Page 89 of Charming Deception

Silence stretches between us.

“Um… so, if you change your mind about that thing you said… about us not having sex, for now…” I take a breath, letting that dangle in the dark between us for a long moment. In case he feels the need to interject.

He doesn’t.

“That’s okay with me,” I continue. “I just want you to know that. I guess what I’m saying is I’d like first dibs, please. If you decide to have sex with someone. You know, me or someone else. You said we’d discuss it first. So, I’m discussing it. And I’d like first dibs.” I take another breath and let the words flow that I just need to put out there. “You can touch me if you decide you want to.”

He doesn’t respond right away.

Then he swears again.

“Jesus Christ, Megan. You really need to stop saying exactly what you’re thinking.”

“I didn’t. I was thinking much more than that.”

“Holy fuck.” He mutters the words under his breath and rolls onto his back, then tosses his arms over his eyes and lies still.

I blink at him in the dark, watching his chest slowly rise and fall. I can still hear him breathing.

I heard the strain in his voice, the way it changed, taking on that pained note again. This is uncomfortable for him, too. He’s trying to be a gentleman for Cole. I’m certain of it.

It’s not that he doesn’t want me.

He’s just not going to fuck his best friend’s sister the first chance he gets.

Knowing it just makes me like him more.

I try not to say that, so instead, I say, “This whole fake engagement might turn out to be the stupidest thing we’ve ever done. You realize that, right?”

He huffs out a soft laugh. “Yeah. I’m starting to get that.” He adds roughly, “You still in?”

I can hear the grudging smile on his voice.

“Yes.” I sigh sleepily, finally relaxing as a strange, nameless current of warmth spreads through my body. “I’m in.”

I realize as I drift into sleep that it’s happiness.

Chapter 20

Jameson

Sleeping next to Megan without being able to touch her?

Stupid isn’t even the word for it.

This is much, much worse than stupid.

I can’t sleep.

My cock throbs, half-hard, teased by the constraint of my boxer briefs, the cool weight of the light summer sheets, the awareness of her lush body so close to mine.

Even with a careful space between us, I can smell her soft feminine smell, and it’s driving me wild. It’s a hint of the same bodywash I use, which she obviously showered with, and her own natural scent. It makes my mouth water.

I want to devour her whole.

My cock wants to plunge deep inside her warmth and stay all night.

I stir, agitated. I’m not used to sleeping with underwear on. It’s snug and annoying.

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