Page 22 of Fake It 'Til You Feel It

I don’t want to pretend anymore.

“Dana,” I murmur, my voice desperate and edged with need. “Tell me to stop, or tell me you want this as much as I do.”Please.

Her eyes widen, but she doesn’t pull away. Instead, her fingers tighten around mine, her body leaning into me almost imperceptibly.

“I…” she starts, but the words falter, replaced by a shaky exhale.

I let the thought hang for a moment before deciding that’s all the permission I need. I lower my head, closing the last bit of space between us, and capture her lips with mine.

The kiss isn’t a release—it’s a revelation. Urgent, consuming, and shattering, it feels like it’s rewriting every spoken and unspoken rule we’ve lived by, both on this retreat and in the office.

She responds passionately, her hands sliding up around my neck as she presses herself closer. The feel of her against me, the taste of her, is more than I’d ever let myself imagine.

It’s not enough. I want more. Ineedmore.

The music swells, but it’s nothing more than a faint backdrop to the symphony of our movements. All I can focus on is Dana—the way her fingers curl into the fabric of my suit, the way she matches my intensity like she’s been waiting for this as long as I have.

We break apart, both of us breathless. Her lips are swollen, her cheeks flushed, and I know I’ve ruined any chance of going back to how things were.

I expect the words that come out of her mouth this time. “What are we doing?” she asks softly, her voice shaky, but still steady enough to hold my gaze.Why does she need to keep asking permission?

Deciding that her hesitation is cute, I cradle her face, my fingers splaying over her jaw as my thumb sweeps a slow, deliberate path along her cheekbone. She leans into the touch gently and the motion tugs the corners of my lips up into a soft smile.

“Whatever this is, it’s consuming. I feel it in every breath, every glance, every touch. Tell me that I’m not crazy...Please.”

She hesitates.Dammit, Nathan—too much at once.Her eyes search mine for answers I’m not sure that I have. I can see the moment her hesitation turns into curiosity.

Maybe she’d be willing to figure this out with me.

She nods, just barely, and her lips also curve up into a small, tentative smile.

She looks so beautiful.

I lean in again, pressing my forehead to hers. “No more pretending. No more games.” I lift my other hand to her cheek as well, gently holding her in place. “I want… more. With you. Is that… is that okay?”

Her smile broadens, and there’s fire in her eyes. “Okay.”

The word is simple, quiet, but it feels monumental. A shift—a turning point I hadn’t dared hope for.

I slide my hands down her arms to take her hands, threading my fingers through hers. “Let’s get out of here.”

Her eyebrows lift, a mix of surprise and amusement dancing across her face. “You’re serious?”

“Dead serious,” I reply, tugging her gently toward the edge of the dance floor. “Unless you’d rather stay and let the Harrises monitor our every move.”

She laughs softly, shaking her head. “Lead the way.”

As we weave through the crowd, I can feel the weight of curious gazes and whispered speculation. None of it matters. The only thing that matters is the woman beside me, her hand warm in mine and her presence anchoring me in a way I never expected.

When we step away from the heart of the party, the night air is a welcome contrast to the warmth inside. Dana draws in a slow breath, like she’s steadying herself, her gaze flicking toward the water. The stars above reflect in the dark waves, and the distant hum of laughter and music blends with the soft lapping of the tide against the yacht.

The shift in atmosphere is immediate. Quieter. More intimate.

She laces her fingers with mine, her grip firm and sure, and for the first time in my life, I don’t feel like I have to fight for control.

I already have exactly what I want.

“Wait here,” I say, stepping aside and pulling my phone from my pocket.

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