Page 63 of The Fake Dating War

“Kiss,” I whisper, as if justifying myself.

“Kiss.” He dips his head again.

A distant part of my mind understands he must have taken my words as orders, but I don’t ponder that for long, for I don’t ponderanythingafter his mouth deepens over mine. He’s exploring with heart-hammering intensity, nipping at the corners and then pushing at the middle to let himself in further.

Liquid heat crackles through me. I’m arching into him, bringing my chest down at the possibility it could press against his…

Coleman stands up.

He wants more leverage. He likes control.

Grabbing me from the back of my waist, he crushes me harder against him. There’s muffled curses passing between us.

We kiss again.

37

JAKE

When the whistling gets too loud, we pull apart.

It’s her Bebe, fingers still in her mouth. Patel winces at the noise. Like her, I, too, need quiet and space and to be somewhere completely else so I can figure out what the fuck just happened.

No chance of that.

Patel’s father has popped by. He’s telling us tomarry?!More accurately, to squeeze our wedding in this week because it will be cheaper as everything is already paid for. Patel’s mother bats him away, calling himtoo pushy,which would’ve been convincing if her words didn’t sound like a question.

Other whispers start behind us. I hear the wordinappropriatea few times.

So either they can’t believe Patel and I are together, or we are acting like we are too much together? I want to tell her she shouldn’t take stock in people’s opinions, especially when they clash back and forth like this.

But she’s not meeting my eyes.

Someone on the speaker announces that the Maiyan is over. They order guests to vacate the venue, so the staff can start setting up for the evening Jago party. There is an option to walk around and sight-see the town, but it seems most guests are going back to the hotel to rest while they can.

A crowd moves around me.

I can’t see where Patel has gone.

Good. Great. We need distance.

I nearly groan at the memory of her mouth.

It’s only been minutes, but I can already tell.

I already know.

Fuck.

This is going to follow me.

I was never supposed to know what she tasted like.

38

REENA

“Do you need help with anything?” I ask Esha as if I’m the picture of nonchalance and don’t need many, many distractions right now.

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