Page 21 of Undeniable Temptation

“No one.” She broke eye contact and stared toward the bar. “The sooner we get this over with, the better, right?”

“Was it Scott? Did he tell you we need to move this along?”

She raised her wine glass, took a slow sip, still not meeting his gaze.

“It is, isn’t it? He called you and told you to speed things up.”

“He has a point. Nobody cares if we’re holding hands or chatting. They want the juicy stuff. They want headlines and scandal.” Her eyes were distraught as she turned to face him and gulped the remainder of her wine. When she raised to her feet his chest concaved, the pain tightening on her approach. “Let’s give them what they want.”

“This isn’t you, Felicity.” He held his breath, his muscles tense while she straddled his lap. All he could think of was Leah, how he was betraying his feelings for her, how her consciousness was nudging the back of his neck.

“No, it’s the bottle of wine.” Her grin was weak. “But once this is over, I’ll be able to sleep at night.”

He wasn’t so certain. He’d be happy to put it off for as long as possible. Hell, he’d be happy to fake the whole kissing thing and hope photographers took advantage of deceptive angles and bad lighting.

“It’ll also get the hurt over and done with.” She placed her hands on his shoulders, the delicate touch harming more than it helped.

“The hurt?” He grazed his thumb over her cheek, not because he needed to keep up the act, but to sooth the pain emanating from her.

“People I care about.” She focused on his lips, his hair, his beard. “They don’t agree with what I’m doing. The sooner they realize this is a strategy, nothing personal, the better.”

“Are you sure?” He heard the click of a cell camera, then another and another. People inside the bar were taking photos, lapping up his demise and capturing it for eternity.

“Are you?” she countered, meeting his gaze.

“I don’t think I have a choice. I can’t let my friends down.”

“And I have no choice either.” She leaned in closer, the scent of sugary sweet breath sinking into his lungs. “Let’s just do this.”

She repositioned herself, her crotch brushing his cock. He stiffened, waiting for a spark, a reaction from places down south… Nothing. His dick was in hibernation. Out cold. But it wasn’t like everything inside him was dead. He cared for her. Just not in a way that compared to anything he felt for Leah.

“This doesn’t feel right.” She paused, her lips an inch from his.

No shit. He chuckled, because what else could he do? “I don’t think it ever will.” He pressed his forehead to hers, not sure if he’d prefer things to stay sterile, or if it was best to move on, at least temporarily, to keep his mind off the massive piles of crap surrounding him.

“I don’t like hurting people.”

Me either.“I’m sure this will be painless.”

She nodded, her hair tickling his cheeks. “OK.”

“OK?” Shit. He wasn’t prepared for acquiescence. He was still reeling, teetering on the edge of stupidity and obligation.

“OK,” she whispered.

The closer she came, the harder his chest pounded, the thicker his blood clogged in his veins. Breathing became a struggle under the drowning thoughts of another woman.

She was everywhere.

She was everything.

“I can’t do this.” He tilted his face, diverting the course of Felicity’s mouth to his cheek. His eyes were shrouded in her hair, her perfume sinking into his lungs. She smelled good—sweet, clean, and familiar. But nothing changed inside him. There was no glimmer of warmth. No lust. No excitement.

No Leah.

Hell.

“Then what do we do?” Felicity’s voice was shaky, the hint of rejection hitting him square in the conscience.

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