pile of textbooks and notebooks spread out in front of her.
I smirk as Blake’s eyes shoot up at me.“You little minx, getting me all worked up for nothing!”
“That sounds like ayouproblem,” I laugh, and put on my sweater. “Come on, we better hurry if we want to get to the aquarium on time.”
I dodge my sister’s suspicious look as I breeze to the door to grab my coat and handbag, relieved to find Blake carrying my phone.
His eyes rake over my body once more, the hunger in his gaze growing, and I smile.
Let the games begin.
Chapter 15
Blake
The tasteof her on my tongue is driving mewild.
I try to play it cool, act like nothing happened between us, but all I want to do is get my hands on her and keep everyone else away. It doesn’t help that she’s wearing those leggings, or the fact she knows damn well the effect she has on me.
Because Alexis is acting differently, too. More confident, playful, flirty. She no longer stills at my touch but seeks it out. Even her smile is different—calmer, more present. Like I’ve managed to smash those walls she hides behind and she finally trusts me to seeher.
Which makes it all that more important that I don’t fuck it up now.
The aquarium is crawling with cameras and boom mics. The crew is nice enough, though they don’t talk much—they are here on a job, after all, and this whole thing is supposed to be about us. I wish they all went away. My mind is still reeling from this morning’s events, my only anchor to this world the feeling of Alexis’s hand in mine. The last thing I need is for the cameras to complicate things more, especially now that we are on such a delicate crossroads.
