Page 58 of Beautiful Thing

I stare.

I see the goosebumps rising along her arms. I feel the way her pebbled nipples press against my abs. The sensation makes my mouth water.

My palms slide downward, over her lower back. I’m no longer in control. It just happens.

But when she lets out a quiet whimper, my hands stop their descent. I search her eyes, trying to figure out what she’s thinking.

“Keep going,” Layla rasps, breathless, her hands slowly gliding over my shoulders and down my biceps.

The next thing I know, I’m fully cupping her ass and backing her up against the counter. As soon as her body meets the butcher’s block, I’m grinding against her. And she’s grinding against me.

Layla feels so fucking good, it’s making me light-headed.

When my fingers graze under the hem of her dress, her grip on my biceps tightens. My hand freezes.

“More…” she begs, out of breath.

I lean back to meet her dark gaze. “More?”

“Yes, more. Please…” she says, sounding a little bit frantic.

I comply, my fingers slipping under the lace of her panties. “Fuck. You’re soaked,” I grumble low.

Layla groans, her eyes fluttering closed. “Oh god.”

What the hell are we doing?The lines are so blurry right now. I’m not so sure how any of this helps with the fake-dating assignment, but I don’t question it too much. I’m just not strong enough.

My fingers coax further and further until I brush over her clit. A moan comes from deep inside her soul.

I do it again.

“More, Archer,” she says with urgency now. “Please.”

The spark in my chest roars into a fire.I lean in closer, trailing my lips along her neck. “God—you feel so fucking good, Belle.”

Dragging her ankle up the back of my calf, Layla moans again, and I decide that’s my new favorite sound. All the blood in my body is now pooling at my crotch, and I can’t think straight.

Deep down, there’s a vague voice reminding me that we shouldn’t be doing this.She’s not mine. And I can’t afford to get invested in this, only to get hurt in the end.

But then there’s Layla’s voice in my ear, begging me to take this further.

“Oh, my god, Archer. Touch me. Keep going.” Her hips rock against my hand.

I pluck and play with her clit and a stream of wetness gushes out of her. I know that she’s already getting close.

“You’re so wet, Layla. You like it that I’m touching your sweet pussy? You like the way it feels?”

“Yes…” she exhales.

My fingers curl around the back of her thigh, pulling it up higher around my hip.“You want to come for me? Make a mess all over my hand?”

“Yes…Please, Archer…” she says, her voice strained.

I’m having a hard time breathing as I drag my fingertip through her slit, gathering her wetness. Then I slowly sink inside her opening with the tip of one finger.

She burrows her face against my collarbone, panting uncontrollably, one leg locked around the back of my thigh and giving me the perfect access.

My finger sinks deeper and I feel like I’m going to die. I’m trying my best to breathe, but there’s no more oxygen left in this room. It’s all been burned up by this blazing lust in the air.

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