Page 17 of Pretend You're Mine

Avery's eyes made me think of things that I had no right to think of, especially considering the boundaries I'd set.

And his lips. Full and pouty, I could not bring myself to stop looking at them. I prayed silently that I would be able to let go at the end. I anchored a hand on Avery's thigh for leverage.

As I gazed deeply into his eyes, it seemed like I was being drawn towards him, like a magnet. I involuntarily made a needy sound in the back of my throat before pressing my lips against Avery's.

His lips were soft beneath mine, a hesitant response to the unexpected connection. It was meant to be a simple reassurance, a chaste kiss to dispel the anxiety that clung to him. Yet, as the seconds lingered, the kiss deepened.

I'd anticipated some awkwardness. There wasn't any. What I hadn't anticipated was the sudden surge of electricity through my veins that sent tingles up my spine. I hadn't expected the sweet taste of Avery's lips that made me crave more.

With languid strokes, I licked and nipped his lips, mentally convincing myself to step away. Avery's warm breath caressed my face. Every reasonable thought flew out of my head as the fireworks exploded behind my closed eyelids… lids I didn’t know I’d closed until that moment.

Avery's lips moved in perfect sync with mine. My tongue slid inside his mouth and I couldn't get enough of the taste of him, the warmth of his mouth. It was like nothing I'd ever experienced before. My hand on his thigh tightened as I pulled him closer, deepening the kiss.

Avery let out a soft moan and it only fueled my desire further. His fingers tangled in my hair as he kissed me back with equal fervor.

If I didn't stop now, I wouldn't be able to walk away after.

But just as things were getting heated, a phone began rattling relentlessly on the table, jolting us back to reality. We pulled apart quickly, our chests heaving as we tried to catch our breath.

Nathaniel grabbed the phone from off the table, ignoring everyone else around him as he stepped aside to answer.

I cleared my throat and ran a hand through my hair, trying to compose myself. Avery looked just as disheveled and flustered as I felt.

With one last, longing glance at Avery's swollen lips, I let my eyes wander to his family members whose tittering now echoed in my ears.

CHAPTER 10

AVERY

As Creed's lips left mine, I inhaled deeply, savoring the taste and scent of him. My family's awkward laughter and uncomfortable shifting stayed in the background. They’d been aware of my sexuality for years but never witnessed it firsthand. But I couldn't bring myself to care, because in that moment all I saw was Creed. His intense gaze held such understanding and empathy, and I felt myself being swept away by it.

We exchanged a quick look, our eyes speaking volumes without words.

Creed mouthed, "You okay?"

I nodded, relieved that he was checking in on me. "I'm fine," I mouthed back.

He turned back to my family and quipped, "If I'd known dinner was going to be this entertaining, I would have come by ages ago." Then he turned to me, eyes dancing. "Avery, I thought you said Thanksgiving was a quiet affair. I feel like I'm in a sitcom right now."

Creed's tongue-in-cheek remark released the tension in the room, provoking genuine laughter from my family. It was a clever jab that he pulled off effortlessly. If I hadn’t known better, I would have believed Creed was a part of the family.

His grip on my hand never faltered, giving me the strength to get through this.

Dinner was supposed to be an informal affair, at least by our standards, but I couldn't help but notice Creed's wide-eyed reactions to each new course. "Which one to use?" he whispered, looking at the cutlery.

"The salad fork, the smaller one," I murmured back.

He picked it up and poked at his salad.

Creed stumbled through the rest of the meal, occasionally asking for my guidance on which cutlery to use or how to properly hold a wine glass. "Just follow my lead," I whispered, surreptitiously guiding his hand into the correct position.

Despite his minor slip-ups, dinner went smoothly and I felt more like myself again. "You're doing great," I reassured him as we finished off our dessert.

"I have you to thank for that," Creed smiled gratefully. "I'll have to remember these dining etiquette tips for next time."

"Or just let me sit next to you at every meal," I joked, happy to see him enjoying himself despite his nerves.

And the way Creed reacted to me was unexpected. Once he found his feet, it was obvious he really was a charming guy, and used to thinking on his feet and blending into unfamiliar situations. He was able to keep up an endless stream of conversation, shifting topics to cover for himself when he couldn't keep up in a way that I might not notice if I didn't work in finance and spend my days surrounded by high-end con men.

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