Page 36 of Twins For My Bestie's Brother

Another kiss to my neck. I sigh. I can’t help it. I’m warm all over. And between my legs . . .

“We’re trying to trick people, right?” he asks, lifting his head to look at me.

He’s so fucking close. Doesn’t he know how I’ve been thinking about every kiss since Saturday night? “Yeah, but people are idiots. We don’t have to be so . . . ”

Jackson’s mouth quirks up to the side.

“You’re enjoying flustering me.”

“Of course, I am.”

I stare at his mouth. Part of me wants to say fuck it and go for it. Not care who is watching. If they’re even watching.

“Don’t look now,” Jackson says.

My body tenses.

“Will is down there.”

Any excitement is tempered by the awful feeling in my gut. “Oh, God.”

“It’s okay. Nothing’s going to happen. Just look at me,” Jackson says.

I try to breathe evenly, but it’s hard. Will’s mere presence in my universe sends me spiraling.

“Lily.” Jackson places his hand on my cheek. “Look at me. I’m right here.”

I allow myself to be arrested by his blue-eyed gaze. I’m safe here. Despite all the risks we’re taking, the way we’re kidding ourselves, being here with Jackson is safe. He’d never want me hurt. And that’s more than I can say for the man we’re trying to make believe we’re in love.

In love. Not just a relationship.

In love.

“Kiss me,” I say, a hunger at the back of my throat I don’t mean to release.

Jackson doesn’t question me. But he doesn’t rush either. He takes it slow, probably timing it exactly right for maximum effect on Will’s jealousy. And maximum effect on my horniness. Dear God, he’s killing me. I can smell the macaron on his breath, the sweetness. I want to taste it. Want to delve my tongue between his lips and—

Where did this come from? I never saw him this way growing up. Nothing more than objective attractiveness.

And now . . .

Jackson presses his mouth to mine. A seal.

I place my hand against his chest and let my fingers curl into the place his button-down parts so I can touch the bare skin of his neck. So warm.

Jackson moves in closer, placing his hand on the ground beside my hip. And the kiss deepens. Not just his tongue in my mouth, but a sound from his chest. A small huff of need.

We’re idiots to think we can pretend we haven’t unlocked something here.

Everything about this is so natural. I embrace him, hooking my arms under his and clinging to his shoulder blades. The way we indulge in each kiss, the way we ebb away from each other,nuzzling noses, needy for more, yet trying to take our time so it doesn’t end.

The second it ends, we are again Jackson and Lily, faking it.

We’re faking it. We’re faking it faking it faking it. None of this is real, Lily, none of this is—

Jackson wraps his hand around the base of my skull, tipping my head back for more. He’s really selling this kiss. I won’t dare think he’s enjoying it.

Suddenly, he breaks away and glances down the hill. “You think he saw?”

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