Page 14 of Just One Fake Date

He watched her, his gaze intent, his body so taut that he quivered.

Even in the shadows, he was magnificent. She hadn’t been joking when she’d said he was like a sculpture. She thought of Michelangelo’sDavid, the idealized male, all strength and perfect proportion. She remembered how she’d wanted to run her hands over the marble when she’d visited Florence. She ran her hands over Tyler, flattening her hand over the feel of his heartbeat, amazed that he wanted her so much.

She remembered the women he’d chosen in college, how similar they were to each other. They’d been tall and lithe, smooth and elegant. Usually blondes. The short and curvy ones like her had never made the cut.

It was incredible to be with him now, but Shannyn didn’t kid herself that there would ever be more than this. They had a deal.

And she was glad.

She saw the glimmer of his eyes as he surveyed her, then those lips curved in a smile that warned her. “How about I make you shout again?” he asked in a sultry voice.

“Impossible,” Shannyn said, even though she wasn’t sure. “It’s too soon for a second time.”

“New challenge,” he purred, sliding his hand so that his fingers were against her clitoris. He moved his hand and Shannyn rocked atop him, her breath catching again.

“You’re wicked.”

“No, I’m nice. Ask anyone.” Then his brows rose and his voice deepened. “Except you, of course.”

It didn’t sound as if that bothered him particularly. Shannyn couldn’t think straight, not with his fingers moving the way they were and him inside her.

“The best things come in threes.” Tyler continued in a low growl. Shannyn looked down to find him smiling at her. He lifted a brow. “Do you?”

She laughed, surprised into it. “You’re confident. Smug, even.”

“I’m feeling persuasive.”

Shannyn might have argued but felt him pinch her just a little bit, exactly the way he’d pinched her nipples, and she knew he was going to win this challenge, too.

And she’d have no complaints at all.

All these years,he’d been doing it wrong.

Ty was spooned behind Shannyn’s back, wide awake as she dozed. He’d always dated or hooked up with women who liked him or found him attractive, but this interlude with Shannyn had blown all his convictions out of the water. He couldn’t remember when a first time with anyone had been this amazing—but she despised him.

He rolled to his back, unable to even imagine how good it might have been if Shannyn actually liked him. He wanted to find out more than he’d ever wanted anything before.

Was it because he’d felt compelled to lift his game?

Was it because he’d wanted to prove himself to her?

Was it because he had no idea what she’d do next?

Ty sat up and studied her in the shadows as he wondered. It was getting darker, but he didn’t want to get up, much less turn on a light. She was on her side with her back to him, which meant he could see the tattoo across the back of her shoulders. Seven circles. He looked more closely and realized they were phases of the moon, with the full moon in the middle, right over her spine. Why? What did it mean? He doubted she would tell him, even if he asked. He had the impression that her secrets had secrets, that she wasn’t confessing to more than she had to, and that she didn’t really care what he thought of her.

And that was interesting.

Shannyn even questioned whether Ty was nice—which everyone in his life took for granted. He wished he could be as indifferent to her opinion as she seemed to be to his, but he desperately wanted to change her mind about him.

She could keep her other opinions. That was the one that burned.

They’d made a deal for a simple exchange—which already didn’t feel very simple at all.

Ty had to believe that Shannyn hadn’t planned to fall asleep in his bed, but he was glad she had. It gave him a few minutes to think, to try to prepare for whatever she might do next. He preferred to have a plan. What would she do when she woke up? He had a feeling she’d bolt and wasn’t ready for that yet.

Why not? They had a deal. Ty had been good with the terms.

Except that now he wanted more.

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