Page 26 of Advantage Love

My hand found its way back to her thigh under the table, and this time, she didn’t push it away. By the time we left the ballroom, the tension between us was palpable.

As I guided her through the crowd, my hand resting possessively on her lower back, I leaned down to murmur in her ear.

“We’re not done, Avery,” I said. “Not even close. We need to talk about what happened last night and again today.”

She didn’t respond, but the way her body shivered against mine told me everything I needed to know.

Chapter 17: Avery

The drive home from the fundraiser was a blur. My head was spinning, my emotions ricocheting between anger, confusion, and something dangerously close to hope.

Luke had kissed me—reallykissed me. Not for the cameras, not for show, but because he wanted to. And damn it, I wanted him too.

My reputation was restored. His promotion was practically in the bag. We didn’t need this anymore. Not the fake dating. Not the fake living together. I couldn’t play the game anymore after last night. I felt wrung out after the game, the kiss and the amazing sex from last night. What did it all mean? Now that Iwas advancing in the ranks again, will Luke leave? Was I just a willing (okay, very willing) body last night? Was it because we obviously had an attraction for each other? That was proven in Miami. Was it a repeat of that?

I didn’t need this anymore.

At least, that’s what I told myself as I stormed into the house, Luke hot on my heels.

“Avery, stop,” he said, as I headed for the stairs.

I spun around, my chest heaving. “No, Luke. You stop. I can’t do this anymore.”

He froze, his brows furrowing as he stared at me. “What are you talking about?”

“This,” I said, gesturing between us. “The fake dating, the public appearances, all of it. My reputation’s fine now. You’ve proven yourself to your boss. It’s over.”

“It’s not over,” he said, his tone firm.

“Yes, it is,” I shot back, my voice rising. “We agreed to two months, but I’m done. It’s is enough. We’ve both gotten what we wanted, so let’s just—”

“No,” he interrupted.

I blinked, startled by the force of his response.

“You agreed to two months,” he said, stepping closer, his dark eyes locking onto mine. “And I’m holding you to that. I have one week left. I intend to collect on it.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but the look on his face stopped me.

“It’s not fake for me, Avery,” he said, as he stepped closer. “And after last night, I don’t know how you can think we are still faking it.”

My breath caught, my heart skipping a beat as his words sank in.

“What?” I whispered; my voice barely audible.

“This stopped being fake for me a long time ago,” he said, stepping closer until there was barely any space between us. “You’re all I think about. All I want. And I’m not letting you walk away from this without knowing how I feel.”

I stared at him, my mind racing. “Luke, I—”

“How can you think what we have between us is fake?” he said as he his hands slid up my thighs as his gaze burned into mine. “Don’t say anything,” he murmured. “Just let me show you.”

He knelt before me as his hands moved to the hem of my dress, pushing it up with slow, deliberate movements until the fabric bunched around my hips. I stood frozen, my breath shallow, my heart pounding as he leaned in, pressing a kiss to the sensitive skin just above my knee.

“Let me taste you,” he said, his hands gripping my thighs as his lips trailed higher.

I couldn’t speak, couldn’t think, as he kissed his way up my inner thigh, his breath warm against my skin. When his mouth finally found me, I gasped, my hands flying to his shoulders for support.

He didn’t rush. He took his time, his tongue teasing and tasting, his hands holding me steady as my knees threatened to give out.

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