Page 143 of The Faking Game

My brother puts a hand over his face with a groan.

I just stare at him. “You did what?”

“Thanks for sharing that with the group,” Rafe mutters. “Yes. Thank god there are no photos.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say there aren’t,” Alex says in a drawling, accented voice. “Maybe I have a safe somewhere, just ready to?—”

“I’d kill you,” Rafe says.

“You’re welcome to try.”

“What kind of challenges are on the table for this trip?” I ask.

“Oh, nothing too wild,” Alex says. “Just zip-lining, diving, racing horses on the beach. White water rafting. The usual.”

I look from Alex to Rafe, and from Rafe to West. “I’m in.”

CHAPTER40

NORA

The next day is wilder than I could ever have imagined. Costa Rica is hot, and the guys set a relentless pace. The afternoon includes zip-lining in a humid, beautifully green jungle. I’ve never done it before, and the instructor zips me up, but sweat is beading on my forehead.

Must be the heat.

I tug on the straps a final time and watch as James goes, then Alex and Rafe. Finally it’s just West and me left on the platform. The instructor has left, too, reassured that West knows what he’s doing.

“How are you doing?” he asks me. His own gear is strapped on tight, and he’s in a beige linen shirt, sleeves rolled up and the top three buttons undone to show the dusting of dark hair there.

“Good. I think. Heights aren’t my favorite thing, but I’m excited.”

His lips curve. “Are you telling yourself that, or are you telling me?”

“Both.” I look over at the other platform. I can only barely make out the other guys through the leaves, and we’re hidden up here. “We’re alone.”

“Yes.”

“Thank god,” I murmur and pull the edge of my tank top up to wipe my forehead. It comes almost all the way up, exposing my stomach… and the sports bra I’m wearing. “It’s so hot.”

“Nora…”

I lower the top again. “What?”

His eyes are on my chest, his jaw tight. “It’s your turn to go.”

“Do you want to get rid of me?” I take a step closer and put a hand on his chest. His eyes flicker down to my lips. “They can’t see us here.”

“I know they can’t.” He lowers his head and brushes his lips once over mine in a quick kiss. “But don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing.”

“And what am I doing?”

“You’re flirting.”

“I’m learning to ask for what I want. And what I want right now…” I rise on my tiptoes and press my lips to the edge of his jaw. I move it down an inch, and then another, until I’m kissing his neck. “Is to know if you like this as much as I did.”

West groans, his skin vibrating beneath my lips. “That’s not a question.”

“It’s not?” I put a hand on his chest and slide it down… all the way until I can grip the belt of his pants. “I want to know what you like.”

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