Page 81 of Loving You

“Go inside before I kiss you again,” he says.

I turn to tell him he should kiss me, maybe even come inside, but he holds a finger to my mouth.

“Go. Inside. Now.Please.”

I smile against his finger.

“Only because you said please,” I say, finally finding my words. I slip through the doorway, close it, and head down the hallway to my room, where I look back. He’s still standing there, only now he’s got a hand flat against the side of the apartment and his head is down as if he’s debating changing his mind.

That kiss just changed everything between us.

We both know it even though we have no idea what it means, but whether it’s tonight or another night, I know for certain it won’t stop here.

So why stop now?

To save him the trouble of having to make another choice right now that he will clearly be conflicted over later, I return to the door.

He looks up, relief in his eyes as I bite my bottom lip.

I slide the door open, and he rushes in like a man deprived.

His lips are on mine as he closes the door behind him. I hear the lock.

“Are we sure we want to do this?” I ask, breathless.

He sighs, then runs a hand through his hair as he steps back. “You’re right; it’s not our thing.”

“Right. We argue. That’s our thing.”

“And fake date.”

“Right.”

We just stand here, nodding like a couple of bobbleheads.

He’s not leaving, and I don’t really want him to leave, so …

“How much did you drink?”

“Two beers. I’m fully aware of what’s going on here right now. What about you?”

“Same to all of the above.” I bite my lip, and that must be his undoing. He rushes me, his lips claiming mine once more.

“This doesn’t change anything,” I say, letting him walk me backward to the bedroom.

“It’s just one night,” he adds.

“One night, that’s it.”

“We give in to this attraction and call it good, finish our agreement, and part ways.”

“Deal.”

“Deal.”

The terms are settled as soon as we reach my room.

Miles reaches down to the hem of my shirt and rips it over my head.

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