Page 67 of Once Upon a Fake Date

She melted against me. “I will be now.”

Damn right she would.

I scooped her up into my arms, happy when she didn’t protest at me carrying her as I moved into the kitchen to grab an ice pack and a treat I’d gotten Audrey earlier. Luckily, since we were college athletes prone to pulling joints and muscles, we had plenty. Snatching one up, I carried her through the crowded living room and towards the back of the house.

“My room or the back room?” I asked her, keeping my voice low. Soothing.

“Your room.” She snuggled her face into my neck, and damn, I was content to keep her right here for the rest of all time.

Her eyes fluttered shut as I headed back up the stairs to my room.

“This is nice,” she murmured. “Why don’t we do this more often?”

“Me punching your ex?” I asked, earning me a laugh from the girl in my arms. “I can do that any time you want, baby.”

“You know what I mean.”

I was pretty sure if I could see her cheeks, they’d be pink, but she kept her face buried against me.

Kicking open my door, I shut it behind us, walking over to my bed and setting her down on the edge. Handing her the ice pack I’d kept tucked under my arm, I watched as she guided it up to her cheek.

I ran my hands through my hair, begging for some self control, before taking a seat beside her. “You okay?”

“Yeah. It doesn’t really hurt anymore. Just stings a little.” Audrey bit her lip before climbing onto my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck. “I can’t believe you did that.” The ice pack was discarded at her side.

“Of course I did,” I said, curling my hand around her hip and holding her protectively. “I’m never going to let anything happen to you, Rosie Girl. I promise.” That she’d gotten hurt tonight at all—and on my turf, at my party—was enough to tear me up inside.

“I know.” Her smile was sweet. Soft. “I’ve always known that, Parker. You’re my best friend.”

Your best friend shouldn’t be thinking about how much he wants to kiss you right now,I thought to myself. “Of course I am. World’s best fake boyfriend, right?”

She hummed in response, and I didn’t care if no one was around. If no one was watching us. If none of this felt fake. “Any girl would be lucky to have you.”

The idea of any other girl touching me, of having anyone else with me like this, felt wrong. It was my Rosie I wanted, not anyone else.

I dragged my thumb across her lower lip. “But they don’t.”

“Hmm?” Her eyes were lidded.

“Have me,” I murmured. “They don’t have me. You do.”

She nodded.

“Because you’re mine,” I said, marveling at how soft she was. All those curves, her beautiful golden hair, her pretty pink lips—all of it was soft. I wondered if she was soft all over. God, I wanted to touch her. To worship her body.

“Parker,” Audrey whimpered.

“What do you want, baby?” I asked, running my finger over her cheek. Wishing I could take her pain away.

“Kiss me.”

Like there was any world that I’d tell her no.

I pulled her in closer to me, bringing the hand not holding her hip to her neck, guiding her mouth to mine. After tonight, I needed it. I craved her like I’d never craved anyone else. Like I couldn’t get enough. I wasn’t sure I ever would.

The sweet treat I’d bought for her fell out of my pocket, tumbling onto the bed beside us, but I didn’t even care when the kiss deepened, and Audrey moaned into my mouth as our tongues met. She nipped on my bottom lip, and I sucked on her tongue. Neither one of us seemed to want to be the first one to break the kiss.

I was too aware of the way she was straddling my lap, her heat pressed against my aching cock. The only thing separating us was our jeans and underwear. Damn, I wouldn’t be able to last with her on top of me.

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