“Or because you’d be pissed she tried swooping in,” Lucas says.
Is that why she was so insistent about putting drugs into Lucas’ locker—because he rejected her? Would I even have thought about that kind of revenge if it weren’t for her? She was the one to supply the goods. My mind is exploding with this new information.
“Anyway, enough about Claudia. Tell me how much you liked me in high school.”
I roll my eyes and giggle. “No. I’d hate to give you a big head.”
He shifts closer to me, and our thighs brush. “Did you want to kiss me?”
My gaze lands on his lips.Yes! Still do.“No,” I lie with a grin.
“Did you want to put your hands down my pants to feel howbigI was?”
That pulls out a laugh. “No,” I lie again. I’d thought about it too many times.
He shuffles even closer, and I sink back into the couch cushions. “Did you want to fuck me?”
Brushing a lock of hair from my face, he skims his fingers down the curve of my neck, across my shoulder, and over my breast. I swallow hard, unable to speak.
“Because I wanted to kiss you, touch you, and fuck you. I thought about it every single day,” he says. Pushing me onto my back, he lays on top of me. “I plan to do just that. Every day until you tell me to stop.”
Chapter Sixteen
LUCAS
Today’s the day we venture out in public. Time for the world to see us as a happy couple. Hopefully they’ll fall in love with our relationship.
If it were up to me, I wouldn’t give a fuck what the media said. It’s not the first time they’ve written shit about me. I’m doing this for Penny. She deserves better. Her business and reputation shouldn’t suffer because of what her ex did.
Why I feel so strongly about helping her, I’m not sure. Or I just don’t want to delve into it. If I did, what would I discover? Something I’m not ready for. Something I’m not made for—monogamous love.
“I still can’t believe you agreed to that bullshit statement you let Claudia post.” I tug on my boots.
Penny stops shimmying into a pale blue skirt. “We had to do something.”
Watching her stand in my bedroom in only a bra and skirt, I want to sayto hell with everyone, rip off the little clothing she’s wearing, and throw her in bed and fuck her for hours. It’s exactly what we’ve done the past three days. Eat, sleep, fuck. And I’ve loved every minute. Judging by the smile Penny wakes up with every morning, I’d say she’s having a great time too.
Never in my life have I wanted to spend more than a few hours in bed with a woman. Yet with Penny, I never want her to leave it. I spend every minute wanting to be with her. Not only in bed, but talking with her. The conversations we’ve had about our childhoods, careers, and everything in between is more than I’ve learned about anyone besides my family.
Unfortunately, if we cross the line from friendship to a relationship, I’ll only hurt her. So, when this is over, I will say goodbye. That way we can stay friends. I’d rather cut off my right arm than cause her pain.
I rise from the chair and slide my hands into my pockets. “You apologized for something you didn’t do.”
A white blouse is on the edge of the bed, she picks it up, puts it on, and ties it in a knot at the waist. “Should my statement have been more like yours?” I had her clothes moved into my bedroom. She belongs in my room. In my bed.
“Nothing wrong with telling people to worry about their own lives and fuck off out of mine.”
Shaking her head, she rolls her eyes. “Thank goodness your PR manager said it more eloquently than that.” She turns to the mirror and adjusts her clothing, finger-combs her hair, and applies lip gloss. With a heavy sigh, she says, “Do you think this is going to work?”
I walk to her and slide my arms around her waist. Resting her back against my chest, I prop my chin on the top of her head. We look at each other through the mirror’s reflection.
“There’s a good chance it will,” I say. “It might take time though.”
Her chest heaves up and down. “It’s been nearly two weeks and Darren is still riding the media wave. People are on his side.”
“This is why we can’t hide away anymore. Let’s show our faces. Act like we’re in love.” My heart pounds in my chest. Somehow I feel like I won’t have to do much acting. “They’ll get over what happened, and everything will go back to normal.” And she’ll be out of my life. It’s selfish of me to want this to drag on. But I do.
“What if it doesn’t work and it only makes things worse? My business is suffering because of this. It can’t take much more.Ican’t. This has broken me.” Tears shine in her eyes, and she bites her trembling bottom lip.
