Page 8 of Better than Revenge

“That sounds…terrifying. Not that I didn’t know that already. I watch Keith Morrison too. Somehow, even though I shouldn’t, I trust you.”

I incline my head in acknowledgment and stick that admission back in my brain for later. She trusts me.

“So,” I flop down on her couch and look up at her, “we’re going to fuck him dead up if we make him think I got what he couldn’t. That’s going to eat at him like a fucking virus! Which means me and you got to figure some shit out!”

“Alright. So…where do we start?”

I like her enthusiasm. I pull her down on the couch next to me and note how she acts around me. Not entirely comfortable but not afraid of me like before. Unless of course I’m sniffing her neck and asking her to sit on my face or talking shit about what two people can get up to without going all the way.

“First thing we have to do is get used to one another. See how we react to one another. Find out if we even have chemistry.” Pretty sure that isn’t going to be a problem for me but finding out isn’t going to be a strain either.

“Okay. How?”

“We start off slow. Hold my hand.”

“You…want to hold hands with me?”

“Yep, sure do.” I take her hand with mine and give her my full attention. I entwine our fingers, scoot closer to her, and throw my arm around her shoulders.

Her eyes widen and she starts to stiffen and pull away from me. All it takes is an arch of my eyebrow and she loses some of the stiffness.

“You…is there ever going to be a time when you have to…to surround me like this?”

“Darlin’, we’re going to have to make people think we’re fucking.”

“Oh…okay. I just…”

“We’re going to go slow, kitten. Real slow. Put your hand on my leg.” I wait for her to unclasp our hands and do as I say before going further. “And I’m going to put my hand on your leg.”

When I do, she jumps again but this time she doesn’t try to pull away from me.

“Now, we’re going to kiss but just a little kiss. Just with our lips.”

“Okay.”

I go slow and wait for her to protest or stop me but instead, she closes her eyes and waits for me. Our lips brush and as badly as I want to do more, I pull away so I can check in with her. Her lips are the softest things I have ever touched. When her eyes open, I swoop in for another kiss but this time my hands come up to cup her cheeks and lengthen the contact between us. She gasps and her hands come up to circle my wrists, but she doesn’t pull away.

By the time I leave, I realize just what kind of man Zane is. A stupid one. Because any man who doesn’t sell their soul for a couple of minutes with Tamsin Fairchild’s lips against theirs has to be the dumbest mother fucker on Earth. I also realize the next couple of weeks are going to be fun as hell! I just have to find a way to keep my fucking dick under control and make sure she still has her cherry at the end of all this because despite what others might think, I’m not the asshole everyone believes me to be.

Unless of course, I have to be. Or Tamsin needs me to be one. For her, I’ll live up to the image people have of me as the bad boy troublemaker who swooped in as soon as she was left vulnerable and heartbroken. For her, I’d cause all kinds of trouble.

Chapter Eight

Tamsin

He stayed over for quite a while last night. We talked and made a plan for our mission which I am currently calling Operation Revenge. Other than a couple of chaste kisses and some hand-holding, Levi remained a perfect gentleman. He still had that rough edge about him, but he didn’t guilt me or try for more than he said he was going to do. I like the fact that he wants to go slow for me. And I can’t help but like his kisses.

Those were…really nice. Unrushed, uncomplicated, and really fucking hot. I’m not sure how he made the brush of his lips against mine so sexy, but he did a fantastic job. It’s all I can think about since he left. I even dreamed about him. Hot, sweaty dreams that I woke up from gasping and blushing.

And he’s coming back over again tonight. I hate to admit it, but I’ve spent the entire day looking forward to him coming back, which is why I am at my favorite little diner grabbing us something to munch on while we…do whatever it is we need to do tonight.

“You and your best friend having a movie marathon tonight, Tamsin, honey?”

Shirley is too sweet and has always been good to me. She’s my favorite waitress by far. We tend to talk a lot since I stop here every other day. She knows how close me and Sophie are and that we do these little girls’ nights every so often.

“No, actually. I have a date tonight, but we still might have a small marathon. One of my favorites, one of his, and then do it all over again. That sounds like fun. Thanks for the idea, Shirley.”

“Well, I don’t know about that, but I do know I’m loving the way this guy has you beaming.”

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