Page 59 of Faking Romance

“Oh.” I’m silent because now I’m wondering how often he hooks up with women.

As if reading my mind, he brings his face back to mine. “I bought a box to take with me to Vegas after Lydia and I broke up. Hutch, Bray, and Kasen decided I needed to let loose. Only, it felt weird, and I never ended up using any of them.”

“Don’t condoms, like, expire?” I ask.

“They’re still good. It’s been less than a year,” he explains as he presses a light kiss to my lips.

“I have an IUD. My boyfriend talked me into it. While he was cheating on me with my ex-friend,” I say dryly.

“It was with your friend? Damn! He’s an idiot,” Gray replies in between kisses. “And so is your ex-friend.”

“Yeah. They both are,” I agree, remembering all the nights I spent crying over at Tay’s apartment. I should call her tomorrow and tell her how the soft opening went. Go figure my one and only friend doesn’t even live near me anymore.

Gray spins me around and unzips my dress. I kick off my heels as the dress falls to the floor, leaving me in only a strapless bra and panties. He makes quick work of the bra. It lands on the dress.

I hear Gray’s clothes moving as he begins to unbutton his shirt. I turn. “Let me,” I insist.

His hands fall to his sides, and I slowly unbutton the remaining buttons. I take my time, wanting to savor the moment of unwrapping him as if he’s a precious gift.

I push back the white fabric. I’ve seen him in the hot tub and without his shirt on, so I know he’s gorgeous, but it’s different now that I can touch him like this. I trail my finger over his pectoral muscles that jump under my touch. Then, even more cautiously, I outline each of his abdominal muscles. How is this man so sculpted?

My fingers brush against the line of hair that disappears into his pants. I run my knuckles over the belt.

He unbuckles it and slides it out quickly and I nearly come on the spot.

“What?” he asks.

“That’s hot as fuck. Like book boyfriend hot,” I state.

“Taking off my belt is hot?” he questions.

I nod and grin. “Very hot.”

“I’ll have to remember that for next time,” he says as he unzips his pants. He pushes them down and takes his socks and shoes off, leaving us both only in our underwear.

“Are we still faking?” I whisper because I need to be certain. I’m catching feelings for this man, and I need to protect myself.

“I won’t hurt you,” he promises. Shit. How is Gray so inside my head?

I blow out a breath. “Answer the question, Gray.”

He takes my hand and places it over his heart. I feel the thudding beneath his skin. “Does this feel fake?”

I swallow hard and shake my head. “No.”

Then, he moves my hand down, sliding our hands beneath the band of his underwear. His fingers intertwine with mine as we grip his erection. “Does this feel fake?”

I roll my eyes at him. “No, but that has nothing to do with faking a relationship.”

He leans in and kisses me again. A full soul-shattering kiss that takes my breath away. When he pulls back abruptly, I lean forward, wanting more.

“Does that feel fake?” he says in a raspy voice.

I shake my head again because this time, I’m too stunned to speak.

“Nothing about this is fake anymore, Roxy. I tried. I tried not to feel anything for you. I…don’t know if I can do this properly. There’s a lot you don’t know. But I can’t fight my feelings for you anymore. I want to; God, do I want to. For your sake and mine. But I can’t. I’m not that strong,” he whispers, his eyes searching mine.

My breath comes out as a shudder this time. “I don’t want us to hurt each other.”

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