Page 92 of Play Pretend

“I know you can.” His voice softened, but the anger still laced his words. “Doesn’t mean you should have to.”

Would anyone even believe this relationship was real? A part of me didn’t think so—I hoped they did, butwould they?

I swiped my fingertips against my damp cheeks, wiping any evidence of tears away. “I’m worried my family won’t buy this,” I admitted, waving my hand between us. “They’ll see right through it. Vanessa will never believe—”A guy like you wants a girl like me.

“They won’t,” he said with so much confidence, I nearly believed him. “We just have to make it convincing.”

I snorted a humorless laugh. “Yeah, and how do we do that?”

He sat up, brushing sand off his hands. “Well, for starters, we need to look like we’re comfortable with each other. Like we’ve been together for more than five minutes.” I grinned at the look he leveled at me.

“I think we can manage that.”

“And then there’s…” His gaze dropped to the sand for a moment before returning to mine. His expression was unreadable, like there was so much he wanted to say but kept it safely locked up. “There’s the physical stuff.”

“The physical stuff?” I echoed. My heart raced as I thought about that kiss. It hadn’t felt like a first kiss—it had felt like we’d done it a million times before. Like we’d been made to kiss each other, to be together.

He nodded, and his lips twitched like he was holding back a smile. “Your dad’s gonna expect us to act like a real couple. That means holding hands, standing close, maybe even kissing.”

“I don’t think it’ll come to that,” I squeaked, but I desperately hoped it did.

“Maybe not.” He shrugged, his tone casual. “But if it does, we should be ready. We don’t want it to look awkward or forced.”

I licked my lips. “You’re right,” I breathed. “But…” Did he mean what I thought he did?

I stared at him, unable to form a coherent thought. He leaned in slightly, his eyes locking onto mine.

“I’m just saying,” he continued, his voice low and steady, “it wouldn’t hurt to practice. Just to make sure it looks…believable.”

The sand shifted as I scooted closer to him, my eyes dropping to his lips. There was more hair on his jaw today, not quite enough to be a beard, but too much to just be stubble. What would it feel like against my face?

Between my legs.

I blinked, trying to force that thought away. But once it took root, it was all I could focus on. Something told me that sleeping with Ronan would be unlike anything I’d ever experienced. He seemed like the kind of man to talk you through it, to kiss and praise you, to make sure you were a sated mess by the end of it.

I swallowed thickly and pressed my thighs together. Ronan moved even closer, his breath ghosting over my face.

“We don’t have to do anything you’re uncomfortable with,” he murmured, but my eyes were already fluttering shut.

“I’m fine,” I assured him, desperation seeping into my voice. “I’m comfortable.”

The tips of our noses brushed against each other, and then his lips were on mine. It felt different than it had last time. It was hotter, more demanding. I opened for him, letting his tongue sweep into my mouth.

He reached up, gripping the back of my neck possessively. I melted at the contact, at the way his rough palm felt against my skin. A low growl rumbled through his chest, and I moved my body closer, needing to feel more of him.

Our lips moved in tandem, each of us desperate for the other. Slowly, he shifted his body, rolling on top of mine as I reclined back, the sand a soft cushion under me. I spread my legs, and his hips slotted perfectly between them. I felt him long and hard in his jeans as he ground against me, against my aching core. Awhimper escaped, and he swallowed it whole. Resting my hand on his chest, I felt his heart thundering beneath.

“You feel so good,” I moaned, my fingers tangling in his shirt.

“Fuck,” he breathed, kissing me again. “I wish we were at home right now. Or at least in my fucking truck.”

“Would you fuck me if we were?” The words tumbled out before I could stop them. He stiffened and pulled away. His eyes searched mine, guarded in a way I hadn’t seen in days.

“Do you want that, baby?” he murmured. He stroked the hair from my face with a gentle touch, and I melted a little bit more.

“I—”

A loud ring sliced through the air, and I jolted at the sudden sound. He soothed me, pressing soft kisses over my face and nose before grabbing his phone from his pocket. Leaning back on his heels, he answered as if he wasn’t currently sitting between myveryspread thighs.

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