Page 40 of The Lies Always Told

I open my eyes and take in the beautiful room. Dark wooden floors with beautiful cream furniture surround us. Tall windows look out into the beach. The water is calm today, showing barely any ripples in the water.

Gus asks fondly. “Are you liking it, though?”

“Actually, I am,” his brother replies. I try to stay still, but I sneeze. I contain the sound, but my head jerks. I hope he can’t see I’m awake, but that goes out of the window when Gus muttersshit.

“Have some company?” Manny teases at the same time I turn my head to face Gus and mouth a silent “sorry.”

Gus looks concerned for a second, but it goes away the minute his eyes land on mine. Without dropping my gaze, he tells his brother, “Yeah, let me call you back, okay? Good luck with the outdoors and…whatever.” He hangs up the phone abruptly and tosses it away on the nightstand.

“Buenos dias, Trouble,” he whispers, smiling softly at me.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt.” Before the words are completely out of my mouth, he brings his hands down and pulls me up so my face is resting below his chin. He tilts his head down for a quick kiss.

“You didn’t interrupt anything,” he croons. I wrap my legs around him, straddling his warm, naked body. I try to drop my head to his chest at the same time he tries to pull me up or something, because instead of laying on his chest, I end up bumping my forehead into his chin.

“Ugh, Gus!” I groan, twisting my body and laying flat next to him.

“Shit, Nellie, are you okay?” His hands hold my face as I cover my forehead.

“Agh, yes, you hard-headed man.” We both laugh, andwhen I open my eyes, I find his gaze locked on me, searching and worried with a hint of joy.

“You wanna kill me for real too? I thought death by orgasm would take one of us out, but apparently, just trying to cuddle with you will do that too.”

I try to stifle a laugh but lose my battle when he smiles brightly at me. It’s then I notice the glass cup next to him with dark caramel liquid I’m assuming is iced coffee.

“Stop being so dramatic, but yeah, sorry about that. Give me the coffee please, because whatever the fuck you gave me to drink last night ruined me. Everything hurts. Everything.” He hands me the coffee, and I take a sip. Perfect. Not too sweet, not too salty. No whipped cream, but a tiny taste of cinnamon and maybe coconut sugar? I’m not sure, but I guess I can always go snoop in his kitchen later to find out.

“The wine definitely is to blame for the headache. I stopped you after your second bottle. You were drinking it like water. As for the rest of your body…” He lets his words trail off before smiling knowingly at me.

“Oh, stop. Like you could even,” I sass, taking another sip of my coffee.

“Do you need a reminder?”

“Is that a threat?” I ask, leveling him with my gaze. I can’t, in this condition, have sex again. My body hums but also hurts, so I need to keep calm or run to take a cold shower.

“It could be a promise, baby girl, but you and I both know your body needs a break. Not forever, but maybe for the day.” He smirks and winks at me before getting up from the bed.

“I’m going to the gym, but I’ll be back in an hour. Make yourself at home, but please be here when I get back, okay?” he asks, and the sadness behind his words is not lost on me. He thinks I would do that? He thinks I would wait for him to leave and then, what? Leave him again? I thought we talked about this yesterday, about us trying to make this work.

“Gus, I meant it. I want more than just sex with you. I’llbe here when you get back. Any plans today?” I ask, standing and dropping the black sheets onto the bed. My body is on full display before him, and the way he looks at me sparks a fire in my belly. Damn; to be looked at like that forever sounds like the best temptation.

“I want to spend time with you, so whatever you want. We do have to talk about what we’re gonna tell our siblings, but for now, I have to go, or I’ll miss my group. See you in an hour.”

He walks in the opposite direction, but before he leaves the room, I ask, “What group?” What does he mean by group? Maybe he has a team of people he likes to work out with.

“The other climbers. Rock climbing gym. It’s better to have friends than go alone, especially when it comes to climbing. Alright, baby girl. See you when I get back.”

I toss myself back onto the bed and close my eyes. The stupid smile on my face is a great reminder of how good I feel near him. It makes me feel less crazy about saying fuck it and giving this a try. I wish I could bottle up this feeling.

I get up and walk to his massive bathroom, draw a bath, and sink myself in the nice, warm, soapy water, close my eyes, and let myself daydream about what this could be.

“Now this isa view I can get used to,” Gus says from behind me, making me tense. I was so lost in watching the waves, I didn’t even hear him walk in. I turn around and catch myself smiling at the sight. Gus is standing at his kitchen island, wearing dark jeans and an open navy polo. Aviators frame his handsome face, and the smile he’s flashing me is worth millions.

“It’s your house. You know the view you have,” I reply, walking toward him with a pep in my step. After he left, Isoaked in the bath for about thirty minutes and then washed my hair using his shampoo that smells just like him—spicy and fresh. He has extremely good hair products for a man with short hair, but I’m not one to complain, especially not after I wrap my arms around his neck, and his hands crawl up the back of my hair, tugging gently.

“Mmm, I meant you, in my house, wearing my clothes….and apparently smelling like me too,” he whispers against my ear, his voice groggy, tingling my skin. He tugs at my hair and tilts my head back so my eyes are locked on his face. I bring my hands up and take his glasses off so I can see the dark, intense eyes I love so much. He smells fresh, warm, and spicy, a combination of the shampoo I used on myself, the soap I found in his shower, and something else, lotion, maybe?

“Welcome home,” I whisper and close the space between us, kissing him slowly on the lips and earning a groan.

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