Page 9 of His Secret Addiction

And now that she’s all grown up, Elizabeth Fae is who I want.

Convincing her of my sudden feelings might not sound believable, and the last thing I want is for her to think I’m trying to manipulate her into being in a fake relationship with me. I have to win her over slowly.

“I know this is a lot to ask of you…”

“When exactly did you ask? Did I miss an email? From where I’m standing it looks like you just decided for both of us that you were going to use me.”

I wince at the harsh truth of her words. Yes, it was Gary who dragged her into this, but I could have taken the post down myself or demanded the label’s PR team do it. I open my mouth to apologize, but she continues before I get a word out.

“What makes you think people will even buy that?” she argues. “Heck, in all the years I have known you, I think this is the first time we’ve been in a room alone together.”

“We have history, and people will buy into that.”

“What about chemistry, huh? You haven’t been home in almost ten years. I was eleven the last time I saw you. Really, we hardly know each other. What if I’m terrible at faking chemistry with you?”

Considering the pull I feel toward her and the way she is leaning toward me without even realizing it, I don’t think our chemistry will be a problem. I don’t tell her that, though. “Does this mean you’ll agree keep up the charade?”

“I…” she clears her throat. “What’s in it for me? Assuming I agree to this crazy plan that will probably backfire, what do I get in turn for being your fake girlfriend?”

“Anything.”

“That’s a reckless offer,” she says. “I could ask for your precious guitar in exchange. Maybe I’ll sell it online to some obsessed fan for a fortune to pay for my college classes.”

“Anything you want.”

Her brows furrow in confusion. “Wait, you are serious. You would give up your guitar for a fake girlfriend? Are you really that desperate for a relationship?”

Perhaps now is not the time, but soon, she will realize that everything that belongs to me, belongs to her. Fake girlfriend? I’ll let her believe that too.

“To be honest, I could probably find some other celebrity looking for an easy way to gain some publicity. But I’d rather it be you, someone who isn’t interested in using me for their own fame. So, are you in?”

She flushes, “What? No! Everyone will know you are lying soon as they see us together.”

It’s almost laughable really. How she can look into my eyes and not see the fire burning there? We’re seated on a bed, and everything in me wants to rip off those form-fitting jeans down her legs, clutch her ass in my palms and pound my cock into her until she is screaming for release.

Oh, there’s chemistry alright, and not just from me. I don’t miss the way her breath catches in her throat when my hand accidentally grazes her thigh or how she’s seated so close to me, inches away from climbing onto my lap. Lizzie dead set on convincing herself that we’re still just neighbors, barely even acquaintances. She doesn’t want to see that there is something between us. An irresistible pull that I have never felt with anyone before, and I am willing to bet everything I have that it’s a new feeling for her as well. What I don’t understand is why she is fighting it.

But I will play her game. If convincing is what she needs, I will happily do so.

“We have more chemistry than you think, Lizzy,” I say, placing a hand on her thigh, and she jolts, her lips parting with asharp gasp at the contact. “If you agree to be my girlfriend, then I will teach you how to act in public so no one has any doubts.”

It’s clear words aren’t going to convince her. I need to show Lizzie exactly how combustible we can be together.

So, I do.

Chapter Four

Liz

It happens so fast. One minute, we’re talking, and the next, his hand is on my nape and in my hair, and…he’s kissing me. I would be lying if I said I didn’t see it coming, because I did. From the way he was looking at me, his eyes filled with such unfiltered desire, it was like nothing I had ever seen before.

What changed?

As far as I know, Sebastian Foster forgot I existed the moment he got his record deal and left Valor Springs. It was something I had to come to terms with. A small country girl like me was never going to end up with someone like Sebastian.

In all the years we were neighbors, he never looked at me as anything but the little girl next door. To be fair, we have a nine-year age gap between us and it would have been inappropriate if the man had ever looked at me as anything more than that. And until now, he hasn’t been back to Valor Springs in nearly to a decade.

I knew the man didn’t have feelings for me but that never stopped me from crushing on him and secretly hating him for never coming home.

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