The silent reminder I speak to myself snags in my brain. It feels wrong to dismiss him like that. Because Nick is better than my ex ever was. He makes me feel doted on and cherished and cared for. He makes me feel like a priority. And the things he does for me in bed…
He’s the best I’ve ever had. And we haven’t even had sex yet.
I want to, though. Nick turns me on in a way that no man ever has.
I think about being together with him for real. Would it honestly be that different from what we’re doing now, pretending to be a couple?
Nothing we’re doing or saying to each other is fake. This whole fake dating set up with Nick feels more real than anything I ever had with my ex…
No. I can’t rush into a relationship. That’s what I did with Brody, and look what happened—I ended up with my heart broken and my focus completely shot.
I know Nick isn’t like Brody. I know he’d never purposely hurt me. But he’s never had a serious relationship before. All he’s ever done is hook up and fool around. What if once things get serious between us, he realizes he doesn’t like being tied down to just one person? I’d end up hurt, just like before…
I can’t let my feelings get the best of me again. I need to take this slow like we agreed.
I turn off the lamp on the bedside table and snuggle under the covers. Even though Nick’s fast asleep, he wraps his arms around me and cuddles me into his chest, hugging me tight.
That warm, tingly feeling inside of me lingers. I fall asleep trying to remind myself not to fall too hard, too fast for Nick St. George, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to resist him.
Chapter 38
Poppy
When I wake up, I’m still cuddled into Nick’s chest. His arms are still wrapped around me.
Eyes closed, I smile. I’m the warmest and coziest I’ve felt in a long time.
After a few minutes, I slip out of his hold as quietly as I can, then walk to the bathroom. When I crawl back into bed, he starts to wake. He aims a sleepy smile at me.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you up,” I say softly. “I really had to pee.”
“It’s okay. Perfect timing because I gotta pee too.”
He kisses my forehead, then slides out of bed. I stare at his gorgeous, sculpted ass as he walks into the adjoining bathroom. This man has a perfect backside. Which makes sense because every other part of his body is hot.
When he comes back to bed a minute later, he kisses my mouth.
I start to lean away. “Wait, I haven’t brushed my teeth yet.”
“I don’t fucking care,” he murmurs against my mouth.
He runs his hands all over my body before settling between my legs. I gasp when he skims his knuckles over my clit. I’m already aching.Soturned on.
I whimper and moan as he circles his thumb over my clit.
“Shhhh,” he says while smiling against my lips. “You need to be quiet, honey. It’s early. Everyone’s still sleeping.”
He kisses me, swallowing up my noises.
When he pulls away, I nod and press my lips together. There’s a fiery flicker in his eyes as he gazes at me. Like he’s proud of me for trying to stay quiet.
He kisses the side of my neck. “You know I love it when you’re loud.”
He teases his tongue along the base, right where my shoulder is. Then he gently presses his teeth into the sensitive skin. I whimper, then catch myself.
I give his arm a playful shove. “You’re doing this on purpose. You know I can’t stay quiet when you use your mouth on me like that.”
A low, rough chuckle falls from his cocky grin. “You want me to stop?”
